Cullen chasing more glory

MOTOR RACING: Michael Cullen (Dublin) and Charlie Donnelly (Naas) aim for world motor racing glory in Italy and Britain, respectively, on Sunday.

Cullen has two races at the Misano circuit near Rimini. Tomorrow he races in the final round of the European Ferrari Maranello Championship in which he is in third position, 19 points behind leader John Bosch (Holland). Spain's Xavier Viez lies in third place. On Sunday he competes in the Ferrari World Final, a stand-alone race.

Cullen and fellow Dublin driver Paddy Shovlin have impressed recently when they were placed first and second, respectively, in the Ferrari race before the USA Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

In front of a very appreciative 140,000-strong crowd the two Irish drivers almost had a dead-heat finish. After the race they were presented with the trophies by Ferrari Formula One director Jean Todt.

Shovlin and Ciarán Caulfield will compete in the weekend's Ferrari races at Misano, where Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello will demonstrate their Ferrari F1 cars for the tifosi.

Charlie Donnelly is Ireland's top representative in the weekend's Formula Ford Festival and World Cup at Brands Hatch.

Donnelly finished third in this year's Ford Ireland championship and is one of the six nominated drivers for the Motorsport Ireland Young Driver of the Year award and the prize of €32,000.

Following recent performances at Donington Park and Castle Combe, Donnelly is confident of a good result at the Kentish circuit. He plans to contest the forthcoming British Winter Series and the 2003 Avon Junior Championship at the wheel of a new Van Diemen Formula Ford Zetec in place of his current two-year-old car.

Two Irish teams contest tomorrow's Annual Ken Wharton Memorial Trophy Autotests at Arrow Mill Hotel, Alcester, Warwickshire.

Last year's winners Northern Ireland will be represented by Davy Boyce (Mini), Erioc Patterson (Nova), Ken Irwin (Westfield) and Sam Bowden (Mini Special).

The Motorsport Ireland team is: Chris Grimes (Mini), James Pringle (Corsa), Simon Echlin (Westfield) and JJ Farrell (Mini Special). The reserves are Frank Lenehan (Nova), Ronnie Griffin (Stryker) and Eamonn Byrne (Mini Special).

Meanwhile, the MCUI has issued the following list of motorcycle road racing dates for 2003: Skerries (July 4th/5th); July 12/13-Walderstown, Co Westmeath (July 12th/13th); Kells (July 19th/20th); Athea, Co Limerick (July 26th/27th); Dundalk (August 30th/31st); Faugheen, (September 6th/7th; Killalane (September 13th/14th).

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday - MEC Sporting Trial, Glenmalure, Co.Wicklow, noon.

Sunday - Killarney and District MC, Forestry Rally, starts River Island Hotel, 9 a.m.; Co Cavan MC, Autocross, Quarry off Ballybay-Cootehill Road, 9 a.m.; Galway MC, Sprint, Pallas Karting. Tynagh, Portumna, 10 a.m.; Carlow CC, Rallycross, Mondello Park, 10.45 a.m.; Tipperary LC & MCC, 4x4 trial, Corcorans Quarry, Dualla, Cashel, Co Tipperary, 11 a.m.; Dublin & District MCC, Moran Cup Championship Trial, Black Hill, Lacken, Blessington, Co Wicklow, 11 a.m.; Donegal MC, Harvest Stages Rally, starts Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana, Co.Donegal, 1 p.m.