O'Hara geared to extend lead

MOTORSPORT: Co Kildare driver John O'Hara expects to extend his lead in the Formula Ireland Championship at Mondello Park on Sunday, whilst Michael Barrable has to beat Eugene Donnelly in the Galway Summer Rally if he is to hold his lead in the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

O'Hara, on 82 points, leads Paul Sammin and Paul Dagg, both on 73 points, in the Formula Ireland premier class, with Alan Dwyer a close fourth on 72 points.

There will be the usual two championship races at Mondello, a 15-lap sprint race followed by the 18-lap feature race with grid positions reversed which will see the faster drivers starting from the back and having to cut through the field for those vital championship points.

Also listed for Mondello are races for the visiting UK Global Lights sports-racers, historics, Formula Libre and non-championship Formula Vee and Fiat races.

Fresh from his recent Phoenix Park win, Brian Hearty heads the Formula Sheane Rover entry at Kirkistown tomorrow. The programme also features races for Formula Vee, Formula Ford, Fiat Puntos and Unos, and Crossle/Stryker sports cars.

Top 10 in the capacity entry for the Galway Summer Rally are: 1 Michael Barrable, 2 Eugene Donnelly, 3 Adrian McElvaney, 4 James Harrison, 5 Niall Maguire in Subaru WRC's; 6 David Armstrong (Ford Escort WRC), 7 Patrick Elliott, 8 JJFleming (Subarus), 9 Denis Cronin (BMW M3), 10 Charlie Donnelly (Toyota Celica).

Of the seven rounds held, Donnelly has won five and Barrable has won two. Barrable, on 126 points, leads Donnelly by eight points, Seán Gallagher is third on 76, McElvaney fourth on 72 and Harrison fifth on 66.

Barrable is playing it cool with just two rounds to run. The Dubliner says: "Realistically, I have to finish ahead of Eugene (Donnelly). I don't feel I'm under any great pressure and I will take it as it comes."

The Galway event is being run out of Portumna with stages in the Portumna (Medick), Killimor (Ardultagh) and Tynagh (Flowerhill) areas.

WEEKEND FIXTURES: Saturday/Sunday - Co Kildare MC, 4x4 Challenge, Cardtown Forest, Mountrath, Co Laois, 11 a.m. Sunday - Galway MC, Summer Rally, starts Portumna, Co Galway, 10 a.m.; Killarney & District MC, Autocross, Cronin's Pt, Killarney, Co Kerry, noon; MEC/MG Car Club, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, 2 p.m.