Motor Sport Column:Stephen Moore, Trevor Harding, Kevin O'Kane, Frank Kelly, Brian McGillen and James Coleman filled the top six places in the recent opening round of the Hancook Tyres-sponsored Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship.
This is the predictable pattern that is likely to be repeated throughout the series, with Stephen Moore and Tony McHugh firm favourites for championship honours with maximum points going into round two.
Subaru challengers Trevor Harding/ Mickey Joe Morrissey and Kevin O'Kane/ Martin Brady must step up the pace if they are to keep in touch with Moore, who is still learning the complexities of his Ford Focus WRC. The Tipperary Club's Sunday event is being run out of the North Cork town of Mitchelstown, with rally HQ at the Firgrove Hotel.
Eddie Peterson has won the Motorsport Ireland Hewison Trophy Autotest Championship for the third successive season. Going into Sunday's final round, Peterson on 294 points can not be overtaken by record 10-times winner Eamonn Byrne on 290.
Former title winner JJ Farrell is well back on 263 points, ahead of Paddy Power 244, Chris Grimes 240 and Robin Lyons 239. The battle for sixth is between veteran Paul Phelan on 210 points and James Pringle on 209.
AI Team Ireland continues to struggle in the A1 Grand Prix "World Cup of Motorsport" and as the series goes into round eight of 11 on Sunday, even a few points by Richard Lyons would be a welcome change after such an appalling litany of woes. It's three weeks since the last two street races in Durban, the South African coastal city which has suffered severe gales and flooding in the last week.
Rising German superstar Nico Hulkenberg, who has scored three double wins in the series, will miss Sunday's sprint and feature races in Mexico City due to Formula Three commitments. Germany lead New Zealand by 30 points, with reigning champions France a further three points in arrears.
Only New Zealand or France can overhaul Germany. Ireland lingers in 20th place on two points, ahead of Pakistan and Indonesia on one point each.
WEEKEND FIXTURES: SATURDAY - Leinster MC, Healy Cup Sporting Trial, Ballybrew, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, 11.30am; Co Monaghan MC, Navigation Trial, starts Aghabog GAA Centre, Co Monaghan, 9pm.
SUNDAY - Tipperary LC and MCC, Forestry Rally, starts Mitchelstown, Co Cork, 9.20am; Irish Karting Club, Kart Racing, Mondello Park, 10am; Co Kildare MC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Toghers near Newbridge, Co Kildare, 11am.
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