Calendar wiped out by cancellations

Hopes that rallying could soon return to normality were dealt a severe blow by the announcement of the cancellation of two more Irish international meetings.

Following the postponement of the Circuit of Ireland to have been held at Easter, the Killarney Rally of The Lakes was to have opened the Toshiba Tarmac Championship over the weekend of May 5th-6th. However, a statement from the Killarney & District Motor Club says that while they "regret the cancellation, the first such cancellation in the 22-year history of this major event, the risk factor in relation to foot and mouth would have been unacceptable as many of the stages would have been run through areas of unfenced mountains where thousands of sheep graze.

"There would also be risks to herds of red and sika deer roaming freely in the area."

They added that it still may be possible to hold a rallysprint in Killarney town on May 6th. The Shell Donegal Rally listed for June 15th-17th has also been postponed.

Following the cancellation of the first two rounds of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, the series was expected to get under way with the Carlow Stages on May 13th but this event has also been cancelled. Rallying now holds its breath until a revised calendar is issued following a review of the situation on April 5th.

Already the two Northern Ireland road races at Cookstown (April 28th) and Tanderagee (May 5th) have been cancelled, but there is no news yet regarding the North-West 200 on May 19th, which is one of the biggest of all Ulster sporting events, attracting competitors and thousands of fans from all over the world.

Motorcycle short circuit racing at Nutts Corner, Co Antrim, for which a huge entry has been received, looks likely to go ahead tomorrow.

Some Irish drivers will race this weekend in France and Britain. Keith Dempsey (17), of Ashbourne, competes in the first round of the European Formula Renault Championship on the Italian Grand Prix circuit of Monza. He will take part in qualifying sessions today.

The race can be seen live on Eurosport tomorrow at 3.0 pm.

Michael Keohane (20), from Clonakilty makes his British Formula 3 Championship debut at Silverstone, driving a Dallara-Toyota. After successful testing, Keohane is upbeat about his championship chances, saying: "Testing has gone well and I am confident I can kick off my Formula 3 career with a top result."