Higgins leads Jim Clark Rally
Manx born driver, Mark Higgins, in his Ford Focus WRC, has stemmed the Irish challenge at the end of the first leg of the Kelso based Jim Clark Rally, where he holds a 40 second advantage.
The Irish challenge is being led by Meath driver, Tim McNulty, who guided his Subaru through the day’s seven stages and into second spot, followed by Derry’s, Eugene Donnelly (Toyota Corolla WRC).
Higgins led from the start, but a hard charging McNulty kept him in check for the opening loop of thre stages – where the duo were separated by an 0.8 second margin.
The extreme heat during the day posed problems for the drivers who opined that the lack of grip was alarming.
As the evening temperatures cooled the roads, Higgins rose to the challenge and with a succession of fastest times moved free of McNulty’s clutches.
Third placed, Eugene Donnelly can feel quite content with third spot. He broke the windscreen of his Toyota Corolla during a test before the rally and had to fit a perspex replacement.
But he still reeled in Eamonn Boland for third and will have a new windscreen fitted prior to tomorrow’s second leg.
Austin MacHale, who was slowed when he caught McGarrity’s Subaru on the stage, ended the leg in sixth place.
In Group N, Irishman, Philip Morrow (Mitsubishi) has the lead with fellow Irish ace, Rory Galligan, also in a Mitsubishi, some 18 seconds behind. Garry Jennings (Mitsubishi) completes the top 10.
Elsewhere, Roy White (Mitsubishi), who lost time with a puncture, is 11th.
Gareth MacHale was the principal retirement, a wire to the ignition system of his Toyota Corolla WRC came adrift on the third stage and forced him out, he was sixth overall at the time.
