MOTOR SPORT: Michael Barrable and Eugene Donnelly are joint leaders of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, on 38 points each.

After winning last weekend's Killarney Rally of The Lakes, Donnelly is not entered for Sunday's Carlow Stages, as he is concentrating on the Tarmac Championship of which the next round is the Donegal International on June 20th-22nd .

Adrian McElvaney is second on 27 points, and reigning champion Niall Maguire shares third with James Harrison and Patrick Boyle on 16 points.

"Sharing the championship lead at this point is very remarkable for me," commented Barrable, adding: "normally, I would either be starting the series in Carlow or else have very few points amassed.

"I have been trying to win the Dunlop championship for so long, I'm almost afraid to be happy at the current situation. At the moment everything is going according to plan and I hope it will continue."

Actually the Dublin driver is aiming for an unique double, as he won the the Dunlop Sexton Trophy motor racing championship in 1995 when he campaigned a racing Fiat Uno.

Like Maguire, Adrian McElvaney is also from Monaghan and he drives the same Subaru Impreza WRC driven to victory on the Rally of The Lakes by Donnelly.

Other quick drivers at the sharp end of the seeded entry are David Armstrong, Sean McArdle, Noel Redmond, Sean Gallagher and Kevin Barrett. Run out of Carlow, the 4x4 stages will be held at Ballintemple, Tomduff, Corries Cross and Fenagh, with service on the Bunclody-Carlow Road at Kildavin. The event is being run by the Carlow Car Club, celebrating its 40th birthday this year.

FIXTURES Sunday - Carlow Car Club, Stage Rally, starts Carlow, 9.0. Co Monaghan MC, Rally School Ireland, Scotstown, 10:30. Southern KC, Kart Racing, Tynagh, Portumna, Galway, noon. MRCCI, Midget Car Racing, Bigstone, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, 2.0.