The event began in Wales with Dungannon’s Kris Meeke and Killarney’s Noel O’Sullivan (Ford Escort RS1800) edging into a 2s lead after SS4 only to suffer mechanical woes through SS5 and SS6 dropping to 92nd - nine minutes and 36s off the lead after SS6.

Pryce had an 11s lead cut to 1s when Solberg blitzed his way through the night’s seventh and final stage. Draperstown’s Marty McCormack (Escort RS1800) overcame an engine fire on the way to SS6 to stay third overall 26s off top spot and 50s ahead of Omagh’s Paul Barrett also in an Escort.

Meanwhile, reigning Motorsport Ireland National Navigation Trial champion Denis O’Donovan faces a race against time to procure a driver for tomorrow night’s Carbery Navigation Trial that doubles as a round of the National and Munster Championships. The West Cork navigator was without champion driver Mallow’s Derek Butler for last month’s opening round Cork Startrek Trial as the latter was serving a 60-day ban (imposed by the sport’s governing body) following the Cork Forest Rally last August. The suspension surrounded issues in relation to a Toyota Aygo (in which he was co-driver) that was found to be in breach of technical regulations. It appears that Butler, whose competition licence expired in the meantime, still has to serve a portion of the suspension on his renewed licence. O’Donovan’s driver on the opening round Alan Shinnors is unavailable.

The event, starting at 9.01pm, will be based at the Kilmurry GAA complex and consists of 80 miles of terrain within Ordnance Survey Discovery Sheet 86 (4th Edition).

Opening round winners Monaghan’s Andy Mackarel and Limerick’s Greg Shinnors are again expected to be at the forefront while the Mogeely/Ballincollig crew of James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody and Monaghan’s Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan should provide strong opposition.