Motor Sport Round-up: Record six-times winner Dermot Carnegie and former champion Lawrence Gibson, along with John McCluskey and George Tracey, should ensure an Irish victory in Sunday's British Rallycross Championship round two at Mondello Park.
Former British and European champion Will Gollop won the opening British round on his home circuit of Lydden in Kent, but is not entered for the Irish event and the British challenge of Pat Doran (Ford Fiesta), Andy Grant (Escort) and Tony Briggs (Renault Clio) is simply not strong enough to beat the leading Irish quartet.
Gibson finished second in the Superfinal at Lydden in his Metro 6R4, beating Carnegie (Focus) and Tracey (Peugeot 306). McCluskey is the man to watch at the wheel of his 550bhp Citroen Xsara WRC.
His challenge on Gollop in the opening round was ruined by a puncture and he limped home seventh. Carnegie, Gibson and McCluskey took the first three place in a clean sweep of last year's British Championship, and in the absence of Gollop the Irish drivers have a golden opportunity of establishing a dominant lead.
The entry of 36 for the Supermodified class includes British drivers Dave Bellerby (Peugeot 206), Mike Sellar (Clio), Kevin Proctor in a Lotus Exige and Mike Boak in an Audi TT, who face a strong Irish challenge from Michael Coyne in a 2.2 litre Fiesta and 1.6 Nova drivers Willie Coyne and Chris Grimes.
The favourites in among the 41 entries in the Hot Hatch Class are Julian Godfrey, Eoin Murray and Derek Tohill.
Although not a tarmac or national championship round, Sunday's Hillgrove Hotel-sponsored Monaghan event has attracted a quality entry headed by local hero and record triple national champion Niall Maguire.
The hillclimbers face their biggest challenge of the year in a two-day meeting on the daunting Ballyvaughan course in Co Clare.
Michael B Roche took maximum points in the opening round of the Dunlop National Hillclimb Championship and has firmly established himself as the pace setter in his Reynard racing car.
Peter Dempsey (Ashbourne) won his sixth successive British Formula Ford 1600 race at Brands Hatch last weekend.
Dempsey has now won 11 of 17 races and goes for another win on the Silverstone British Grand Prix circuit this Sunday.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
SATURDAY: Galway MC, Ballyvaughan Hillclimb, Co Clare, 11.0am; GSMC, Sporting Trial, Ballenahoon, Doon Crossroads, Co Offaly, 11.0am.
SUNDAY: Co Monaghan MC, Stage Rally, starts Monaghan, 10.30am; Galway MC, Ballyvaughan Hillclimb, Co Clare, 11.0am; GSMC, Sporting trial, Doon Crossroads, Co Offaly, 11.0am; Tipperary LC & MCC, 4x4 Trial, Corcorans pit, Dualla, Cashel, Co Tipperary, 11.0am; Co Kildare MC, Rallycross, Mondello Park, 11.0am; Meath & District MC, Kart Racing, Athboy, Co Meath, 11.0am.
