JAMES CULLEN (Letterkenny), driving a Ford Escort RS Cosworth, and Andrew Nesbitt (Armagh), at the wheel of a Toyota Celica GT4, are expected to mount a strong challenge to Subaru Impreza driver Bertie Fisher in the Shell Unleaded 25th Donegal International Rally this weekend.
A big counter attraction to the Donegal event will be Sunday's Barum/Citroen European Rallycross Championship round at Mondello Park, which has attracted all the international rallycross stars, headed by championship winners Martin Schanche (Norway), Jean Luc (France) and Kenneth (Sweden).
The Donegal International has attracted almost 170 crews - 130 in the main rally, 27 histories and 13 Micra Challenge contenders. Fisher, a four time winner, with co driver Rory Kennedy of Letterkenny will lead off the rally today at 1.00 p.m. from the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny.
Cullen, winner in 1991, will have England's Ellen Morgan on "the pace notes. They will be third on the road, as late entrant Alister McRae of Scotland in a works Formula Two specification VW Golf will follow Fisher off the starting ramp.
Nesbitt, Eamonn Boland and Peadar Hurson in Escort Cosworths, Kenny McKinsty (F.2 Escort RS2000), Robbie Head (F.2 Renault Maxi Megane), Donegal's Paul Harris (Sierra Cosworth), Jimmy McRae (Porsche 911), Serge Jordan (Maxi Megane), Mark Lovell and Austin McRae (Celica GT4s) and top Group N contender Trevor Cathers (Subaru Impreza) are listed in the top seeds.
Fisher leads the Tarmac Rally Championship after three rounds. With a score of 50 points, he is well clear of Liam O'Callaghan (39), James Cullen (27), Stephen Finlay and Eamonn Boland (20 each) and Andrew Nesbitt (15).
Former winner Cahal Curley heads the historic section, followed by John Coyne, John Keatley and Dessie Nutt, all in Porsche 911s.
Today's 3x2 stages are at Letterleague, Glenmaquin and Sallybrook. Tomorrow's start is at 8.30 a.m., with three stages done twice. High Glen, Derrylaggy and Atlantic Drive. Following a regroup at Milford, there will be three more stages done twice: Kindrum, Fanad Head and Knockalla.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Norway's Martin Schanche and his latest high tech Ford Escort RS Cosworth in Sunday rallycross championship at Mondello Park. The man they call "Mr Rallycross" will debut the sensational new Escort in Round Five of the European series in Ireland.
Schanche is in ninth place in the Division Two, but the four time European champion is convinced he can still take the title, from Citroen drivers Jean Luc Pailler (Xantia T16) and Kenny Hansen (ZX T16), who are being sponsored this weekend by Citroen Ireland.
Michael Jernberg (Sweden), Martin Iversen and Ludvig Hunsbedt in Escort Cosworths, Per Eklund (Sweden) in a Subaru Impreza, Tommy Kristoffersson (Sweden) in an Audi Quattro and Britain's Will Gollop in a Peugeot 306 T16 head the big overseas entry in the division.
Dermot Carnegie and John Moloney defend Irish honour in Division Two, and British and Irish championship winner Carnegie is expected to be very quick at the wheel of his highly developed Escort Cosworth, rated amongst the three most competitive rallycross cars in the world.
