Motor Sport/Column: A "Festival of Motorsport" will be held on August 16th and 17th to mark the centenary of motorsport in the Phoenix Park.
The festival is being sponsored by Swiftpost, the express mail service of An Post, and organised by Irish Motor Racing Club and Leinster Motor Club.
In addition to the two-day programme of races over the mostly resurfaced "Oldtown Circuit", there will be numerous other attractions, including displays of Jordan Formula One cars and vintage cars, plus pit-stop challenges.
This is most welcome news indeed for motor racing enthusiasts, especially after the bitter disappointment of last year's cancellation of this traditional event in the Irish sporting calendar.
This weekend a strong contingent of Irish drivers compete in Scotland in the Jim Clark Rally, a round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and a round of the British Championship.
Derek McGarrity, on 37 points, heads the Irish series, followed by Andrew Nesbitt and Eugene Donnelly on 27 each, and Eamonn Boland on 26.
The leading quartet compete in the Scottish event, along with Austin McHale, Tim McNulty, Maurice Gass, Andrew Stewart and Seamus Leonard, and Group N challengers Roy White and Aaron McHale.
The event starts this evening from Edinburgh, with two spectator stages.
The really serious business is tomorrow and Sunday over the stages in the Dunns area.
***********
WEEKEND EVENTS - Sunday: Co Cavan MC, Autocross, off Cootehill-Ballybay Road, 09.00; Skibbereen & District MC, Autotest, Ballygurteen, Clonakilty, Co Cork, 12.30; MRCCI, Midget Car Racing, Corkagh Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, 14.00.
