Motorsport Ireland must find a new sponsor for the National Rally Championship in 2000, following the withdrawal of Red Mills after two very successful seasons. The championship needs a backer, not just for the money, but to generate hype and publicity and to lend prestige to the series.
In response to criticism, the championship has been tidied up for 2000, with only 10 instead of 14 qualifying rounds.
Meanwhile, Co Donegal driver Damien Faulkner of Moville has become the first racer from the Republic to test for a European Formula 3,000 team. Driving for the first time on a full grand prix circuit, Faulkner completed 73 laps of the Barcelona track for the Lukoil Arden Team.
Commenting on the difference between the Formula Palmer Audi car he drove to a championship third this year and the Formula 3,000 car, Faulkner said: "The main difference was the instant delivery of power. Although the speed on the straights did not feel amazingly different, the 3,000 car has a lot more grip in the corners which makes it much more physically demanding."
The Irishman has his sights set on next year's European Formula 3,000 championship, but he still needs to raise money to set this up.
Two other Irish drivers are hoping to race in the USA in Formula 2,000. Philip Kehoe of New Ross is confident of raising the necessary sponsorship and Peter Walsh (Cork) is particularly upbeat after smashing the class record at the Florida International Speedway, a flat-out Indycar oval track. Walsh won the Benelux Formula Ford Championship and was presented with his honours at an awards ceremony in Holland last week.
There is a capacity entry for Sunday's Killarney Historic Rally, which takes in several of the classic Kerry-Cork mountain stages. A trio of Porsche 911s will be driven by Dessie Nutt, John Keatley and Red Mills managing director Joe Connolly.
Nutt is after a hat trick of wins in this event, to add to his 1999 British Historic Rally Championship victory. Lloyd Hutchinson in his Mini-Cooper will give the Porsche drivers a hard time.
The Mayo Forestry Rally, run out of Crossmolina, is round four of the National Forest Stages Championship. Leading the entry of around 70 is reigning champion and current leader Dermot Kelly, who like Noel Driver will drive a Ford Escort Cosworth. Circuit of Wicklow winner Brian Murphy will be in a Mitsubishi Evo.
Lawrence Gibson and Kevin Twomey in Metro 6R4s will battle for supercar honours in round two of the National Rallycross Championship at Mondello, also on Sunday.
SUNDAY: Killarney Historic Rally, starts Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, 8.30 a.m.; Mayo Forestry Stages Rally, starts Crossmolina, 9.30 a.m.; Rallycross, Mondello Park, 9.00 a.m.; D&D Motor Cycle Trial, Lacken, Co Wicklow, 11.30 a.m.
