World rally superstars Richard Burns and Freddy Loix, and former World Champion Miki Biasion, along with all the Irish rally stars will undoubtedly draw a huge following of rally fans to Punchestown Racecourse in Co Kildare for tomorrow's Rally Masters International.
This follows the first such event at Punchestown, which was a great success in June and is again masterminded by international rally competitor Ronan Morgan.
England's Richard Burns will drive a Subaru Impreza WRC2001 which he campaigns in this year's World Championship. He has a tremendous record in rallying with victory in nine championship rounds and was championship runner-up in 1999 and 2000. Burns will have the full support of the Subaru World Rally Team which will look fantastic in the Punchestown courtyard.
Belgian Freddy Loix drives for the Mitsubishi World Rally Team and will be at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Carisma GT to take the fight to Burns and hold off a serious Irish challenge headed by previous Punchestown winner Andrew Nesbitt in a Subaru Impreza WRC, Austin McHale in his Toyota Corolla GT, Frank Meagher in his Ford Focus WRC and three more Subaru drivers - Kenny McKinstry, James Cullen and Eamonn Boland.
Miki Biasion will not challenge the quicker of the 40 invited drivers, but the Fiat Punto 'Kit Car' sponsored by Fiat Auto Ireland will attract lots of attention as will of course the popular Italian who ranks as one of the greats of world rallying. The Italian won the World Championship in 1988 and 1989 driving a Lancia Delta Integrale.
Run on the services track of the Punchestown Racecourse, the event is due to start at 10.30a.m. with the first of six runs against the clock (three in each direction) over the fast four kilometres asphalt stage.
Spectators should note that the event will be held tomorrow and NOT on Sunday.
Ronan Morgan is making a good recovery from burns to his face and hands received when the Ford Focus WRC driven by Mohammed Bin Sulaymen burst into flames in the recent Rally Lebanon.
The firey end to Morgan's illustrious and long career as a rally co-driver was all the more extraordinary in that this was his final rally and the only one in which he received injury. Rally fans will give him a big reception at Punchestown where he will preside over the event.
The British Rally Championship 2001 is gone as is also the Stena Line Ulster Rally to have been held on the first weekend in September as a round of the British series.
Gone too are the Toshiba Irish Tarmac Championship and the Dunlop National Rally Championship for 2001.
Ulster Automobile Club has better news concerning their annual speed festival which will proceed as normal with all three events due to be held on consecutive days on the first weekend in August.
Kirkistown racing circuit will be the Friday venue for a round of the MSA British Sprint Championship.
The Saturday's Craigantlet Hillclimb will be a round of the British and Northern Ireland Championships, and another round of the British Sprint Championship will be held on the Sunday the Nutts Corner motorsport complex in Co Antrim.
The UAC has abandoned plans to run a (substitute) two-day 'Circuit of Ireland' in Fermanagh in late October.
All the efforts are being concentrated on developing next year's Easter event, March 30th-April 1st.
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