Irish drivers compete at Pembrey Circuit in Wales on Sunday, in round six of the Ford of Ireland Formula Ford Zetec Championship, which is jointly led by George McAlpin (Portrush) and Noel Dunne (Naas) on 46 points each. They are followed in the points standings by Jeff Wright (44), Mark McKenna (28), Peter Walsh (24) and Derek M. Daly (19). Last year's Formula Ford 1,600 champion Alan Ring of Castleisland, Co Kerry, up and coming young drivers Philip Kehoe (New Ross) and Mark Cullen (Limerick) will also race in Wales, along with Mark O'Connor, Raymond Knox and Alan Kelly.
Ireland will be represented by an RIAC team of six drivers in the Inter-nations Rallycross Cup in the Czech Republic on July 26/ 27th. John Moloney and Robin Perry in Ford Escort Cosworths and Lloyd Spendlove in a Peugeot 205GTi will compete in division one (Group A cars); and Clifford Buchanan (Escort Cosworth), Michael Coyne (Suzuki Swift) and Des Ryan (Vauxhall Nova) are entered in Division 2 (Group N production cars).
The Irish team will travel more than 1,000 miles to the Autodrom Sosnova, 70km north of Prague, where they will compete against 12 other European teams. Team manager is Robert Moody who has considerable experience of the organisation of rallycross, including the Euro round which regrettably did not take place in June at Mondello.
Brian Ward of Ashbourne, Co Meath, races at Brands Hatch in Kent this weekend, hoping for a podium finish after finishing fourth in a recent saloon championship race at Castle Coombe at the wheel of a Honda Integra.
RTE Formula One race commentator Peter Collins and John Kenny of 2FM will compete in the unique Citroen 2CV 24-Hours race at Mondello Park this weekend. There is a big UK entry of over 30 teams competing, including the all-women's team of Margaret Shrimpton, Zoe Cardell, Kathy Rushton and Melena Patterson. Last year's winner Roy Eastwood will have Richard Dalton and Peter Sparrow as codrivers. There are also entries from Belgium and Holland.
Lake Muckno Leisure Park at Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, is the venue for the third round of MCUI (Southern Centre) Grasstrack Racing Championships tomorrow and Sunday. Up to 120 riders will compete on the island course, including William Tutty, Mark Coates, Richie Byrne, David Coates, Graeme Vigors and leading lady competitor Gillian Kinsella.
Television coverage of the recently held Skerries 100 motorcycle road races will be shown on RTE Network Two Sports Stadium tomorrow at 2.45 p.m. The 15-minute programme will feature racing action, plus interviews with the riders and organisers. Sponsored by Des Darch Motors of Swords, this year's Skerries 100 attracted up to 30,000 spectators.
