MOTOR SPORT: Michael Keohane has landed a works Lola drive for the British Formula Three Championship. The Clonakilty driver will race for the Irish-owned Sweeney Racing Team, who will run the official Lola factory entry in the British series. The team will use Opel engines. Lola Cars is owned by Ballina-born Martin Birrane, who also owns Mondello Park.

Keohane won two rounds of the British Championship last year and finished fifth overall after missing five rounds due to the untimely death of his father Paddy.

Commenting on his signing Keohane said "I'm delighted to be given this opportunity to work with Lola and Sweeney Racing. Lola is the biggest maker of racing cars in the world and Sweeney Racing is a very professional team. The fact both companies are owned by Irishmen makes the deal even more exciting."

The British Championship consists of 24 races over 12 meetings in the UK and in Belgium, on the Spa Francorchamps GP circuit. He will also contest the British Grand Prix support race at Silverstone in July. The British Formula Three series commences at Donington Park on April 5th-6th.

The Ford Ka Rally Championship's opening round is incorporated in Sunday's Carrick-On-Suir Motor Club Forestry Rally. For the first time the Ka crews will compete in the forests, the second such event being the Cork MC Forestry Rally run out of Banteer on July 26th-27th. The tarmac rounds are: Circuit of Kerry (April 6th), Carlow Stages (May 11th), Tipperary Stonethrowers (August 10th) and Cork 20 (October 6th).

Meanwhile, Eddie Peterson, on 264 points, leads JJ Farrell (261) and Eamonn Byrne (257) in the Hewison Trophy championship.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday - Co Kildare MC, 4x4 Trial, Rockgrove, Coachford, Co.Cork, 11.00. Sunday - Carrick-On-Suir MC, Forestry rally, starts Carrig Hotel, Carrick-On-Suir, 9.15; Castle AC, Autocross, Latton, Co Monaghan, noon; MEC, Autotest, Johnston Haulage, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, noon .