Monaghan Regs Released

Round 3 - 2002 Dunlop National Rally Championship Round 2 - 2002 Four Seasons Hotel Border Championship

Regulations for Round 3 of the Dunlop National Rally Championship and Round 2 of the Four Seasons Hotel Border Championship will be available from March.
Regs will be available on the Monaghan Motorclub website
www.monaghanmotorclub.com
or by sending a self addessed envelope to
Cora Maguire
Dernagrew,
Monaghan.

Mayo Stages Preview

Sunday the 10th March sees the 2002 Dunlop National Rally Championship and Four Seasons Hotel Monaghan Border Championship kich off in Castlebar when Mayo and District Motor Club run their 2002 stages rally
The event based in the Breaffy House Hotel , Castlebar will be run over 12 stages (4 stages ran 3 times) and has attracted a high quality field with a variety of new cars.

Top 30 as follows:
00 Duties will be carried out by Rory Galligan and Gordon Noble in Peugeot 106
1 Paul Harris and Eugene O'Donnell in his 2001 championship winning Subaru Impreza
2 Niall McGuire and Paul McLoughlin in Subaru Impreza WRC (Andrew Nesbitts car)
3 Eamon Boland and Anthony Nestor in his new Subaru Impreza WRC
4 Tim McNulty and Julian Nangle in his Subaru Impreza (ex Fisher car)
5 Michael Barrable and Dermot O Gorman in a new Subaru Impreza P2000 WRC
6 James Harrison and Harvey Bell in a hired Subaru Impreza WRC
7 Patrick Elliott and Sean Moriarty in his Subaru Impreza
8 Donal O'Donovan and Pat Lordan in Toyota Celica ST185
9 David Armstrong and Herbie Blackburn in their Ford Escort Cosworth
10 Rory O'Connor and Francis Kenny in their Ford Escort WRC
11 Glenn Allen and Shane O'Neill in his new Ford Escort WRC (ex Tommy Graham car)
12 Kieran Shaw and Crawford Henderson in Ford Escort WRC (Dominic Mc Neill's car)
14 Sean Gallagher and Liam Costello in Ford Escort Cosworth (ex Gilleece car)
15 Sean McArdle and Gerard McMonagle in a Subaru Impreza (ex Niall Maguires car)
16 Ivan Stewart and Joe Friel in a Ford Escort Cosworth
17 Brendan Kelly and TBA in a Mitsubishi EVO 7 GrpN
18 Joe MacHugh and TBA in a Ford Escort Cosworth
19 Eugene Ferry and John Gallagher in his Westport winning Ford Escort MK II
20 Seamus Gallaher and John McCafferty in a Citroen Saxo(ex Niall Mc Shea car)
21 George Treacy and TBA in Subaru Impreza Grp N
22 Garry Jennings / Paul Nagle in his Giant Killing Peugeot 106
23 John Cairns in a his Subaru Impreza Grp N
24 Norman Armstrong in his venerable Ford Escort Mrk II
25 Martin Howley in an Escort Cosworth
26 Stuart Darcy Ford Puma is the car for the 2001 Billy Coleman award winner
27 Camilus Bradley in his Peugeot 205 RWD
28 Mick Shaw in his Mitsubishi Evo 5 Group N
29 Aron McHalen debuts Mitsubishi Evo 6
30 Willie John Dolan in his Grp N Subaru

Timetable:
Service 1 10:40 a.m., SS1 11:00 a.m. , SS2 11:53 a.m., SS3 12:17 p.m., SS4 12:28 p.m.
Service 2 12:59 p.m., SS5 1:28 p.m. , SS6 2:22 p.m. , SS7 2:41 p.m., SS8 3:02 p.m.
Service 3 3:23 p.m. , SS9 3:52 p.m. , SS10 4:46 p.m., SS11 5:10 p.m., SS12 5:31 p.m. , Finish 6:35 p.m.

Entries open for Circuit of Kerry Rally

DINGLE PENINSULA CIRCUIT OF KERRY KERRY MOTOR CLUB SUNDAY APRIL 7TH 2002
KERRY MOTOR CLUB IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF THEIR FORTHCOMING "DINGLE PENINSULA CIRCUIT OF KERRY RALLY ". THE EVENT IS ONCE AGAIN A COUNTING ROUND OF BOTH THE DUNLOP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE WEST COAST RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP.
REGULATIONS FOR THE EVENT ARE AVAILABLE BY SENDING A S.A.E TO
ANNE TALBOT,
TALBYRN HOUSE,
CAHERLEHEEN,
TRALEE,
CO KERRY
PNONE 066-7123496 (BETWEEN 6.30-9.30PM ONLY)
OR e-mail rtalbot@eircom.net

. ENTRIES OPEN ON MARCH THE 11TH AND CLOSE ONE WEEK LATER. PRIORITY ENTRIES WILL BE GIVEN TO AWARD WINNERS IN THE 2000 NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ANDTHE 2000 WEST COAST RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP. NEW FOR THE 2002 EVENT IS TELEVISION COVERAGE WITH A CREW FROM TG4 TO RECORD THE DAYS ACTION. THIS IS IN ADDTION TO A SLOT ON TV3s SPORT TONIGHT PROGRAMME ON THE THURSDAY AFTER THE EVENT AND LIVE COVERAGE ON RADIO KERRY ON THE DAY OF THE RALLY. THE RALLY WILL TAKE 0N SUCH WELL KNOWN CLASSIC TESTS IN THE WEST KERRY AREA INCLUDING THE CONNOR PASS AND SLEA HEAD WITH THE SCRUTINY VENUE IN MORANS GARAGE DINGLE ON SATURDAY APRIL 6TH. THE EVENT WILL HAVE A NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR THE 2002 EDITION, IN THE SMERWICK HARBOUR HOTEL. THE HOTEL IS SITUATED FOUR MILES WEST OF THE PICTURESQUE FISHING TOWN OF DINGLE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE SPECIAL STAGES. PROPREITOR BRENDAN HOULIHAN IS VERY PLEASED TO BE WELCOMING THE RALLY TO WEST KERRY AREA AND SAYS THE EVENT CREATES A MASSIVE INJECTION INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, ESSPECIALLY AT THIS VERY EARLY POINT OF THE TOURIST SEASON. THE HOTEL CAN IS CONTACTED DIRECT ON 066-9156470 WHERE THERE IS SPECIAL ACCOMADTION RATES AVAIABLE FOR THE RALLY WEEKEND. . IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE EVENT IS WORTH IN EXCESS OF 1 MILLION EURO TO THE AREA WITH THOUSANDS OF RALLY FANS EXPECTED TO FLOCK TO THE DINGLE PENINSULA IN THE HOPE OF CATCHING A GLIMPSE OF THE ACTION. THIS COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THERE WILL 150 CARS TAKING PART IN THE EVENT AND EACH CREW WILL HAVE WITH THEM A SIZEABLE SUPPORT TEAM OF MECHANICS ETC. KERRY MOTOR CLUB ARE EXTREMLY GRATEFUL TO THE PEOPLE OF WEST KERRY AND REALISE THAT WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT AND GOODWILL THE RALLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE PLACE.

2002 Dunlop National Championship Preview

The 2002 Dunlop National Stage Rally Championship opens with the Breaffy House Hotel Mayo Stages Rally on March 10th next. From there, the 10 Round Championship takes in the tight and twisty roads of Kerry and Monaghan in the Spring and on to the fast flowing stages of Cavan and Sligo in the Summer. Come September, it's the tour of the Burren in County Clare. The Series culminates in Cork as the season draws to a climax in Skibbereen. With maximum entries guaranteed at each event, close competitive action is assured right throughout the field. They will come in all shapes and sizes - from the exciting Group A cars to standard looking Group N (Showroom Class) to ever entertaining modified machines. The front runners will be vying for overall honours while the remainder challenge for Class awards. In Dunlop's second year as title sponsor to the Championship, expect many pretenders to the throne, but the man to beat will reigning Champion, Paul Harris from Donegal in a Subaru Impreza. " Irish Dunlop has a long history in motorsport and we are pleased to continue our association with Motorsport Ireland in supporting the National Stages Rally Championship. Here's to another great season," said Richard Warbrick of Irish Dunlop. Among the 16 Classes there will be many seasoned campaigners, but keep an eye out for the emerging talent aiming to chalk up top three finishes for the Billy Coleman Award. Championship Registrar, Joe Corcoran, is looking forward to the new season and wishes to inform competitors that they must sign on at each Round to qualify for points in the Dunlop National Championship. The Dunlop National Stage Rally Championship for the Vard Memorial Trophy consists of 10 events in total with 8 counting rounds.

March 10th Mayo Stages Rally
April 7th Kerry Stages Rally
April 21st Monaghan Stages Rally
May 12th Carlow Stages Rally
May 26th Cavan Stages Rally
June 30th Carrick On Suir Ravens Rock Rally
July 14th Connaught Sligo Stages Rally
August 11th Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally
September 22nd Clare Stages Rally
October 27th Skibbereen Fastnet Stages Rally

For further information on the Championship,mplease contact Joe Corcoran on 087 2604494 or 071 67700
issued by Jarlath Sweeney

Willie Loughman / Crk-On-Suir Forestry Rally

The Carrick-on-Suir motor clubs' 'Willie Loughman memorial forestry rally takes place on Sunday next on the forestry stages of Slieve na mban and Gurteen wood above Kilsheelan. Irelands longest running forestry rally has attracted its usual capacity entry but even more remarkably is that it had enough entries to run two events. Last year is was the last rally before the outbreak of FMD shut down motorsport for most of the year. Rally head quarters is the Carraig Hotel, Carrick-on-Suir with scrutiny in The Mill River Business Park. The rally is the second round of two major championships; The TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship and the KBB Doors National Forestry Rally Championship.
The quality of the entry extends well into the late twenties with a considerable number of WRC and 4 x4 supercars throughout the entry list. Heading the seeding are the Limerick pairing and former winners, Dermot Kelly / J. Brennan who are debuting their Escort WRC. At two are Antrim's Domnic McNeill / F. Reegan in an Escort Cos'. Domnic actually built Kelly's car but is not adopting the role of roving mechanic!!
At three are Eamon Boland / A. Nestor in the forestry spec. Subaru WRC. Eamon is a relatively newcomer to forestry rallying but is adapting very quickly. He acquitted himself with an excellent result in last year's RAC rally. Derry's Eugene Donnolly with P. Nagle on the notes is all the time developing his Toyota Celica to cope with the loose conditions. Wicklow's Niall Driver / F. Corrigan slot in at number five. Last years KBB Doors National Forestry champion is no stranger to these stages and will again give a good account of himself. A veteran of the Carrick-on-Suir event is Kevin O'Kane / S. Griffin from Omagh in his Subaru Impreza. Kevin has been making the long trek to Carrick with at least 25 years and his knowledge must now be considered that of a local. His great friend and rival Peter McCullagh / P. Carey from Maynooth is at seven. Peter won this event two years ago after almost 20 years of trying.
The second Donnolly, Charlie (some say the first!!) with TBA or perhaps God as the navigator is also Toyota Celica mounted will provide stiff opposition and spectacle. Another former winner (in his young days) is Omagh's Robbie McGurk with the well-known Rory Kennedy in the hot seat. Robbie upstaged Frank Meagher to win a snowy event in a 1600 Avenger against Franks more powerful Escort MK 2. Robbie has a state of the are Subaru Impreza to wheel around this year. Seeking revenge for that victory will be local hero Frank Meagher / Pat Maloughney in the ex Richie Curran Sierra Cos'. Frank is seeded on Robbie's tail in the car that was second overall last year. It will take all of Frank 's skill and guile to match that result.
And that folks is just the top ten seeds. Further crews of interest are Brian Murphy Joe Downey who has local business interests. Brian has a Subaru WRC for the day and is better known in tarmac circles as Austin McHale's navigator. Brian is no mean peddler on the loose and has the potential to bring off a surprise result. Local crews include Jimmy Lambert / J. Coleman and Shay Power / M. Croke both in Escort Mk2. Kieran Molloy / B. Boland have the Mitsubishi EVO 6 whilst Trevor Harding / C. Boland have a Subaru for the day, just for comparison testing against their usual Ford Ka. Alan Commins, Connie Delaney from Piltown will have the usual battle supremacy. Whilst the sons of 'greats' will have their own battle, namely Gus Kearney and Donie Keating (both the younger.)There are several more locals scattererd about the entry. This event ran in 1977 as a forestry (in the morning) and tarmac in the afternoon before becoming a forestry only event in 1978. It was called the Ravens Rock Rally after the high point in Gurteen Wood.
The stage structure for the event is three stages repeated on Slieve na mban in the morning followed by two stages repeated in the afternoon in Gurteen Wood above Kilsheelan. There is virtually no a access to the stages on Slieve na mban unless one arrives very early, is prepared to walk long distances and wait for the stage the second time around. It's just not practicable or possible to see the top ten cars and then move onto the next stage. Programmes will be on sale in the usual outlets in Carrick-on-Suir, Kilsheelan, Ormond Stores, Grangemockler, Nine-mile House and Ballypatrick. Thanks to Joseph O Brien

M E Crowe N I Rally Championship starts 23rd Feb

The M E Crowe backed N I Rally Championship kicks-off on Saturday 23rd February @ Kirkistown Race Circuit.
Reigning N.I. Rally Champion Denis Biggerstaff wheels out his Metro 6R4 complete with new livery, engine and sequential gearbox. Denis will have tough battle ahead to retain his title (which he also won in 1999) as several contenders have registered for the nine rounds series.
An influx of rapid drivers in World Rally Cars will add fireworks to this popular championship which utilizes four 'tarmac' based rallies and five forest / gravel events.
Notable registrations have been received by the championship co-ordinator Jim McSherry.
Eugene Donnelly will join the fray in his ex-Robin Philips Toyota Celica ST 185. Owen Lamont will wheel out his GEM backed Right Hand Drive, Subaru Impreza WRC.
Donegal driver Dan McGinley will add his Metro 6R4 to the battle.Runner-up in 2001, Trevor Moore returns in his Escort Cosworth as does Gary White also in an Escort Cosworth.
Richard Hall has acquired an Escort WRC as has Glenn Allen.
Ladies Champion, Lucy Ford-Hutchinson will defend her title and faces opposition from Suzuki Swift drivers Aisling Dooris and newcomer, Joanne Neely-Bownes (niece of Ron Neely).
Thirty plus under 25 yrs drivers will battle for the Junior Champions Title including the 2001 'beginners' series winner - Gareth Logan. Reigning Junior Champion - David Crossen has opted to contest the Peugeot Challenge across the sea.
Over 150 drivers have registered for the Championship, including the men to beat in the various classes.
Raymond Mason & Raymond johnston return to fight for the Group N Title. Rodney White will defend his Class 6 title in his Sunbeam. In the HM Preparation backed 'beginners' championship over thirty drivers have registered. The first round of this seven event series took place last Saturday (GMW Stages Rally). This 'feeder' championship is currently lead by Omagh driver Malachy Donnelly (Escort RS). Favourites for the series are Malachy, Trevor Elliott and Reigning 2001 Northern Ireland Rally Champion CO-DRIVER - Richard Curry - Turned Driver!

By Jim McSherry (Northern Ireland Rally Championship Co-Ordinator).
Thanks to www.svsproductions.com

Mixed Fortunes for Irish Crews in Wales.

A couple of Irish crews made the trip across to Wales last weekend (Feb 16th) to give their cars a shakedown in the Advance Windows Winter Stage Rally
The rally which was won by Grahamn Middleton in a Corolla WRC used 12 stages, totalling 48 miles, in the Sweet Lamb Complex..
Top Five Finishers:
1 Graham Middleton / John Morgan Toyota Corolla.........65.19
2 Nigel Griffiths / Tamara Early Subaru Impreza ...............66.41
3 Mick Gillman / Nigel Bayley Ford Escort Cosworth.......67.43
4 Andrew Kenny / Gary Kenny Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.....68.41
5 Andrew Haddon / Mark Andrews Mitsubishi Lancer Evo1..68.51

Irish Crews:
Irish honours were upheld by the entry of 4 crews.
Gary Jennings with David Moynihan alongside repeated their Birr partnership in their Peugeot 106 GTI to finish 8th overall just 4 secs behind the Hyundai Coupe of Craig Middleton.

Rory Galligan with his new codriver Gordon Noble wheeled out Rory's old Peugeot 106 , which had its LHD debut in Westport Single Stage with Dara Hand at the wheel , to use the event as a shakedown for his 206 debut and declared themselves both confident of a successful partnership incar.Despite clutch problems and a couple of offs, they finished 11th overall

Shaun Gallagher was another driver out for a shakedown in his Peugeot 106 and finished slightly down the order in 14th place.

Another crew was Andrew Brown and Keffe Kilcoyle who made their Forest debut at the wheel of the ex Rory Galligan Peugeot 205 GTI to finish a credible 24th overall

Thanks to Ethel Galligan

West Cork Rally Update

The end of the foot and mouth epidemic has heralded the return of Special Stage Rallying to West Cork, home of the irishmobiles.com West Cork Rally. The Rally will be based in Clonakilty and the Headquarters will be The Quality Hotel and Leisure Centre.
But as we regain our sport we lose a great rally driver. Former works driver Tony Pond died at the age of 56 after a battle with cancer. Tony competed on the West Cork three times with varying amounts of success in a Chevette HSR and a Metro. Cork Motor Club extends its sympathy to his family.
Cork Motor Clubs preparations for its premier event are well advanced and under the guidance of COC Brian O'Connell the West Cork Rally team and are counting down the days before the massive undertaking kicks into gear on St. Patricks Weekend 2002.
The level of interest in the irishmobiles.com West Cork Rally is always high but this year is exceptional and the rally can look forward to a mouthwatering array of WRC cars and the best drivers and navigators that rallying offers. The irishmobiles.com West Cork Rally will be the first round of the inaugural GET CONNECTED! TARMAC Rally Championship based in the UK and the 023 Tiles Southern 4 Championship.
Some of the first entries for the Rally include John Price in his venerable yet rapid Metro 6R4. Multi West Cork Rally winner Bob Fowden has entered in the hope of chasing victory this year in a Mitsubishi Evo 6 and one of Kenny McKinstrys Subarus has been entered for Pete Doughty. The spectator's favourite, the Mark 2 Escort, is the chosen steed of entries from Derek Smith, Willie McCarthy and Martin Daly. The ever sideways Kieran O'Neill has entered his faithful Kadett in this years Rally.
Two men who both have come third in West Cork at various times, Melvyn Evans in a Ford Escort WRC and James Doherty in an Opel Astra will be hoping to tackle the West Cork this year. The homegrown talent entry list is in the form of Liam McCarthy in a Toyota Corolla WRC and Frank O'Mahony will hope to chase Lady Luck this year in another Metro 6R4. The exciting Derek McGarrity has entered a Subaru for the event and Tommy Graham in his Escort WRC is another early entry. The standard of competitors and cars from the early entries sets the stage for a spectacular weekends rallying add to these entries some exciting prospects from the GET CONNECTED! TARMAC Rally Championship the Rally will be fast and furious and it will be skill and courage that will win the event.
The irishmobiles.com West Cork Rally will cover almost 200 miles over the weekend with 4 stages run twice each day and a centralised service area. The stages will be typical West Cork Rally varying from fast and flowing roads to tight and twisty lanes. The Rally is not only a challenge for the crews but also the cars and the rate of attrition on the Rally is, well, let's wait and see.
The dedicated Clonakilty UDC and West Cork Rally Fundraising Committee have been working flat-out to get Clonakilty prepared for the multitudes who will descend on the town on the 16th and 17th of March. The town will cater for the rally fans with its usual high level of organization and warm welcome.
The Special Stage Rally is back and what better way to celebrate than at the most popular Clubman 2 day event of the year in beautiful West Cork.
Conor Nash (Press Officer)
e-mail cpn@eircom.net

Hugh Dunne Gets Impreza WRC

After campaigning a Subaru Legacy for the last couple of years , Hugh Dunne from Kildare has got his hands on an ex Freddy Dor Subaru WRC.
Hugh along with Damien Morrissey plan to contest this years Dunlop National Championship and selected Tarmac rounds. Backing will come from Palfinger Cranes of Tullamore and TG4.
Aditional backing is being sought to contest more rounds of the championship and details will be released shortly.

For more photographs check out www.crspics.com

Irish interest in Rally Sunseeker

This Saturday sees the 2002 Rallye Sunseeker get under way and there are no less than 4 Irish Crews taking part.
The event starts from The Square in Bournemouth at 08.15 on the 23rd February and competitors go straight to the start of the famous sea-front special stage, before they head off to tackle both tarmac and gravel stages in Ringwood forest, Uddens plantation, Hurn and Somerley Park.

Top Ten Entries :
1 Marcus Dodd / John Bennie Subaru Impreza WRC
2 Kenny McKinstry / Noel Orr Subaru Impreza WRC
3 David Mann / Alun Cook Subaru Impreza
4 Roger Duckworth / Mark Broomfield Subaru Impreza WRC
5 Steve Petch / John Richardson Hyundai Accent WRC
6 Gary Midwinter / Martin Saunders Ford Escort WRC
7 Andrew Burton / TBA Peugeot Cosworth
8 Mark Perrott / Garry Mansell Ford Escort WRC
9 Brian Bell / Paul Morris Ford Focus WRC
10 Dave Wood / Les Waterfall Subaru Impreza

Other Entries include
34 Ollie O'Donovan / David Moynahan Subaru Legacy
36 Kevin Barrett / Sean Mullally Subaru WRC
50 John McGaffin / Ian Allsop Subaru Impreza

Toshiba Tarmac Championship 2002

Toshiba have announced that they will continue their association with the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association, and that the eight-round 2002 Toshiba Tarmac Championship promises to be more hotly contested than ever before.
The series, based mainly in Ireland but including rounds in the Isle of Man and, for the first time, in Scotland, will feature the largest contingent of World Rally Cars outside the World Championship itself, and promises excitement at every turn of the road from the start of the opening round on Easter Saturday to the finish of the final stage in November. Alan Thompson, Managing Director of Toshiba for the UK and Ireland said: "We are delighted to be back. It's great to be involved in such a significant and exciting Championship and we are looking forward to a great 2002, both in sport and in business." Tom Walsh, Chairman of the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association said:"We are delighted Toshiba have continued their support and we acknowledge their commitment to the Championship. "We are looking forward to a competitive eight-round Championship with renewed enthusiasm following the problems posed by the Foot & Mouth outbreak last year." The new, expanded eight-round Championship will see the crews doing battle in various parts of the British Isles during the year, starting in Northern Ireland.

Round 1: Circuit of Ireland, March 29 - April 1
The Ulster Automobile Club has put together a compact route centered on Enniskillen for the Easter Classic this year. At no point does the event go more than 50 miles away from Rally Headquarters, yet the stages selected are among the most challenging to be found anywhere in Ireland. This year the 'Circuit' will be run to a 'World Championship' format in three loops, the first starting on Easter Saturday afternoon and the final group of stages finishing on Easter Monday.

Round 2: Killarney Rally of the Lakes, May 4/5
Killarney offers some of the best rallying terrain to be found anywhere in Europe. Magnificent scenery and equally magnificent roads provide an unparalleled arena for Round 2 of the Toshiba series, while Killarney's legendary hospitality ensures that competitors, rally officials and spectators will have a memorable time, both on and off the special stages.

Round 3: Donegal International Rally, June 21- 23
Donegal first came to rallying prominence some 30 years ago when the local motor club decided that there was so much good rallying country on their doorstep that they need never venture out of the county again! Since then the Donegal International has steadily grown in stature, and today it stands as one of the strongest, and most spectacular, events on the International calendar. Its unique atmosphere, helped by a midsummer date which (usually) adds fine weather to the mixture makes it highly deserving of its unofficial title 'The Donegal Grand Prix'!

Round 4: Jim Clark Memorial Rally, July 12/13
A newcomer to the Championship and a relatively new event, the 'Jim Clark' was originally a forestry rally devised to commemorate the life of the great Scottish World Champion. More recently however it has become the only major event on mainland Britain to run on closed public roads. Based close to Jim Clark's family home at Duns in Berwickshire on the Scottish borders it is also a round of the British Championship in 2002.

Round 5: Manx International Rally, August 1- 3
An August date moves 'the Manx' right into the middle of the holiday season on the motor sport-mad island and this should help make it one of the most popular events of the year with spectators. Always fast and competitive, the Manx provides Toshiba Tarmac contenders with their second confrontation with British Championship regulars. The Isle of Man may be a relatively small island, but it has all the ingredients for a classic event.

Round 6: Ulster Rally, September 6/7
Short, sharp and challenging, the Ulster Rally makes a welcome return to the ranks of Toshiba Tarmac events this year. With its traditional stages a combination of rural and mountain roads, the Ulster is a tough test of both crews and machinery. The fact that it's all crammed into 24 hours makes it hard work too. Whoever wins the Ulster will have earned his victory! Extra spice comes from the fact that this the third Toshiba Tarmac round to count towards the British Championship.

Round 7: Cork '20' International, October 4- 6
The fast Cork stages offer a new challenge to Toshiba Tarmac competitors as the season draws towards its close. Cork offers a wide variety of conditions for rallying, from very fast, smooth tarmac to the kind of mountain terrain you might expect in Southern Europe. The Cork '20' originally lasted just 20 hours. It's a three-day event now, and that's not counting the after-rally hospitality!

Round 8: West 2002, Galway, November 8- 9
A welcome back to Galway's International rally that, some years ago, was the traditional starting point of the International season in Ireland. The date may have changed, but Galway's roads are as tricky to read as ever, and its dry stone walls just as solid as they were. Again an event offering all kinds of terrain - and great hospitality too - but with the added uncertainties of November weather. It could go all the way 'down to the wire'.

A classic Championship then, and whoever becomes Toshiba Tarmac Rally Champion 2002 will have earned the title!
Further information from www.toshibarally.com

Possible WRC round in Ireland ?

Former International Co-Driver Ronan Morgan , the man behind the RallyMasters in Punchestown last year which saw "works" cars from Subaru , Mitsubishi and Fiat entertain the crowds at the Co Kildare venue, has announced his most ambitious plan yet .
Following the Goverments announcement of setting up a fund of to promote major World Sporting events in Ireland with a budget of €4.7 million , it is believed that Motorsport Ireland has made a submission to obtain a round of the World Rally Championship , a plan highlighted by the recent Strategic Plan set up by Motorsport Ireland.
If sucessful it is hoped to run the event as early as 2007

Subaru in Tarmac test

The 555 Subaru World Rally Team recently completed a four-day tarmac test in Spain to try out a number of new components and settings on the Subaru Impreza WRC. The testing focussed on assessing long-term performance projects, as well as evaluating the latest tyre compounds and constructions from team partners Pirelli.
After the slippery Alpine roads of Monte Carlo, and with the tarmac challenges of Corsica and Catalunya just around the corner, the test was also an opportunity for Tommi Makinen to get some experience of the Impreza WRC on dry tarmac. For days one and two he was behind the wheel of the team's test car and drove a total of 408kms. Tommi experimented with various differential combinations, suspension dampers and the latest tyre developments from Pirelli.
Tommi said, "The test was very good, there were no big problems and we made a lot of progress with some of the more experimental components we tried. It was especially useful for me to get some more hours in the car, as I had no real experience of it, or the tyres, on a dry surface before. My first impression was that it was fast - very fast, and by the end of the second day we had made some little changes here and there and I was happy with the set-up and its handling behaviour."
For days three and four Petter Solberg took over the driving and put another 300kms of high-speed mileage on some of the team's latest ideas. Petter also evaluated several new evolutions of Pirelli's tarmac tyres and tried some of Tommi's preferred transmission settings.
Test Team Manager Tom Hunt said, "I think we're all very pleased with the results we've achieved here. This wasn't designed to be a pre-event test for Corsica or Catalunya, as we have two of those coming up, instead we wanted to see how our engineers' ideas would perform against the clock. Overall we've made some excellent progress, and have also arrived at a good base set-up for our pre-event tests."

Thompson to line out in Super 106 GTI

James Thompson, works Vauxhall BTCC driver, has just reached an agreement with Peugeot Sport UK to drive the ex. Justin Dale championship winning Peugeot 106 Super GTi in the 2002 British Rally Championship. 27 year old Thompson intends to compete in all rounds of this years British Rally Championship other than the Jim Clark Rally, which clashes with the Croft round of the BTCC. Thompson will be partnered by fellow Yorkshireman Craig Thorley on all events and is looking forward to a new challenge in his motorsport career. Thompson commented; This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time. My priority is still the BTCC programme, but the rallying really appeals to me. I hope to get a few smaller events under my belt before the first BRC round so that I get used to the car. Also, Craig and I will have a chance to build up an in car rapport. With no sequential gear change, less than half the power and mud and gravel on the track, its certainly going to be different! Thompson, son of well-known rally driver Piggy Thompson, sees rallying as a possible route for the future. But for now it is an opportunity to explore another avenue of motorsport that he feels he wants to master. Peugeot Sport UK Motorsport Manager Mick Linford commented; It is great to have James in the BRC. I remember witnessing James drive a car when he was just 14 years old and it was obvious then that he would be driving a rally car one day. Once he finds his feet I have no doubt he will be one to watch.

Tony Pond loses battle with cancer

Tony Pond, one of Britain's most successful rally drivers of the 1970s and 1980s, died on February 7 at the age of 56. He had been suffering from cancer.
Best known for his long association with what is now MG Rover, Pond also drove with distinction for Chevrolet, Chrysler, Nissan, Opel and Vauxhall. He was the first driver to win the Manx International Rally four times, defeating drivers of the calibre of Hannu Mikkola, Walter Rohrl and Ari Vatanen in the process. He was perhaps at his best on tarmac, also winning the 24 Hours of Ypres twice in TR7V8s and taking a remarkable third place on the 1981 Tour of Corsica in a Nissan Violet, but his international victories included some of the most gruelling forest rallies in South Africa.
Perhaps his most memorable performance came on the 1985 RAC Rally - the last of the unrestricted, through-the-night versions - when he took the Metro 6R4 to third on its first World Championship appearance, dogging Lancia's Finns Henri Toivonen and Markku Alen from start to finish. The 6R4 failed to live up to expectations as a World Championship contender and Pond's international career all but ceased a year later, but he maintained his Rover links in cars such as the Maestro, the Rover 800 (in which he lapped the Isle of Man TT course at an average of more than 100 mph) the Metro and the MGF. He was also a talented racing driver.
Charismatic and quotable, Pond was an intensely private man, who devoted himself largely to charity after he retired from driving. He leaves a wife and son.

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Birr Single Stage Preview

This weekend sees the running of the Birr and District restricted Single Stage , an event that is open to all 2WD cars with a maximum of 2050cc.
Based in Birr Co. Offaly with headquarters in Dooleys Hotlel ,first car is away at 10.50 am for the familiarisation run of the 10 mile stage just off the Birr / Kinitty Road .
Service will take place in Loughnans quarry on the Birr / Tullamore road.
Event Timetable:
1st Timed run FCD 12.50
2nd Timed run FCD 14.30
3rd Timed run FCD 16.10
FCD due back at headquarters at 16.57 pm.

TOP ENTRIES:
1 Pat Higgins / Liam Higgins Granard - Ford Escort Mrk II
2 David Percy / Owen Percy Cloughjordan - Ford Escort Mrk II
3 Mervyn Wedlock / Philip Smith Cootehill - Ford Escort G3
4 Jimmy Lambert / James Coleman Clonmel - Ford Escort MrkII
5 John Nolan / John Smithwick Carlow - Ford Escort Mrk II
6 David James / Ron Ghua Gorey - Ford Escort BDX
7 Mick Mc Quaid / Victor Fields Monaghan - Ford Escort Mrk 5
8 Gordon Rodgers / Peter McEntee Cavan - Ford Escort MrkII
9 Rodney Wilton / Peter Leahy - Ford Escort Mrk II
10 Gerry Smith / Charles Adams Cavan - Ford Escort
11 John O Sullivan / Darren Hayes Ennis - Peugeot 205 16V
12 Gordon Percy / Joe Shinnors Nenagh.- Ford Escort

Mayo Stages Rally

Supplementary Regulations are now available for this the opening round of both the Dunlop National Championship and the Four Seasons Hotel Border Championship .
The event , which takes place on Sunday 10th March 2002 , headquarters is the Breaffy House Hotel in Castlebar , a member of the Lynch Group with first car away at 10.00 am
With scrutiny taking place at Joe Togher Tyres on Saturday between 3.00pm qnd 9.00pm and uses the usual format of 3 stages run 3 times.
Entry fee is €380 including IRDS (standard rate) and Personal Accident Insurance:
Further details from Margaret McGreal at (087) 2165028 AFTER 6 pm

Freddy Loix hero of Swedish Rally

Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team crew Juha Kankkunen and Juha Repo finished the Uddeholm Swedish Rally, the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship, in a confident eighth position after three days of determined competition.
On an event that has disabled and hindered many, the Finns settled into a comfortable rhythm on the first leg of the event setting stage times well inside the top ten, including a sixth fastest on the longest stage of the event the 40.51km Granberget, to finish the day in seventh. They were niggled with differential problems on a couple of stages during the second day disrupting their rhythm slightly but lost only two positions in the process. Their rhythm rediscovered, they held position by continuing to set top ten stage times, to take the team's first manufacturer point of the season for the Korean marque. "I'm very happy with finishing eighth and managing to score a point for Hyundai – quite good for our first event of the year," said four-time World Champion Kankkunen. "To start with the car ran very well and I got a good feeling with it. Obviously it was a bit more difficult on leg two but once we got the diff sorted we managed to set some better times again. It was the conditions that really made this event difficult. It is the most beautiful rally when you have full winter conditions and it's whole character changes when it's thawing and all you get is gravel and mud – a pity also as we all drive much better in proper snow." Not to diminish the achievements of the Finnish duo, the true stars of the event were Belgians Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets. Despite driving with a broken foot, Belgium's most successful driver put in an outstanding performance working his way to an overnight position of fifth on the opening day, clocking a third fastest stage time on the longest stage of the event. The pair moved up to fourth on the first stage of leg two and held position until the opening test of the final day where they retired 7km into special stage 14, only two stages prior to the end of the event. Throughout the rally, Freddy experienced extreme fatigue in his left thigh muscle which was bearing the brunt of the support for his lower leg in a plastic brace, but to some surprise, no pain – a possible testament to the work of his physiotherapist and both his physical and mental strength. His rally may have been truncated by a failed suspension, but his renewed spirit and speed is overflowing.
"Obviously I am disappointed not to finish but we had a fantastic rally and made no mistakes," said Loix. "I did my absolute best and competing here has been very good for my head. It can be very difficult after an accident deciding how long you leave it before driving again and I know that my speed is still there. Once I was back in the car I forgot about my foot and I believe it is better to have driven fast, proved that my speed is still there and retired, than to have driven slowly and finished lower down the order. Now my head is in a good frame of mind to go to Corsica, confident that we can perform well there too." Team-mates Armin Schwarz and Manfred Hiemer had a less fortunate event, initially losing time sliding off the road after a snow bank gave in on leg one and losing over four minutes rejoining it. Losing the bonnet light pod in the off-road excursion also didn't help for the last stage of that day which was run in the dark. Differential problems during leg two took some confidence away from Schwarz but he pushed on to work his way back up the leaderboard, before the transmission failed during stage 14 and forced the former European Champions into retirement.