Photo: Eymard Brennan (www.rallyimage.com)

Gareth MacHale (pictured above), in the Ford Focus WRC, has maintained his pace from the first day by continuing to lead the Donegal International Rally after Day 2.

MacHale's pursuers had no answer today and the Dubliner has now opened up a 40.8s lead with one day remaining. Eamonn Boland is still second in his Subaru S12C, though he had been down to third place O/A after Eugene Donnelly launched his expected attack in the Skoda.

Donnelly, however, suffered gearbox problems on the final loop of stages and dropped back to third at the day's close, nearly a minute off the lead. Tim McNulty stays fourth after still feeling his S12B's engine was down on power, though he was fastest on the final stage of the day and reckons he can push for the podium tomorrow.

Gareth MacHale said to rallynews.net at the end of the second day:

We pushed hard on Knockalla and kept it tidy, I’m happy enough.

Sean Devine is an excellent fifth overall in the Subaru Impreza S11 WRC with PJ McDermott sixth in his Impreza WRC . Meanwhile, Aaron MacHale retired his Focus WRC on Carnhill with mechanical problems.

Group N leader Seamus Leonard

Photo: Eymard Brennan

In seventh position is new Group N leader Seamus Leonard in an Evo 9 after Gary Jennings retired with suspension problems in his Evo. Shaun Gallagher is now second in the production category with the World Rally Team Ireland Lancer.

Rodney Wilton (Escort Mk2) continues to lead an intense modified category battle with Wesley Patterson now up to second with his Mk2 and is only 10s behind Wilton. Manus Kelly lies third in another Ford Escort.

FST IE winner Craig Breen

Photo: Eymard Brennan

Craig Breen is the provisional Fiesta SportTrophy Ireland category winner after yet another dominant performance in the one-make series.

Donegal Rally 09 Day 2 video highlights uploaded by waylanderwrc 

Donegal International Rally 2009 Provisional Results after Day 2

1st (1) Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.33.09.0
2nd (3) Eamonn Boland/MJ Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 1.33.49.8
3rd (2) Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Fabia WRC) 1.34.06.7
4th (4) Tim McNulty/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 1.34.22.0
5th (12) Sean Devine/Robert McDaid (Impreza WRC) 1.37.29.1
6th (7) PJ McDermott/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 1.39.13.7
7th (8) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 1.39.35.7
8th (10) Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Lancer N) 1.39.53.8
9th (9) Shaun Gallagher/Charlie McGinty (Lancer N) 1.40.22.0
10th (14) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 1.40.25.4

Source: rallynews.net

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About the Author

Scott Coursey is the editor-in-chief of RallyBuzz.com and can be found on Twitter or on Facebook