Motor Sport: As the new Formula Ireland season kicks off at Kirkistown tomorrow, the reigning champion of the country's premier racing series is about to close a deal to race in the Asian Formula Three championship.
Kildare's John O'Hara is in talks with two teams, TOM's Asia and the reigning champions Kinetic. O'Hara is currently in the Philippines securing his 2004 plans with Kinetic, the likely recipients of his services.
With a Formula Ireland title under his belt and a Leinster Trophy and Formula Europa titles in 2001, O'Hara is likely to prove highly competitive, though he will be hard pressed, most prominently, perhaps, by Christian Jones, the son of 1980 Formula One champion Alan Jones.
The season's first race will be over the weekend of April 24th-25th at the Batangas Circuit near Manila.
The battle for O'Hara's Formula Ireland crown is likely be intense and tomorrow, in the season opener at Kirkistown, 2003 runner-up Emmet Queenan will be the one to watch.
Queenan, from Roscommon, was one of six finalists for last year's Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year and recently performed well at an F3 test at Maggione in Italy. His chief rivals this season are likely to be Paul Dagg, Alan Dwyer and young newcomer Lee Farrell.
Also on tomorrow's bill at Kirkistown is the opening event of the Formula Sheane season, where multi-championship-winning Formula Vee racer Brian Hearty will be the favourite.
In rallying, Niall Maguire is this season aiming to land a third career Dunlop National Rally Championship title and the Monaghan man will begin his 2004 campaign as number one seed for Sunday's opener, the Circuit of Kerry.
Maguire won the title in 1999 and 2003, but the defending champion can expect stern resistance from a host of challengers including fellow Subaru drivers James Harrison, 1992 championship-winner Peadar Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Welshman Melvyn Evans, Adrian McElvaney and Patrick Elliott.
Run out of Ballyferriter on the Dingle Peninsula, the rally will cover 4 x 2 stages at Minard Castle, Conor Pass, Brandon Creek and Slea Head.
Meanwhile, Ballygow near Feathard-On-Sea, Co Wexford is the venue for the weekend's first rounds of the Dunlop National Hillclimb Championship.
Saturday: Garda Síochána MC, Sporting Trial, Aughfarrell, Brittas, Co.Dublin, 12.0; Motor Racing, Kirkistown, Co.Down, 1.30. Saturday/Sunday: Wexford MC, Hillclimb Weekend,Ballygow, Feathard-On-Sea, Co.Wexford, 11.30 (both days). Sunday: Kerry MC, Circuit of Kerray Rally, starts Dingle town, 10.25.
