MOTOR SPORT:Paul O'Connell (Limerick) has six wins from eight of the 16 rounds of the Premier Machine Tools Hillclimb/Sprint Championship, and leads the series on 78 points from Simon McKinley (64), Peter Dwyer (52) and Frank Byrnes (47).
This weekend the Corkscrew and Scalp hills in Co Clare will be alive with the sound of powerful racing cars in two more championship rounds.
Defending champion Frank Byrnes should be able to utilise the power of his 4.5-litre Pilbeam to advantage over O'Connell in his more nimble Delta.
They both face a new challenge from Donal Griffin (Shannon) in a Reynard. The 1998/99 champion has acquired the Formula 3000 car raced by Noel McIntyre and has fitted a similar 4.5-litre Rover V8 engine to Byrnes' Pilbeam. Simon McKinley continues to set incredible times in his Ford Escort Mk.2 but may run his Lant single-seater in Clare instead of the saloon.
Lots of weekend novelty at Mondello Park with races for three British championships: Uniroyal Fun Cup for VW Beetle "look alikes", retro-look Legends and Pick-Up Trucks.
Tomorrow's Formula Vee final is an FDS Worldwide Express Championship round in which the points standings are: 1 Paul Sammin 65; 2 Shane Ringwood 52; 3 Robert Casey 42.
Sunday's programme features Formula Ford and saloon championship races.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday:IVVC, Gordon Bennet Rally, starts Mount Wolseley, Tullow, Co Carlow, 9am; Clare MC, Corkscrew Hillclimb, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, 11am; IMRC, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, 11.40am; Skibbereen & District CC, Autotest, Kilbrogan, Bandon, Co Cork, 3pm.
Sunday:Co Monaghan MC, Forestry Stages Rally, starts Threemilehouse GAA Centre, Co Monaghan, 9.30am; IMRC, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, 9.55am; Midland MC, Stage Rally, starts Ballymahon, Co Longford, 10am; Skibbereen & District CC, Autotest, Kilbrogan, Co Cork, 10.30am; Clare MC, Scalp Hillclimb, Carron, Co Clare, 11am; Mayo & District MC, Autocross, The Valley, Swinford, Co Mayo, 11am.
