Meeke leads Devine and McErlean at Donegal Rally

Five-time World Rally Championship winner Kris Meeke leads the Donegal International Rally after the first day of action.

Meeke, 46, leads three-time Donegal winner Callum Devine by 11.8 seconds as the pair traded fastest times across the opening six stages.

Current WRC driver Josh McErlean is third place and is 23.4 seconds off the lead.

Josh Moffett and European Rally Championship driver Philip Allen complete the top five after the opening day.

Meeke, the favourite to win the rally as he returns to Donegal for the first time since 2008, made a strong start and won the opening two wet stages.

However Devine, who is aiming to become the first driver to win the rally four times in a row, struck back in the third stage to chip into Meeke's lead.

The pair shared a fastest stage time in the fourth stage, but Meeke extended his lead over the final two runs of the day to hold a slender advantage overnight.

Behind the leading pair, M-Sport Ford driver McErlean, who is making his Donegal debut in a break from his WRC commitments, was running in second place but lost time throughout the day with a drivetrain issue in his Fiesta.

With 14 stages still to run, the win is far from guaranteed for former Citreon, Toyota and Mini WRC works driver Meeke, with Devine and McErlean in hot pursuit.

In the Rally3 class, Kalum Graffin leads by 52.8 seconds over Aoife Raftery after six stages.

The three-day rally continues on Saturday with eight stages- including two passes over the iconic Knockalla - before the final six stages on Sunday.

Donegal International Rally - end of day one

1. Kris Meeke/Liam Regan (Toyota) Six stages

2. Callum Devine/Noel O'Sullivan (Skoda) +11.8 seconds

3. Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford) +23.4

4. Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Toyota) +45.7

5. Philip Allen/Craig Drew (Toyota) +45.7