Devine increases lead in Overall as modified leader Gallagher goes out

Kevin Gallagher's hope of a third Donegal Rally win in the modified section look in doubt after mechanical issues in the Carnhill stage.

Gallagher and Ryan Moore had over two minutes of a lead after Saturday's close of day, with Gareth Irwin and Justin McCauley in second in that Class 14 section.

But with Gallagher out, the battle has heated up as Irwin and McCauley lead Aaron McIntyre and Derry Long by just 6.6 seconds after SS15, but McIntyre and Long went eight seconds quicker over SS16 in Atlantic Drive and are now 1.4 seconds ahead.

In the Overall section, Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan are now 29.9 seconds clear after setting the fastest time in the Carnhill stage.

Meirion Evans and Ger Conway had an overshoot in the Carnhill stage which saw them lose almost ten seconds on Derry driver Devine, but the pair in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 are still 35.6 seconds clear of the improving Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne, who lost over a minute on Friday and Saturday with different issues.

Armstrong set the fastest time on SS16, Atlantic Drive, to move from fifth to third, ahead of Donegal Town man David Kelly and Arthur Kierans, and 2022 winner Josh Moffett with Andy Hayes on the notes.

Declan Boyle and Patrick Walsh are in sixth and a minute ahead, with Boyle's son Michael in seventh, while Pettigo's Kevin Eves is eighth.

James Ford sits in ninth, just ahead of Ryan Loughran who rounds off the top ten.