MOTOR SPORT: Bernard Devaney faces a tough challenge in his bid to score the first points for Ireland in Round Three of the World Cup of Motor Sport 2007 tomorrow, writes Brian Foley.
A1 Team Ireland failed to score in the two opening rounds of the A1 Grand Prix series in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The championship now moves to China,where the powerful A1 GP cars will be raced on a 3.1km street circuit around the Jingkai exhibition complex, some 20 minutes drive from the centre of Beijing.
Germany top the series points standings with a score of 20, followed by Mexico on 19 and Malaysia on 17. Last year's winners, France, are 11th on eight points.
Irish drivers continue to score impressive wins in British racing, of which the latest was the 1-2 by Peter Dempsey (Ashbourne) and Neville Smyth (Athgoe) in last Sunday's Formula Ford Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone. This follows the recent Irish 1-2-3 by Noel Dunne, Morgan Dempsey and Michael Edgar in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch.
Kerry Motor Club received over 250 entries for tomorrow's Bio Tech-sponsored Stages Rally, of which the permitted maximum of 151 will be led away from the Ardfert start by last year's winner, John Kearney.
The field includes Adrian McElvaney, Kevin Kelleher, event sponsor Tadgh Linehan, James Cullen, four-time winner Johnny O'Sullivan, Mick Quinn, Anthony O'Halloran, Pat Donegan and Tom Randles.
Tomorrow's rallycross at Mondello Park has attracted the usual large entry.
The Tarmac Rally Organisers Association have dropped the proposed scoring system for the 2007 Irish Tarmac Championship. Points will be allocated as previously in order of overall classification, and not on a controversial equal points scoring system to drivers of both WRC and Group N cars.
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