Motor SportNiall Maguire won the Dunlop National Rally Championship last year, after first losing a dominant lead and surviving two crashes, to make it a record three titles by the skin of his teeth.

He campaigns a Subaru WRC again this year, starting with Sunday's TF Royal Hotel-sponsored Mayo Stages run out of Castlebar. Maguire faces the toughest competition ever in the 10 round series from fellow Subaru drivers Patrick Elliott and James Harrison, last year's runners-up.

Also driving Subaru WRCs are Mel Evans, Noel Redmond, Sean Gallagher, Maurice Gass and Kevin Barrett. Donie O'Sullivan and Ray Breen will undoubtedly mount a serious challenge to the Subaru drivers in Ford Focus WRCs, particularly O'Sullivan, who won last year's West Cork and Circuit of Kerry. He was also third on the Circuit of Ireland, but crashed out of second on the Rally of the Lakes. This year he is concentrating on the nationals.

Breen is also putting in a big championship bid. The Kilkenny driver says: "Now that I possess a car that is capable of winning, I am going to ensure that I will concentrate on the series, this will be the biggest effort I will put into a championship."

Two more hot contenders will be Charlie Donnelly and Gareth McHale in Toyota Corolla WRCs. Of this year's series Donnelly says: "There are a number of very quick drivers but it will be a finisher's championship. I don't know if I will have the pace, but I'll know for sure after Mayo."

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS: March 13th Mayo; April 3rd Circuit of Kerry; May 29th Cavan Rally; June 5th Circuit of Munster; June 26th Carrick-On-Suir, Raven's Rock; July 10th Sligo; August 7th Tipperary Stonethrowers; August 28th Galway Summer rally; September 18th Clare Rally; October 30th Skibbereen Fastnet Rally.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Sunday: Mayo & District MC, Mayo Stages Rally, starts Castlebar, 9.30am.