Donegal Rally: Callum Devine takes over the lead, but it's all to play for

On Thursday night, the Donegal Rally version of Christmas Eve, James Cullen predicted that tyre choice would be 'the big topic' of the weekend.

Cullen, a two-time winner of the Donegal Rally in the 1990s, had a feeling that tyre choice would be the 'huge part' and so it proved on day two.

“If you get the right tyre at the right time, you're on it,” Cullen, victor in the 'Pink Panther' Sierra in 91 and in an Impreza eight years later, said.

Callum Devine took the advantage from Josh Moffett, who had headed the pack after day one, on Saturday when the lead swapped hands through the eight gripping stages.

Donegal Rally: Kevin Gallagher opens big lead as locals battle for places in national

Kevin Gallagher in the Darrian really made hay on day two and has almost a minute-and-a-half of a lead in the national rally with some gripping battles for places

As they returned to Parc Ferme in Letterkenny, Devine, accompanied by Noel O'Sullivan in a VW Polo GTI R5, had 4.7 seconds to spare on Moffett.

Devine was 15 seconds ahead heading for the third run of Carnhill, but an overshoot there by the County Derry man allowed Moffett eat into the deficit.

“We lost about eight seconds,” Devine reflected. “We're still in the lead, but we have just under five seconds. We're still here, which is the main thing.

“We have dropped a bit of time, but we're happy to be in the lead. It's been a good race so far and we'll have a good cut at it tomorrow.”

Two runs each over High Glen, Atlantic Drive and Fanad Head will bring matters to a close.

Moffett, the 2022 champion, will surely have something to say about the destination of the title.

“Sunday is looking like an interesting day,” the Monaghan man said.

Moffett and Andy Hayes in the Hyundai i20 R5 had an overshoot themselves on Saturday morning.

Twelve months ago, Moffett rocketed from fourth to first so he knows well how this tale can alter in a split second.

“There is still a long day to come on Sunday,” Moffett said. “We gave the lead away this morning so it was nice to pull a bit back. Callum is going hard and Matt (Edwards) is coming through the field pretty fast.”

Moffett was second fastest over the last run of Carnhill and was content having 'changed a few things in service'.

After a frustrating Friday at the wheel of the VW Polo GTI R5, three-time British Rally champion Edwards was the man to watch for many on Saturday. Blistering times on both loops of Knockalla outlined his real worth at the wheel.

Edwards gambled on tyres on Saturday afternoon and the dice rolled to perfection.

“We put a couple of spares in on the second loop and we put them cross front-to-back,” he explained.

“It worked really well. It was a bit of a gamble, but it gave us a harder tyre package and it worked to our advantage. We were going to either stay at a similar rate or take some time – and that's what we needed to do and that's what we did and it paid off.”

Edwards lifted to fourth, alongside Garry Jennings and Rory Kennedy, but the Welshman still has a bit to go to catch the leading crews.

He said: “We'll just be in control of what we're doing. We're on the pace now. There was a lot of self-doubt last night. Its been a good day and I have proved to myself that I am still capable.”

Jennings and Rory Kennedy, former winners here, had a couple of big moments in the Fiesta.

“People don't realise, when we drive with wet tyres on dry roads it's like walking in high heels,” Jennings said.

“We have all been kind of conservative on the tyre choice. Matt made a great tyre call and he has passed us in fourth. Everyone is going very hard.

“We had a couple of moments in there. We had some big slides and big moments. We need to knuckle down now with no big moments.”

With 'just' one day to go, it might be tempting for some to think the crews are already on the home stretch, but as Jennings pointed out 'there is still a national rally to go yet!'

It's still all to play for.