THE BUILD UP to the AA Circuit of Ireland at Easter is well and truly in gear, but there is big business to be done in rallying this weekend with a huge entry of 157 visiting and Irish crews contesting the Keohane Readymix West Cork Rally.
Seeded one is long time West Cork supporter and previous winner, Welshman John Price. He will drive a Metro 6R4, with another Welshman, Bob Fowden seeded two in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. The local challenge is headed by Frank O'Mahony (Cork) in a Subaru legacy (three), Dennis Cronin (Bantry) in a BMW M3 (four) and Liam McCarthy (Clonakilty) in an Escort Cosworth (five).
Chris Griffiths from Oswestry is seeded six in a Subaru Legacy. James Harrison (Macclesfield) in an Escort Cosworth and Gwyndaf Evans (Cardigan) in an Escort Mk 2 are always good for a high place.
John Joe Fleming of Galway should also be fighting for a good result, especially after finishing seventh overall in his Escort Cosworth in the recent Galway International.
In addition to crews from Scotland and the Isle of Man, the Cork Motor Club's popular event features an historic rally within the main rally. The rally itself, which is round two of the British EARS/ MN Championship, starts tomorrow from Clonakilty (10.45 a.m.) to cover stages at Ardfield, Sam's Cross and Rossmore and back to Ardfield again before a major service halt and regroup. The same stages will be done again to end the day's rallying. The Sunday restart is from 11.20 a.m. and there will be three runs over stages at Ring, Timoleague and Kilcoleman.
The motor racing season starts at Mondello Park on Sunday, over a revised circuit, following recent alterations to Dunlop and Coca Cola corners. The feature race will be the opening round of the Dunlop Touring Car Championship.
Reigning champion Michael Cullen will again campaign in an Opel Astra, as will Gordon Kellett, Joe Foley, Rod McGovern, Robert Moffett, Roy McKane, former Formula Opel champion Michael Edgar and American Quentin Wahl. Dave Kerrigan and Mark Turley will race Honda Civics and Ed O'Connor will drive a Renault Clio Williams.
There will also be championship races for Club Histories and Fiat Ritmos, plus non championship races for Formula Vee, Formula Ford 1600, Fiat Unos and Northern Ireland Metros.
Back on the rally scene, round three of this year's Tarmac Championship, following Galway and the Circuit of Ireland, is the Gleneagle Hotel International Rally of The Lakes which will be run out of Killarney on May 3rd and 4th.
The rally will follow a broadly similar format to last year's event. The rally for historic cars will cover approximately 80 per cent of the main rally route. Regulations from Noreen Marshall, 14 Muckross Grove, Killarney, telephone/fax 064-32026. Internet: www.csn.ul.ie/-dugganb/rally/tarmac/96/lakes 96html.
A total of 44 riders have scored points in the Dublin & District MCC's Championship, led by Brian McLoughlin and Warren Hendy on 45 points each, from Michael Burton, 43, Eric O'Sullivan and John Finlay, 40 each, and Donal Harrigton, 39. The bikers take to tile hills on Sunday in the D&D's St Patrick's Trial at Lacken, near Blessington.
After the event, the club awards will be presented in the West Wicklow Inn. The major award winners are: First (Freeman Trophy) Stuart Martin; Second (Armstrong Trophy) - Gordon Clarke; Third (Neville Carlyle Cup) - Scott Berkley.
