Motor Sport Column: John McCluskey in a special Peugeot 306 upset the form book by beating the vastly experienced Dermot Carnegie in the opening round of this year's Irish National Rallycross Championship at Mondello Park two weeks ago and Carnegie will be seeking to redress the balance when the pair renew their rivalry in Sunday's round two at the same circuit.
Five-time British champion Carnegie must start favourite at the wheel of his Ford Focus, the most powerful car in rallycross, but he and McCluskey face a powerful challenge from reigning Irish champion Mike Manning, Chistopher Evans in his Astra, Helmut Holfeld and Michael Coyne in Escort Cosworths and Dan Donoghue in an MG Metro 6R4.
In the popular Stock-Hatch class the battle should be between Derek Tohill in his Citroen Saxo and the Peugeot 205s of Sam Johnston and English visitor Julian Godfrey. Yet another close contest is expected in the modified class between Chris Grimes and Willie Coyne in Vauxhall Novas and regular UK visitor Mike Howlin in a Ford Fiesta.
Meanwhile, the Dunlop Irish National Rally Championship gets under way with the Dingle-based Circuit of Kerry on April 4th. Double winner Niall Maguire and British driver James Harrison, winner of two rounds last year, are planning full championship campaigns.
IRISH NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2004: Round 1 - Circuit of Kerry, April 4th; Round 2 - Monaghan, April 25th; Round 3 - Cavan, May 30th; Round 4 - Circuit of Munster, June 6th; Round 5 - Raven's Rock, Waterford, June 27th; Round 6 - Sligo, July 11th; Round 7 - Tipperary Stonethrowers, Clonmel, August 8th; Round 8 - Galway Summer Rally, Portumna, August 29th; Round 9 - Donegal Harvest Rally, Killybegs, October 9th; Round 10 - Fastnet Rally, Glandore, October 24th.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday: LMC Sporting Trial, Cross Chapel, Blessington, Co Wicklow, 11.30am. Sunday: Co Kildare MC, Rallycross, Mondello Park, 10.00am; Co Cavan MC, Autocross, Ballybay-Cootehill Rd, Cavan, 10.30am.
