The world famous British Touring Car Championship comes to Mondello Park this weekend in the biggest international extravaganza to be held at the Co Kildare circuit since the European Formula 5000 and European Rallycross Championships. It also marks the first BTCC meeting to be held outside Britain.

The latest development of Mondello Park is now completed and after a recent track inspection the well-known saloon racing expert Will Hoy commented: "It is a very exciting and technically demanding circuit, and racing will be challenging."

Fans are promised a spectacle of competitive professional saloon racing. The BTCC series features two classes, one for the slightly modified production saloons and one for the quicker touring cars. The classes compete together in a 15-lap sprint race starting at 12.30 p.m. with the 30-lap feature race due to start at 3.15 p.m. on Sunday.

After eight rounds French driver Yvan Muller is the championship leader on 108 points, from Jason Plato (99), James Thompson (89) and Phil Bennett (66), all driving Vauxhall Astra Coupes.

In the production class, Simon Harrison in a Peugeot 306 GTi leads on 93 points from James Kaye (Honda Accord) on 75, Roger Moen (Peugeot) on 64, and Ford Focus drivers Gareth Howell and Mat Jackson on 44 each. Following tomorrow's qualifying, the BTCC drivers will have free practice on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10.15 a.m. There will also be a race for the very quick Lotus Elise sports cars in another British Championship round, and races for historic cars, RT2000 saloons and Formula Ford Zetec.

Elsewhere, the Co Wexford Motor Club's aptly named "Wild Geese Tour" will have a 15-strong entry in the 12-hour Rally of Braine-le-Conte near Brussels in Belgium this weekend.