Rally Ireland is set for a battle of the sport's titans but, writes Bob Montgomery, keep a close watch on some of our home-grown drivers, who could well upset the WRC applecart
Following the latest round of the World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally Japan, Rally Ireland is set to be a titanic battle between the two drivers - Marcus Grönholm and Sebastian Loeb - who can still win the title.
Neither scored in Japan, with the result that they come to Rally Ireland with Loeb just four points behind Grönholm, so Rally Ireland, as the penultimate event in this year's exciting championship, looks set to play a pivotal role in deciding the outcome of the title struggle.
Naturally all eyes will be on this struggle, but don't make the mistake of ignoring the many fascinating battles that will be going on behind this pair.
Given the huge popularity of rallying on this island, it will be particularly interesting to see how the top Irish drivers compare to the WRC regulars. It's an indication of the level of interest that exists here that no fewer than 29 WRC cars are entered in the top two classes in Rally Ireland whereas Rally Japan had just 13, of which just 10 finished the event.
Top Irish drivers are likely to be Kris Meeke (Subaru Impreza), Gareth McHale (Ford Focus WRC) and Eugene Donnelly (Skoda Fabia WRC).
All three can be expected to be right on the pace although uncertainty hangs over Donnelly's choice of a Skoda Fabia WRC, a car he has not driven in competition before.
While Meeke can be expected to present a real challenge to the visitors, Gareth McHale can perhaps be considered the "dark horse" of this trio. McHale had a major accident earlier in this season in Sardinia, and it remains to be seen whether his pace has fully recovered.
He will have the advantage of also having his father Austin and brother Aaron competing in a Ford Focus WRC. Aaron is the current Irish National Rally Champion while Austin is, of course, something of a legend in Irish rallying.
Gareth McHale has shown his class in previous WRC events, finishing best "non-manufacturer" team in both Rally Monte Carlo and Rally Portugal.
In Rally Ireland he will have the bonus of being on the terrain he knows best, and he could well provide a major surprise for the WRC regulars.
While these three represent the drivers most likely to get amongst the top 10 at the finish of Rally Ireland, there are others who can be expected to give a good account of themselves - these include Andrew Nesbitt (Subaru Impreza), Eamon Boland (Ford Focus WRC) and Tim McNulty (Subaru Impreza).
Nesbitt in particular has shown that he has the outright pace to live with the WRC regulars, and is another who could spring a surprise - only his recent lack of competition miles raises a question mark over how he will perform.
Another Irish driver who must be mentioned is Niall McShea, who is competing in a Subaru Impreza.
McShea won the WRC Production Championship two years ago, and only a lack of funds has stopped him being a regular competitor on the WRC.
McShea is an exceptional talent, and will be keen to make a point on Rally Ireland, so watch out for his progress on this his home event. One other who must be mentioned is Mark Higgins (Mitsubishi Evo 9) who hails from the UK but competes regularly on this island. Higgins will undoubtedly be right up there with the best of the Irish challenging the WRC visitors, and can expect a good result if he has no mishaps.
While there are quite a few women among the co-drivers in the 108-strong entry list, there's just one woman driver. She's Emma McKinstry, who's driving a Subaru Impreza. Emma is the daughter of Kenny McKinstry - who was himself a formidable rally competitor - and has driven this car on a number of occasions, and can be expected to give a good account of herself.
FINALLY, A WORD ABOUT OUR newly crowned WRC Rookie Champion, Shaun Gallagher, who clinched the championship driving his Citroën C2-R2 at the recent Rally Catalunya. Rally Ireland is not a designated round of the WRC Rookie Championship, and having already been crowned champion, Gallagher understandably prefers to concentrate his funds on next year's campaign when he will be no longer competing as a rookie, with the result that sadly, he will not be seen on Rally Ireland.
In total, there are no fewer than 42 WRC cars within the total entry of Rally Ireland, making it almost certainly the largest number of these cars ever to start a WRC event.
Along with the other classes, it all adds up to a spectacular 109 cars in total and amounts to a WRC Rally, plus in effect a field that would do credit to a national rally championship event included for good measure.
This has generated huge interest in the event overseas and a measure of this interest can be gauged by the presence here for the start of Rally Ireland of Max Mosley, president of the FIA, motorsport's governing body.
Rally Ireland looks set to be a great success - we wish you enjoyable and memorable spectating - just don't forget to follow the many interesting battles that will be going on down through the field.