Motor Sport: Sebastien Loeb of France begins the defence of his World Rally title in the Monte Carlo Rally which starts from Monaco today and also a hat-trick in the Monte Carlo race. It heralds the beginning of the 16-round series covering five continents and ending in Australia next November.
Loeb and Francois Duval (Belgium) spearhead the Citroen attack, winners of the manufacturers' championship last year.
Their biggest threat will come from double champion Petter Solberg of Norway in a Subaru, and the Peugeot pairing of Marcus Gronholm (Finland) and former Ford star Markko Martin (Estonia). Ford field a new team of Toni Gardemeister (Finland) and Roman Kresta (Czech Republic).
Irish drivers scored two notable Monte wins. Ronnie Adams and Frank Bigger (with Derek Johnston) won in 1956 in a massive Jaguar Mark V11, and Paddy Hokirk scored a notable win in 1964 at the wheel of a diminutive Mini Cooper S. Rosemary Smith has a coveted Monte Carlo Coupes Des Dames award in her many rally laurels.
Damien Connolly of Monaghan is co-driver to 14th-seed Anthony Warmbold (Germany) in a Ford Focus RS. Ulster crew Kris Meeke and Chris Patterson are seeded 35th and are strong contenders for the Super 1600 class and the Junior WRC in a Citroen C2.
Wexford's Eamonn Boland and Francis Regan are seeded 64th in a Subaru Impreza WRC.
The FIA has issued a new World Championship calender with four date changes. Turkey (June 3rd/5th), Greece (June 24th/26th), Argentina (July 15th/17th) and Corsica (Oct 21st/23rd) are each moved back by one week
Dublin driver George Tracey is on the list of 73 unseeded entries accepted for the Swedish Rally on February 11th/13th, in which he will drive his Peugeot 206 WRC.
Irish Rally Championship 2005: Pirelli Tarmac Championship: February 4th/6th:Galway International; March 25th/28th: Circuit of Ireland; April 29th/May 1st: Killarney Rally of The Lakes; June 16th/17th: Donegal; July 8th/9th: Jim Clark, Scotland; July 20th/30th: Manx; September 2th/3th: Ulster; September 30th/October 2nd: Cork 20.
Dunlop National Rally Championship 2005: March 13th: Mayo; April 3rd:Circuit of Kerry; May 29th: Cavan; June 5th: Circuit of Munster; June 26th:Raven's Rock (Waterford); July 10th: Sligo; August 7th: Stonethrowers (Tipperary); August
WEEKEND FIXTURES Saturday: Garda Siochana MC, Kehoe Cup Sporting Trial. Sunday: Midland MC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Round 11, Roscommon, 12pm Cavan MC, Autocross; Tipperary LC & MCC, Autocross; Co.Kildare 4x4 Trial.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)