A round of the British Rallycross Championship, and the penultimate round of the RIAC National Championship both take place this weekend. Tomorrow at Mondello Park, Dubliner Dermot Carnegie should set the pace in his powerful Ford Escort Cosworth, but will be pushed hard by reigning British champion Helmut Holfeld in his Peugeot 306. Carnegie leads the British series with a maximum 200 points, 10 clear of Laurence Gibson (Banbridge).

Round three of the British Championship takes place today at Nutts Corner, Co Antrim. All the big names are competing. Rounds three and four of the RIAC Dunlop Hillclimb championship are scheduled for Co Clare. Today's venue is the Corkscrew hill, near Lisdoonvarna, while tomorrow they compete at Ballyallaban, near Ballyvaughan. Karl Cleary (Dublin) will again be hard to beat in his Metro 6R6, which, with its four-wheel-drive, should be ideally suited to the two Co Clare hills. There is a strong Irish quartet challenging for honours in the Formula Palmer Audi Championship.

The motorcycle road racing season roars into action with today's Cookstown 100 races over the new 3.2 mile Orritor Circuit.

Tomorrow's motorcycle drag races at Old Chapel near Bandon, Co Cork, sees the Irish Motor Cycle Club celebrate its 50th birthday. They will open their motocross season with tomorrow's event at Red Bog, Blessington.