Motor Sport Column: The Galway International Rally on February 1st, 2nd and 3rd - the opening round of the Global Irish Tarmac Rally Championship - has a new sponsor in Safety Direct, a Galway-based company supplying health-and-safety products.
Round two of the championship is the UAC Circuit of Ireland, which has a new base in Newcastle, Co Down, and will be run over the Easter weekend, March 21st-23rd.
Eamonn Boland, Tim McNulty, Mark Higgins, Stephen Murphy and Noel Redmond will be contenders in their Subaru WRCs. Norway's Andreas Mikkelson and the national champion Aaron MacHale are expected to contest some rounds in Ford Focus WRCs. The four-time champion Eugene Donnelly has the option of a Skoda, but is planning for either a Subaru or a Focus WRC.
The 2008 National Rally Championship will be sponsored by Dunlop for a sixth successive season, with 10 rounds as follows: March 9th (Mayo), March 30th (Circuit of Kerry), April 2nd (Monaghan), May 25th (Cavan), June 1st (Circuit of Munster), June 29th (Raven's Rock, Carrick-on-Suir), August 10th (Tipperary Stonethrowers), August 31st (Galway Summer Rally), September 9th (Clare), October 11th (Donegal Harvest Rally).
Meanwhile, there is an absolute must for motor-racing fans on the shelves this Christmas.
Grand Prix - Driver by Driveris published by Green Umbrella and covers every driver who has raced in a Grand Prix.
The Irishmen listed include Joe Kelly, John Watson, Derek Daly, Martin Donnelly and Eddie Irvine.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY FIXTURES
St Stephen's Day: TDC, Autotest, Dillonsdown, Blessington, Co Wicklow, 10am; 500 MRCI, Motor Racing, Kirkistown, Co Down, 11.30am; Munster CC, Autocross, Rose Hill, Midleton, Co Cork, 11.30am.
Dec 27th: Carlow CC, Rallysprint, Mondello Park, 10am; Co Cavan MC, Autocross, Latton, near Cootehill, Co Cavan, 10.30am.
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