Motorcycle racing fans will have a real feast of day long racing at Mondello Park on Sunday with rounds of the British Sports Production, Aprilla Cup and Honda Hornets championship. These will be supported by Irish championship races for all classes, making a total of 18 races - hence the early start of 9.20 a.m.
The big names in the British Sports Production series are David Jefferies, Mick Corrigan, Peter Graves, Karl Harris, Simon Smith, Iain Duffus and Roki Read, son of former World Champion Phil Read. Irish interest will be on Marty Nutt and Rodney McCurdy. Ulstermen Marshall Neill and Edward Allingham compete in the Honda Hornets race.
The best race of the day should be the 100cc event, in which Mike Swann and Rodney McCurdy are expected to provide hot competition for the British riders. Northern riders Phelim Owens, Simon Turner and Kieran McGrory are also men to watch. All the racing will be on the 2.25 miles International Circuit, which is only being used by the bikers for only the second time and which means that the Mondello regulars will not have any track advantage.
Motorsport at a considerably less frenetic pace also takes place at the weekend when 130 cars of yesteryear (pre-1931) take to the roads in the annual MercedesBenz International Gordon Bennett Rally. This event is organised by the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club to commemorate the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup race run over closed roads in counties Kildare, Laois and Carlow and won by the Belgian driver Camille Jenatzy driving a Mercedes.
The rally starts today at 2.30 p.m from the Mercedes-Benz HQ at Naas Road, Dublin. Tomorrow they start at the Montague Hotel near Portlaoise from 9 a.m and the route will take in Abbeyleix, Borris-in-Ossory, Roscrea and Birr. The cars can be seen at the County Arms Hotel in Birr during the lunch break. The return route to the Montague will be via Mountmellick. On Sunday there will be a gathering at The Moate of Ardscull near Athy from around 11 a.m until 1 p.m.
In other news, Michael Keohane (Clonakilty) competes in a Formula EFDA (previously Foumula Opel) race at Monza in Italy on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Japanese manufacturers Toyota and Nissan compete against German marques Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi in this weekend's Le Mans 24Hours race in France.
Weekend Fixtures
Friday - IVCCC Gordon Bennett Rally, starts Mercedes-Benz HQ, Naas Road, Dublin, 2.30.
Saturday - Gordon Bennett Rally, re-starts The Montague Hotel, near Portlaoise, 9 a.m.
Sunday - Motorcycle racing, Mondello Park, first race 9.20 a.m; Gordon Bennett Rally, The Moate of Ardscull, near Athy, 11 a.m-1 p.m; Ballina MC, Autocross, Hanley's Field, Claremorris, 12.30; Co Kildare MC 4x4 Trial, Tullow, Co Carlow, 12,0; Southern KC kart racing, Tynagh, Loughrea, Co Galway.
