MOTOR SPORT:This year sees a number of important anniversaries, including the 50th of the Belfast Crossle Car Company, Ferrari's 60th and the 40th of Formula Ford 1,600.

The Crossle Car Company was founded in 1957 by John Crossle, and is today the longest-surviving racing car company in these islands. A number of events are planned to celebrate the notable achievements of Crossle cars, in particular at the Phoenix Park (August 11th-12th) and Kirkistown (August 25th).

Formula Ford was started as affordable racing and has stood the test of time. It allowed many to go motor racing on a relatively low budget, saw some of the most competitive racing and produced brilliant talent.

Last year saw a major revival of interest in Formula Ford and all the pointers indicate full grids this season.

Last year Irish drivers dominated the two big events in Britain. Noel Dunne, Morgan Dempsey and Michael Edgar made it an Irish 1-2-3 in the Formula Ford Kent Festival at Brands Hatch. Northern Ireland's Richard Tannahill won the Zetec class at the same meeting.

Peter Dempsey and Neville Smyth were in a class apart as they took the two top places in the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone. Dunne won the Golden Helmet at Kirkistown and the All Ireland Championship. Loane won the most prestigious award in Irish racing, the Leinster Trophy at Mondello, beating fellow Ulsterman Ivor McCullough, Dunne and the up-and-coming Robert Cregan.

McCullough won the Martin Donnelly Trophy at Kirkistown.

Pre-Christmas stories that Marcus Grönholm and Gareth MacHale are to drive works Ford Focus WRCs in the Galway International next month have yet to be confirmed.

Eugene Donnelly has finally forsaken his Toyota Corolla WRC and the Irish champion will campaign in a Subaru WRC in this year's Tarmac series.

FIXTURES

Tomorrow: MEC, Jenkins Cup Trial, Cross Chapel, Blessington, Co Wicklow, 11.30am.