Peadar Hurson and Damien Connolly took a convincing win on this weekend's Hotel Kilmore Cavan Stages Rally.

The Co. Down native took the lead of the rally on stage 1 and never looked back, extending his lead throughout the day to eventually win by 53 seconds in his Formula Karting backed Subaru Impreza World Rally Car. Hurson was followed home by multiple Cavan winner Niall Maguire in another Subaru while former Irish Tarmac Rally Champion Garry Jennings took the final podium place. Jonathan Pringle and Martin Byrne had a fantastic run to finish top 2 wheel drive and top local crew in their immaculate Ford Escort. In Cavan Motor Club's inaugural Pinto Challenge, Brian Armstrong and Mark Tierney took the honours while Martin Swimburne and Gretchen Fegan won the junior section of the event in their Toyota Corolla.

In Rally de Portugal this weekend there were mixed fortunes for Irish competitors with Keith Cronin, Daniel McKenna, Craig Breen and Dean Raftery all encountering difficulties. Cronin's difficulties began before the rally started, damaging the car in a pre event test meaning he could not start the event. WRC2 contender Craig Breen saw his rally cut short with engine failure on the second stage of the even in his Peugeot 208 T16. Dean Raftery saw his Junior World Rally Championship début finish prematurely with throttle issues forcing him to retire while fellow JWRC contender Daniel McKenna, retired on the opening day, putting his Citroen off the road. McKenna and co-driver Andrew Grennan restarted the following day and despite a puncture, they eventually finished 8th in the Junior World Championship category. Killarney navigator Paul Nagle guided Kris Meeke to 4th overall in their Citroen DS3 World Rally Car.