Austin McHale will be under great pressure in the weekend's Statoil Galway International Rally from Bertie Fisher in a Subaru Impreza, Ian Greer in a similar Toyota Celica GT4 to that of McHale, Andrew Nesbitt in an Impreza in place of his more familiar Celica, Eamonn Boland (Wexford), Stephen Murphy (Co Carlow) and Pete Doughty in Ford Escort WRCs and David Greer in another Celica.

Seeded number 10 is veteran and previous winner Jimmy McRae in a Porsche 911 4WD, and just outside the top 10 on the seeded entry list, but certainly capable of a finish well within the first 10, are Derek McGarrity in an Impreza, Bob Fowden, Ray Breen (Waterford) and Liam McCarthy (Dunanway) in quick Escorts.

McHale has won two years in-arow and although his four-year-old Celica is getting past its sell by date, the big Mayoman from Rathcoole will no doubt extract the maximum performance from the Toyota as he chases a sixth Tarmac Championship. Fisher crashed in Galway last year, lost the Circuit to McHale by a onesecond margin, crashed out of the Rally of the Lakes and Donegal. He has a lot of proving to do in Galway, most of all to himself. The rest will play catch up, but will push hard to be there should McHale or Fisher fall by the wayside.

Today's stages are in the Tuam area and around Gort tomorrow, 17 stages in total and every mile frought with the dangers that are the challenge for over 100 crews in this first round of the Rally Championship.