Escorts to the fore at Birr Rally

Motor Sport: Birr and District Auto Club received over 200 entries for Sunday's Birr Rally, but can only start the regulation…

Motor Sport: Birr and District Auto Club received over 200 entries for Sunday's Birr Rally, but can only start the regulation maximum of 131 cars. Last year's winners Pat and Liam Higgins are seeded number one, followed by Cloughjordan brothers David and Owen Percy who finished second last year just one second behind the winning Longford crew.

All of the top 12 are in Ford Escorts, with the exception of John O'Sullivan who will be at the wheel of his trusty Peugeot 205. The rally starts from Dooly's Hotel in Birr and the 10-miles stage is in the Killyon-Clareen area. The rally marshal's meeting-point on Sunday is at Kavanagh's bar, Killyon at 9 a.m. Enthusiasts willing to assist in the organisation should contact chief marshal Kevin Maher on 087-2795405.

The Irish Rallycross Championship gets under way at Mondello Park on Sunday. There is bound to be some high-powered action in the super final between Dermot Carnegie in a Ford Focus, reigning Irish champion Michael Coyne in a Ford Escort Cosworth and Metro 6R4 drivers Laurence Gibson and Danny Donoghue.

Leinster MC's Stapleton Cup trial in the Sloggers-Glenasmole area of the Dublin Mountains on Sunday is a round of the MCUI Southern Centre Championship.

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Munster Motor Cycle and Car Club has announced the Vernon Mount motocross track will be available for practice and competition events for the foreseeable future. Further details can be got from Gerry Cronin of the Munster Club on 086-8181717.

FIXTURES: Sunday - CKMC Rallycross, Mondello Park, 10.30 a.m.; Birr and District AC, Birr Rally, starts Dooly's Hotel, Birr 11 a.m.; Leinster MC, Stapleton Cup Trial, Glenasmole, Co.Dublin, 11 a.m.