Following the lifting of the foot-and-mouth restrictions, Irish motorsport hits top gear this weekend with today's Skerries 100 motorcycle road races and the Lurgan Park Rally. And the Dunlop Hillclimb Championship finally gets under way with the two events in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

Welshman Gwyndaf Evans in a Seat Cordoba World Rally car heads nine times winner Kenny McKinstry and Derek McGarrity in their Subaru Impreza WRC's in the quality entry for the Seat-sponsored Lurgan event.

Ulster experts Adrian Archibald, Richard Britton, John Donnan and Adrian McFarland face a strong challenge from Welsh rider Ian Loughter at Skerries. The bumper entry also includes Derek Whalley, Barry Wood and Dave Madsen-Mygdal from the Isle of Man. Robert Dunlop will start favourite for the 125cc race challenged by Mark Curtin (Dublin) and Nigel John (Wales).

There is more motor-cycle racing tomorrow with the Leinster 200 meeting at Mondello Park.