Victory on the Shell Donegal International Rally will clinch the Toshiba Tarmac Rally Championship for Austin McHale and Brian Murphy. McHale first won the Tarmac title in 1983, again in 1985/86 and last year to equal Bertie Fisher's record. He won in Donegal in 1990 driving a BMW M3 and again last year in the Castrol Toyota Celica GT4.
The Mayo-born Rathcoole driver, who runs his own Dublin Plant Hire and Demolition Company, likes the Donegal event: "Donegal is always an enjoyable event. This year the competition is big and with the British Championship visitors it will be even more interesting. My aim is to try and tie up the Tarmac (Championship) even though there are two rounds left after this weekend (The Manx and Cork 20), but I've just one on my programme, the Cork `20', so I'll give Donegal a big go."
He leads the championship on 42 points, 12 clear of Andrew Nesbitt in a similar Toyota and 18 ahead of his big rival Bertie Fisher.
Sunday's Mondello meeting, on the new 2.25 miles circuit, features rounds of the Formula Opel, Formula Ford Zetec championships, plus a full supporting programme including a two-driver Sports Classic Cup race over 20 laps.
Bodily bruised, battered and broken, but not in spirit, the two Dunlop Brothers hobbled onto the rostrum to celebrate two remarkable Isle of Man Tourist Trophy wins last week. For Joey the elder it was his 23rd TT win, a remarkable record that is unlikely ever to be beaten.
Weekend Fixtures (June 19th-21st)
Today (Fri): Shell Donegal Rally, starts Letterkenny, 1.00 pm. Saturday: Donegal Rally, restarts Letterkenny, 8.30 am; Dundrod 150 Motor Cycle Road Races, Co Antrim, 10.45 am. Sunday: Donegal Rally, restarts Letterkenny, 10.30 am; MEC, Motor Racing Mondello Park, 11.30 am; Kerry MC, Autotest, Tralee, 1.30 pm; MRCCI, Midget Car Racing, The Beehive, Co Wicklow, 3.00 pm.
