Motor SportKildare's John O'Hara, second in last year's Asian Formula Three Championship, will be hoping for a better return when he takes his place on the grid at Zahai in Hong Kong tomorrow.
Now based in Manila, O'Hara finished third and fourth in this year's two opening rounds at Batangas in the Philippines, and is currently third in the points standings.
O'Hara needs to score maximum points in China and following recent testing he is confident he can win at the wheel of the TOMS-run Dallara-Toyota. A post-race check revealed his engine was down on power at Batangas.
After two wins and six podiums in last year's German Formula Three Championship, Dublin driver Michael Devaney missed the two recent opening rounds of the German series after failing to raise sufficient sponsorship.
He hopes to get enough backing to contest the rest of the championship, beginning with the next two rounds at Hockenheim on May 22nd.
Noel Roddy faces a similar situation in the French Formula Renault Championship. After years of racing on the original shoestring budget on the home circuits, the Dundalk driver literally reinvented himself in the French series, scoring four heat wins and a final, and with eight podiums and three fastest laps he was up to second in the points standings.
Roddy has missed the last three races and sadly cannot continue with the Nogaro-based Ecole De La Performance without financial support. If he misses the next three races at LeDenon in June his French championship chances are well and truly finished.
Sunday's Mondello programme includes Formula Vee and Libre, sports and saloon races. Jonathan Fildes and Quentin Smith are two of the saloon championship leaders, and Jenny Ryan (Athy) is currently beating the lads in the Fiat Punto/Uno class.
Championship points in the two Dunlop saloon racing series are: Supercars - 1. Jonathan Fildes 30, 2. Rod McGovern 24, 3. David Hall 20, 4. George Rogers 16. Fiat Abarth Cup - 1. Quentin Smith 28, 2. Clive Pratt 25, 3. Karl Leonard 16, 4. Gordon Kellett 14.
Stephen Murphy goes for a second successive win in Sunday's Carlow Stage Rally in which the local driver should have the measure of Patrick Elliott, Ray Breen, Maurice Gass and Martin Doherty. Carlow's Enda Nolan makes a welcome rally comeback at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Evo.
The Escort Mk.2 Challenge has attracted a top-class entry of the legendary Fords, including Camillus Bradley, David James, and Welshman Gwyndaf Evans.
The Junior Challenge division will rally over stages five to eight while also included is round two of the Focus Championship, led by Oliver Stanley on 30 points.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday: Connacht MC, Autocross, Lurganboy, Co Leitrim, 1.15pm. Sunday: Carlow CC, Stages Rally, starts Carlow, 8.30am; SKC, Kart Racing, Tynagh,Co Galway, 10.45am; Co Kildare MC, Mondello Races, 11.30am; Kerry MC, Autotest, Tralee Racecourse, 11.30am; Clare MC, Autocross, Fountain, Co Clare, 12pm.
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