Monaco action begins

Motorsport ColumnAfter yesterday's ceremonial start in Monaco, the action in the Monte Carlo Rally gets underway in earnest over today's eight stages in the St Sauver sur Tinée and Valberg area high in the Alpes Maritime.

Drivers will tackle 18 stages covering 366.39 km in a route of 1,336.84 km before Sunday afternoon's finish.

In addition to the latest works Ford Focus WRC challenge, led by Finnish drivers Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen, Matthew Wilson and Peter Tsjoen will rally Focus WRC 04 cars for a privately-run M-Sport team.

Three Irish crews are also competing in Ford Focus WRCs: Gareth McHale with Paul Nagle in a Focus WRC 03; Austin McHale with Brian Murphy and Eamonn Boland with Francis Regan in 2004 spec cars.

All are capable of finishing well up in the results despite their relative inexperience of snow and ice.

Gronholm (37) is one of the fancied drivers for victory, along with Sebastien Loeb (France) in a Citroen Xsara WRC and Petter Solberg (Norway) driving a Subaru WRC.

The Monte Carlo Rally marks the start of this year's new look World Rally Championship (WRC), run over 16 rounds.

Brendan Kilkenny ( 71) won the recent MEC Sporting Trial in a tie-breaker with Ken Fildes. The "mud pluggers" are out again in tomorrow's event at Bohernabreena in the Dublin Mountains.

Eddie Peterson and Sam Johnston continue their battle for Hewison Trophy honours in Sunday's 10th round of the autotest championship, run by the Midland MC at Roscommon Enterprise Centre.

WEEKEND FIXTURES: Sunday - Co Kildare MC, 4x4 trial, Dualla, Cashel, Co Tipperary, 11am; Co Cavan MC, Autocross, Ballybay-Cootehill Rd, 11am; Midland MC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Roscommon Enterprise Centre, 11.30am.