Two spectators were taken to Letterkenny University Hospital after an accident halted the Donegal International Rally on Saturday afternoon. The crash came in the first pass of the Gartan stage and stopped competition at the 12th stage of 20.
Saturday’s final two stages were cancelled after the incident. A decision on whether to finish the rally with the final six stages on Sunday was due later on Saturday.
Kris Meeke and Liam Regan lead
Kris Meeke and Liam Regan were leading by 13.9 seconds when the rally was stopped in stage 12. Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan were 13.9 seconds behind, with Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy third at 31.6 seconds off the lead.
Philip Allen and Craig Drew were fourth before the stoppage. Meeke had returned to the rally for his first appearance in 18 years, while the event had reached its middle stretch in a 20-stage format across three days.
Michael Dunlop restarts
Michael Dunlop restarted the rally on Saturday morning after a mechanical issue on his Ford Escort forced him out of Friday’s six stages. His return was one of the few changes to the running order before the accident cut the day short.
The rally was moving toward its closing stages when the accident stopped it at Gartan and forced organisers to remove Saturday’s last two runs. That left the final six stages on Sunday hanging on the later decision, with the leaders already set by the 13.9-second gap at the top.
