Once again the quality of World Rally class cars in the top 10 seeds for a round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship is indicative of the health and popularity of Irish rallying.
Niall Maguire, favourite for the event, and Paul Harris in Subaru Imprezas top the capacity entry for Sunday's Circuit of Munster, run out of Adare, Co Limerick. Number three seed Denis Cronin is a constant threat to the four-wheel-drive competition in his rear-drive BMW M3, and would have taken over at the top were it not for his retirement in the recent Cavan event.
After three maximum scores, Harris posted two consecutive retirements and now trails reigning champion Maguire. The top six are: Maguire 67; Harris 60; Denis Cronin 52; Ray Breen 50; Pat Elliott 43 and John MacHugh 40.
The format for Sunday's round six is 4 x 2 stages, South-East of Limerick, in the Caherconlish, Pallasgreen, Herbertstown and Cappamore areas, with service off the N24 near the Estuary Petrol Station.
Motor racing at Mondello Park is tomorrow and Saturday, and not on Monday as stated in the Motorsport Ireland calendar.
In the Dunlop Formula Vee Championship, Ray Moore currently may have the drop on Brian Hearty, but Hearty will be a tough nut to crack as he aims for a record five-in-a-row championship wins. Irish drivers compete tomorrow at Knockhill in Scotland in round five of the All-Ireland Formula Ford Zetec Championship. Alan Ring of Castleisland, Co Kerry, on 33 points leads joint-second James Murphy (New Ross) and George McAlpin (Portrush) on 24 points each.
Belfast-born John Watson, winner of five Grand Prix and joint second in the World Championship in 1982 (with Didier Pironi), will be reunited with Formula One power in the climax of the Belfast Millennium Motorsport Festival which takes place in the grounds of Stormont on Monday, August 28th.
It has been officially confirmed that Watson will drive two Jordan cars, the original JordanFord 191 and the 1999 French and Italian Grand Prix-winning Jordan-Mugen Honda 199.
Tickets for the Stormont event (Stg£15 adults/£7.50 for children under 14 and senior citizens) are now on sale at all the usual concert outlets or on the Ticket Hotline on 08700-722100.
For further details, tel. 028 9268 4444.
