MOTOR SPORT: Michael Barrable aims to move up several places on the Dunlop National Rally Championship scoreboard as he mounts a serious challenge to win the title he lost to Richard Smyth on the final round back in 1990.
The Dublin driver won the Dunlop Sexton Trophy in 1995 and to add the rally championship to his motor racing title would be a unique double. He missed the two opening rounds of the current series, but after winning the non-championship West Cork Rally, he then won round three in Monaghan in his now fully sorted Ford Focus WRC.
He is down in 11th place in the points standings on a score of 20, well behind leaders Glenn Allen (48), Kevin Barrett and Niall Maguire (38), Aaron MacHale and Patrick Elliott (36), Mike Curran (33) and 2005 winner Ray Breen (32). Barrable is upbeat about Sunday's round four, the Carlow Stages, which he has won few times. He is seeded number five behind Elliott, MacHale, Breen and Allen.
The top-10 is completed by Noel Redmond, James Harrison, Barrett, Maguire and Liam McCarthy.
WEEKEND FIXTURES Saturday - TDC, International Trophy Autotest, Arklow, Co Wicklow, 10am.
Sunday - Munster MC & CC, Forestry Rally, starts Midleton, Co Cork, 9am; Carlow CC, Stages Rally, starts Carlow, 9.30am; IMRC, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, 10.50 am; TDC, International Trophy Autotest, Arklow, Co Wicklow, 11am
