Motor Sport: Patrick Elliott drives from Cavan to Carlow as championship leader for Sunday's round four of the Dunlop National series. With 52 points, Elliott is well clear of Charlie Donnelly (38), Martin Doherty (37) and Glenn Allen (32).
Reigning champion Ray Breen is the top seed in Carlow but is only fifth in the standings on 31 points, with record triple championship winner Niall Maguire next on 29. A very in-form Elliott is seeded three. The battle for Group N honours is expected to be between Alan Ring, Kevin Kelleher and Willie Fannin.
The Carlow Car Club has received 230 entries for 150 starting places, including 49 entries for the Ford Escort Mk.2 challenge headed by Alister McRae (Scotland), Gwyndaf Evans (Wales) and Ulstermen Séamus O'Connell and Camillus Bradley. Starting from Carlow town, the route heads west to stages in the Castlecomer area of north Kilkenny.
The busy weekend's motor sport fixtures also includes more motor racing at Mondello Park (Sunday) and the annual two-day sporting trial at Dualla near Cashel, Co Tipperary.
Irish drivers chase championship points on Sunday in events as far apart as Britain, France and the Philippines. Having won round one, reigning champion Pat Doran can expect a strong challenge from Irish trio Christopher Evans, Dermot Carnegie and John McCluskey in round two of the British Rallycross Championship at Brands Hatch.
FIXTURES: Saturday - Co Kildare MC, 4x4 Challenge, Cardtown Forest, Mountrath, 11am; MEC, Sporting Trial, Dualla, 1pm; Connacht MC, Autocross, Lurganboy, Co Leitrim, 1pm.
Sunday - Carlow CC, Stages Rally, starts Carlow, 8.30am; IKC, kart racing, Watergrasshill, Co Cork, 9.30am; Co Kildare MC, 4x4 Challenge, Cardtown, Forest, Mountrath, Co Laois, 11am; IMRC, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, 11am; Kerry MC, Autotest, Tralee Racecourse, 11.30am; MEC, Sporting Trial, Dualla, Co Tipperary, 1pm
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