End of Day 1. Gareth MacHale maintains a lead just shy of a minute over Craig Breen. Daragh O'Riordan holds third but is coming under pressure from Tim McNulty, fourth, who sits 1.7 secs behind O'Riordan. Fifth is Seamus Leonard, who lost two places on the final stage when the WRC-spec Impreza stopped working. Aaron MacHale is sixth with current Championship leader Alastair Fisher seventh, a shade over seven seconds behind MacHale's WRC Focus.
With a commamding lead, Gareth could afford to 'hang the tail out' in the Focus over the course of the final stage. Though not on a charge, Gareth's Focus caused some excitment with some local residents. Gareth set third fastest time, 58.3 secs.
Tim McNulty won the stage, 'Big Tim' seeming well chuffed with the new gearbox fitted in the Carndonagh service, recording a time of 54.6 secs.
Reigning BRC Champion Keith Cronin, one of the pre-event favourites, suffered turbo problems during the second stage which plagued him for the rest of the day.
Daniel McKenna leads the National Rally overnight, with Gary McPhillips second & Rodney Wilton third. Wilton suffered a spin on SS2, showering the spectators & photographers with stones!
Early leader David Bogie in the Metro 6R4 holds fourth, comparing the car to a 'pizza oven'. The sound of the Metro thundering over the Donegal stages regales memories of the late, great Tony Pond giving the then supercar its debut (even though it only lasted six stages) & the equally great Billy Coleman beating all before him in the Rothmans sponsored Metro.
It also brings back memories of six-time Donegal winner Andrew Nesbitt wreaking a Metro on the Garrygort stage. The car leaving its doors up in some trees. Andrew had to resort to 'borrowing' a push bike to get to Letterkenny. Andrew dualy returned the bike with a new tyre & a present for the owner.
Tommy Doyle in his rather (incredibly) loud Cilo R3 holds 12th & Class 4 lead. Toni Kelly is third in class in her Civic Type R.
Also present at the rally were 1964 Rally Monte Carlo winner Paddy Hopkirk, BASCA Gold Badge winner Phil Coulter & the early 'Don of Donegal' Cathal Curley. All were present at the Buncrana Town Stage & thoroughly enjoyed it.
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