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WRC: Five of the best stages - #2 Lough Gill

Autosport magazine took five rallying aces to their favourite stages in the world that you can drive yourself. Now, autosport.com autosport.com brings you the video footage from their spellbinding ride, and each driver's account of his exploits. Today it's Jimmy McRae's guide to Lough Gill in Ireland

The sunlight spears down on the puddles that litter the damp road, creating mini-rainbows as the car snakes around each tight twist and turn. The trees almost hem us in until we turn right and a carpet of still, blue water appears, stretching away to the dark hills beyond.

Jimmy McRae is in his element. This is true McRae territory: fast roads, a fast car and just a hint of treachery lying in wait on the damp, slippery asphalt. Jimmy has been rallying in Ireland for more years than he cares to remember and this sweeping, snaking route around the ravishing Lough Gill is perfect rallying territory.

The start could hardly have a more romantic setting for a stage of the World Rally Championship, the cars roaring down lanes between villages with evocative names, such as Moneyduff and Mullagh, before setting out on what is usually the sedate R286, a rambling route along the northern shore of Lough Gill to Sligo, high on the north-west coast of the Republic of Ireland, the land of W.B. Yeats, arguably Ireland's greatest poet.

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