McKinstry’s Subaru WRC slid off on an oil patch - it is unclear as to how the oil got there - which also claimed fellow competitor Steve Petch, while Paul Bird lost time at the same location.

From the start of today’s stages, Higgins set a strong pace and with fastest time on each and every stage thereafter, he has a lead of three minutes 5.8 seconds to take into tomorrow’s third and final leg.

McKinstry kept second spot until his demise. The pursuing Eugene Donnelly smashed his Toyota when the brakes failed at high speed. Luckily, the damage wasn’t that extensive and later, he closed to within six seconds of McKinstry before the late drama saw him inherit second.

His championship rival, Derek McGarrity (Subaru WRC) was off at high speed but he retained his place on the leaderboard overnight, 90 seconds behind his championship rival, Donnelly.

On the opening stage, Gareth Jones crashed his Subaru out of the rally.

Eamonn Boland is the third Irish driver in the top four after an untroubled run today.

In Group N, former Billy Coleman award winner Rory Galligan leads the way. With the retirement of teammate, David Higgins, Galligan (Mitsubishi) is over a minute ahead of his closest rival.

Austin MacHale, who began the day well outside the top 10 is ninth at the final overnight halt. Gareth MacHale retired during the day.

Young Cork driver, Brian O’Mahony had transmission trouble during the day and lies 12th overall.

1. M. Higgins/B. Thomas (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 42m. 13.1s.

2. E. Donnelly/P. Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 45m. 18.9s.

3. D. McGarrity/D. O'Gorman (Subaru WRC) 1h. 46m. 45.9s.

4. E. Boland/F. Regan (Subaru WRC) 1h. 48m. 09.6s.

5. P. Bird/I. Windress (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 48m. 36.0s.

6. R. Galligan/G. Shinnors (Mitsubishi) 1h. 48m. 59.4s.

7. R. Watson/R. Fagg (Mitsubishi) 1h. 50m. 01.4s.

8. M. Evans/S. Mullally (Subaru WRC) 1h. 50m. 46.9s.

9. A. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 50m. 51.2s.

10.T. Davies/P. Walsh (Subaru WRC) 1h. 51m. 02.8s.