STEPHEN MURPHY of Garryhill, Co Carlow, will compete in the Hong Kong Beijing Rally which starts from the British military garrison on Stone cutters Island in Hong Kong on October 19th and finishes in Beijing on October 25th, covering a route of 3,800 kilometres. The organisers, the Federation of Automobile Sports of The People's Republic of China (FASC) have received an entry of 51 crews, representing 12 nations.
Murphy will drive a Honda Civic entered by Sanyang MIT Motorsport of Hong Kong and will be navigated by his former co driver, Joe Deacon of Ballinacrea in Carlow. The Irish crew will be accompanied by team manager Paul Sheill, chief engineer Matty O'Reilly and head mechanic Thomas Corrigan, all from the Bagenalstown area of Co Carlow.
If Murphy is successful in this rally, Sanyang MIT have extended an invitation for him to drive in the RAC Rally of Britain on November 24th/27th.
The leading entrants in the Hong Kong Beijing Rally are Kenneth Eriksson (Sweden) and Piero Liatti (Italy) from the 555 Subaru World Rally Team. Mitsubishi Ralliart have entered three Lancer Evolution 3 models for Kenjiro Shonozuka (Japan), Richard Burns (Britain) and Ari Vatanen (Finland). Vatanen won the event in 1993 and was second last year.
Murphy won the RIAC/Coras Vard National Rally Championship in 1995 and again this year, driving the Statoil Ford Escort IRS Cosworth. Last Sunday he added the Montague Hotel Stages Rally to bring his total to eight wins out of nine starts.
Before the Irish crew set out for the Far East, Murphy will compete on the Cork 20 Rally on October 5th/6th, the final round of the Tarmac Championship.
Murphy started rallying in 1989, driving a 1600cc Sunbeam which had previously been rallied by Rosemary Smith. Since then he has competed in a Corolla entered by Toyota Britain and an ex Jimmy McRae rear drive Ford Sapphire Cosworth. Two years ago he decided to move up to a Group A Ford Escort RS Cosworth, winning the 1995 championship. Last year he also won the Wexford Rally, completing a record five in a row.
Murphy will be a FISA B1 seeded driver next year.
The major motor race meeting of the Northern Ireland season at Kirkistown tomorrow features a Bridgestone Formula Opel championship round, the Dunlop Touring Cars, Formula Ford Metros, roadsports and a thoroughbred handicap.
Michael Edgar and Derek Cunneely are chasing Formula Opel points, but if he maintains the same winning form from Phoenix Park, they will also be chasing Wayne Douglas.
With three races to run, including tomorrow's Round eight, the Dunlop Touring Car Championship championship is still wide open, but realistically it's between Gordon Kellett (99 points) and Michael Cullen (97), with Jonathan Fildes (87) probably just that too far back up challenge.
Ger Brennan of Killarney has won the Finol Elf National Autocross Championship with his powerful four litre Chevvy V8 Special, but many of the classes will be decided in Sunday's final round. Run by the Carlow Car Club, the actual venue is at Fontstown, approximately half way between Kilcullen and Athy.
Sunday's Irish Short Circuit Championship races mark the penultimate motorcycle meeting at Mondello Park for this year.
The final race is on October 13th.
