The RIAC/Red Mills National Rally Championships moves to the south-east for Sunday's Carlow Car Club Springhill Hotel Stages Rally, run out of Kilkenny with the 3x3 stages in Co Carlow, at Nurney (9.4 miles), Ballon (7.2 miles) and Clonegal (10.5 miles), service on the Tullow-Bunclody Road near Ballon.
Belfast dentist John Gilleece, defending champion and winner of this event last year, faces formidable competition from Michael Barrable who is making his first appearance of the year at the wheel of his Toyota Celica GT4 which he has had rebuilt and converted to right-hand-drive. Gilleece remains faithful to his trusty Ford Escort RS Cosworth and may have to give best to J. J. Fleming's latest spec. Escort WRC.
John McCluskey, Dermot Kelly and Tommy Graham in Escort Cosworths, Eamonn McAleenan in his hybrid Peugeot-6R4, Hal Lewis and Declan Wilmott in Metro 6R's, David Armstrong and Tom O'Riordan in Sierra Cosworths, Derek Smith and Joe McGurk in Escort Mk.2's will all be pushing for a top place finish.
Northern drivers Jonny Kane, Dino Morelli and Kevin McGarrity are having a tough time breaking into Formula 3000 this year. All three should be on the grid for the International Championship race at Barcelona tomorrow, which will follow qualifying for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
Dublin rally driver Richie Holfeld contests tomorrow's Manx National Rally as Group N leader in the British National Rally Championship ahead of Nick Foster after Round 2.
The Manx National Rally starts from the grandstand of the famous TT course in Douglas at 8.30 tomorrow morning, and competitors face 120 miles of 13 very fast asphalt stages.
Due to track works at Mondello Park, in preparation for the 30th Anniversary meeting on May 17th, Sunday's three-hour motorcycle endurance race has been postponed to a later date. The West Cork motorcycle road races at Clonakilty, listed for July 11/12th, have been cancelled.
