MOTOR SPORT returns to Shelbourne Park, after an absence of over 40 years (when speedway and midget car racing was held at the Dublin stadium), where the Republic of Ireland A Team aim to win the TDC International Trophy Autotest for the seventh successive year.
The team consists of Eamonn Byrne (Mini Special), Chris Grimes (Mini saloon), Ronnie Griffin (VW Buggy) and Frank Lenehan (Nova). The very strong B team of Christopher Evans (Mini Spl), Andrew O'Donohoe (Mini saloon), Peter Lynch (VW buggy) and James Pringle (Starlet) will also be in action against two teams from Northern Ireland and one from England, plus an Ireland C team and various other teams and individuals.
Eamonn Byrne of Delgany is poised to win his sixth Hewison Trophy Autotest Championship, and his fifth in a row. Byrne only needs to finish 21st or better in Sunday's final championship round, the Co Kildare MC event at the Curragh.
Only three drivers have beaten the Erskine twins in 12 sporting trials in the winter series of mud plugs John Bolton, Brian Miley and Brendan Kilkenny. Gordon Erskine has seven wins to his name, Philip has two. They double drive their Erskine Harley Davidson Special in tomorrow's Leinster Motor Club event at Ballybrew, near Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.
Britain's Colin White aims for a second successive Irish victory when he competes in the fourth National Hot Rod Irish Grand Prix meeting at the Tipperary Raceway at Rose Green near Cashel. White is currently second in the UK leaderboard driving a Fiesta. Other top visitors are World Championship winner Ricky Hunn, David Longhurst, Steve Skitmore, Frank Tart, Andy Steward, Andy Lee, David Haird and Colm Smith.
Waterford's Tom Casey, returns from England to lead the home challenge. Saturday night sees the final round of the RAC/ Woodchester Navigation Rally Championship, the ALMC's Jumbo Rally, based around the Moyvalley area of Co Westmeath. Any of three crews could win the championship, but leaders Michael O'Connor and Paul Phelan on 81 points are the firm favourites.
The motorcycle racing season opens at Mondello Park on Sunday, where the Fingal Club promote an open meeting for the usual classes, 125cc, Supersport 400, 201-T50cc and pre 90 machines. Four times Isle of Man TT winner Robert Dunlop will ride a 125cc Honda in three races.
The Dublin University Club's Campbell Cup Trial at Glenasmole Co Dublin, is Round 5 of the Irish Trials Championship, and the Sunday event will bring out all the top riders, headed by reigning champion Andrew Perry who has four straight wins in Grade A of the new series.
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