Motor Sport:Marcus Gronholm and Gareth MacHale have a change of scenery this weekend from the snows of the Monte Carlo Rally to the Portumna and Ballinasloe area in preparation for the following weekend's Galway International Rally.
Galway Motor Club received a record 280 entry applications, of which only the maximum 132 have now being accepted.
M-Sport drivers Gronholm and MacHale are the top seeds, ahead of British Champion Mark Higgins, Eamonn Boland, and triple Irish Champion Eugene Donnelly in Subaru WRC's.
Six-times Galway winner Austin MacHale is coming out of a very short retirement to drive a Ford Focus WRC. Also listed amongst the potential winners are Tim McNulty, and triple Northern Ireland Champion Kevin Lynch.
Michael Curran, James Stafford and James Cassidy head the capacity entry of 131 in the first of year's club rallies - Sunday's ALMC Mini Stages.
The rally will be run over 2x2 stages in Co Meath, with Rally HQ at the new City North Hotel in Stamullen and service in the Gormanstown area. This year the ever entertaining Dougie Hughes celebrates a remarkable 54th year of commentating at motorsport events. He was a successful competitor in motorcycling and car events, introduced and popularised kart racing, and has assisted in the organisation and running of motorsports events including the famous Dunboyne races and Skerries 100, to mention just two of many.
He has been honoured by Motorsport Ireland with the Ivan Webb Memorial Trophy for his services to the sport. The popular Dublin personality debuts his new mobile PA unit at Sunday's Stamullen-based rally.
Eddie Peterson further extended his lead over Eamonn Byrne in the 16-round Hewison Trophy series to 27 points following victory in last Sunday's ninth round in Longford.
The contest for the autotest championship is firmly between reigning champion Peterson on 214 points and 10-time winner Byrne on 187. The battle for third is between JJ Farrell on 168 points, Chris Grimes (165) and Robin Lyons (161). They are followed by Paddy Power (157), Paul Phelan (138) and James Pringle (137).
WEEKEND FIXTURES:Saturday - Carrick-On-Suir MC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Industrial Park, Browns Road, Waterford, 11am. Sunday - ALMC, Mini Stages Rally, Stamullen, Co Meath, 10am; Carrick-On-Suir MC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Industrial Park, Browns Road, Waterford, 10.30am.
