MOTOR SPORT: This weekend sees the start of the Irish motor racing season with meetings at Kirkistown and Mondello Park. Sunday's Circuit of Kerry is round two of the Dunlop National Rally Championship while at Donington Park Michael Keohane of Clonakilty begins his challenge for the British Formula Three Championship.
Reigning Irish Tarmac Rally Champion Andrew Nesbitt makes his motor racing debut at Kirkistown tomorrow in the "guest" car in the Fiat Punto Abarth Cup race against such saloon-racing experts as champion Richie Faulkner, Brian Hade, Gordon Kellett, Liam Denning, Quentin Smith, Bob Copeland, Greg Turley, Leo Nulty, Clive and Nigel Pratt and fellow Armagh driver Joey Freeburn.
"Racing is totally different to what I am used to in motor sport. Having 22 other cars around me is sure to be interesting. I don't expect to be on the podium no more than Richie Faulkner would expect to be on the pace if he was making his debut in a world rally car," Nesbitt said.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Kirkistown, and in addition to the fast Fiats there will be races for Formula Ireland, Formula Sheane and Formula Vee, sportscars and stock hatches, plus round two of the (British) AMOC Historic Formula Junior Championship which will bring back many of the fully-restored cars that raced on the Down circuit in the 1960s, including Lotus, Cooper, Gemini, Lola and Kieft.
Sunday's Mondello opener is the first of the "clubman" meetings, with a mixed bag of races for Strykers, Fiat Unos, Dunlop Historics and Formula Libre.
The Circuit of Kerry will be run out of Tralee for the first time in over 11 years. The top points standings in the Dunlop National Rally Championship after round one are: 1, Eugene Donnelly, 20 points; 2, Michael Barrable 18 pts; 3, James Harrison 16 pts.
Reigning champion Niall Maguire won this event last year and will be out to put some points on the board after his enforced non-finish in the recent Mayo stages.
The event is also round two of the Ford Ka Rally Championship, led by: 1, Vivian Noone (Clonmel) 30 points; 2, Eoghan Fogarty (Roscrea) 26; 3, Ian Chadwick (Ballincollig).
Michael Keohane will drive for the Promatecme Team in the two opening rounds of the British Formula Three Championship at Donington Park. Keohane has been released from his Sweeney Racing contract to give him the best chance of scoring points as the Irish-owned team concentrates on further development of the Lola-Dome F106 chassis.
"I see this as a positive move for everyone concerned," says Keohane.
WEEKEND FIXTURES: Saturday - Garda Siochana MC, Sporting Trial, Aughfarrell (Trexon Ltd), Co Dublin, noon; 500 MRCI Kirkistown, Co Down, 1.30 p.m.; Kerry MC, Autotest, Tralee, 6 p.m. Sunday - Kerry MC, Circuit of Kerry, HQ, Abbeygate Hotel, starts 10 a.m.; IMRC Mondello Park, 2 p.m.
