MOTOR SPORT: Derry driver Eugene Donnelly and Manxman Mark Higgins lead the charge for points in the Irish and British championships in the Rally Isle of Man which started from Douglas late yesterday. The rally runs today over 12 stages and finishes tomorrow after seven stages.
After five rounds the top scorers in the Irish Tarmac Championship are: Eugene Donnelly on 62 points; Eamonn Boland on 51 and Derek McGarrity on 45. Limerickman Colm Murphy is sixth overall and leads Group N on 50 points. In the separately-run British Championship for Group N cars, Higgins and Rory Kennedy lead on 55 points.
The Northern Ireland trio of Phillip Morrow, Neil McCance and Connor McCloskey are joint third in the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge on 15 points each. The leaders are Stuart Jones (21) and Jonny Milner (19).
Tom Holton, Hugh Doherty, James Foley, Jack Sleator, George Robinson, Pat Donegan, Willie Fannin and Brendan Kelly are the front runners of the 140-strong entry in Sunday's ALMC Rally, run out of Virginia, Co Cavan.
Due to road closures the Limerick MC has cancelled the weekend hillclimb events to have been held in Adare. The Carrick-on-Suir MC's two events scheduled for August 19th-20th are also cancelled.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday: IKC, Kart Racing, Mondello Park, 9am; Killarney & District MC, Autocross, Firies, Killarney, 12.30pm. Sunday: ALMC, Stages Rally, starts Virginia, Co Cavan, 9am; IKC, Kart Racing, Mondello Park, 9am; Tipperary MC & LCC, Veteran & Vintage Run, starts Ballydine, Kilsheelan, Clonmel, 11am; Killarney & District MC, Autocross, Firies, Killarney, 12.30pm.
