MOTORSPORT: Patrick Elliott starts Sunday's Cavan Rally as leader of the Dunlop National Championship for the second successive year, but the Cavan driver has yet to win a round of this year's series.
Seeded three in his local event at the wheel of a Subaru WRC he must decide whether to drive for championship points or go flat out for that first victory.
Elliott has 70 championship points from a possible 80 and leads in-form Charlie Donnelly in his Toyota Corolla WRC by 12.
Reigning champion Ray Breen is down in joint eighth place on 31 points alongside fellow Ford driver Michael Barrable. The Kilkenny driver may pull out of the series as, with two non-finishes from the first four rounds, he feels a successful title defence is beyond reach.
The capacity entry of 131 includes Martin Doherty and Kevin Barrett in Subarus, Maurice Gass and George Tracey in Corolla WRCs. Group N leader Alan Ring (35 points) will be challenged by Willie Fannin, Kevin Kelleher, Gabriel Martin, PJ McGrath and Ian Barrett. Group N champion Michael Curran returns to the series at the wheel of a Skoda Octavia WRC.
Listed amongst the 67 reserves and expected to come under starter's orders are Adrian McElvaney, winner of the Monaghan round, Barrable and Hugh Martin Doherty.
Run out of Cavan town, the 3x3 stage locations are: Bunnoe, Larah and Shankill, Rally HQ at the Hotel Kilmore.
The much coveted British Racing Drivers Club Golden Helmet, usually awarded at Silverstone, goes to the Formula Ford final winner at Kirkistown, Co Down, tomorrow.
Last year's helmet was won by Peter Dempsey, who has already won the first four rounds of this year's UK Formula Ford series. Noel Dunne, Neville Smyth, Paul Dagg, Alan Dwyer, Mike Edgar and John Ferguson are the fancied home drivers at Kirkistown.
Niall Breen is the Dunlop Young Racing Driver of The Month for April.
The 19-year-old Dundalk driver has scored two wins, a second and two third place finishes in five of the first six rounds of this year's British Formula BMW Championship.
Rallying legend Colin McRae in a Metro 6R4 will be a star attraction in this year's Shell Donegal International Rally.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday: 500 MRCI, Motor Racing, Kirkistown, Co Down, noon; Cork MC, Classic Retro Trial, starts Clonakilty, Co Cork, 1pm. Sunday: Co Cavan MC, Stages Rally, starts Cavan, 10.45am; Killarney & District MC, Autocross, Cork Road, Killarney, Co Cork, noon; Wexford MC, Autocross, Cappagh, Co Waterford, noon.
