Peterson to claim crown

MOTOR SPORT Roundup: Autotest expert Eddie Peterson (24) must hold the record for consistency in any sport, with 11 successive wins in the 2004/05 Hewison Trophy Championship.

Sunday's MEC event at Blackchurch, Co Dublin, will most likely see the Dublin driver winning the Motorsport Ireland Hewison Trophy for the first time, to add to his Northern Ireland title.

Peterson only needs a top-nine position over the final four rounds to win the championship as drivers count their best scores from 12 of the 16 rounds.

One win in the absence of Peterson plus a string of second and third places sees Eamonn Byrne still leading, but this will change after round 13 when the 10-times champion must drop a score.

Positions after round 12: 1. Eamonn Byrne 277 points; 2. Eddie Peterson 275; 3. Christopher Evans 265; 4. Sam Johnston 239; 5. Paddy Power 227; 6. Chris Grimes 220; 7. Paul Phelan 206; 8. Liam Cashman 171; 9. Frank Lenehan 132; 10. Ken Irwin 131; 11. Simon Echlin 121.

Brendan Kilkenny has been competing in motorsport events since the 60s. At the age of 70 not only is he is a regular competitor in sporting trials but winner of the most recent event at Kilruddery, in which he beat his son Alan in a tie-breaker. Gordon Watkins in a Sheane-VW was a close third, only one mark behind the Kilkenny father and son who share an Erskine-Yamaha.

The mud pluggers tackle more challenging off road special sections in tomorrow's Leinster MC Lincoln & Nolan Cup trial at Ballybrew, Enniskerry.

The opening round of the Irish Rallycross Championship scheduled to run at Mondello Park on Sunday, has been cancelled due to major resurfacing of the circuit in preparation for the 2005 motor racing season. The first rallycross will be held at the Kildare venue on March 6th.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday: Cork MC, 4x4 Trial, Rockgrove, Coachford, Co Cork, 10.00am; Leinster MC, Sporting Trial, Ballybrew, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, 11.00am; Midland MC, Navigation Trial, starts Arigna, Co Roscommon, 8.45pm.

Sunday: Cork MC, 4x4 Trial, Rockgrove, Coachford, Co Cork, 10.00am; North East MC, Autocross, Latton Quarry, Co Cavan, 10.30am; MEC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Blackchurch, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, 12.00pm.