Motor Sport Column: Niall Maguire has the advantage of being on home territory in Sunday's Monaghan Stages Rally, where he should increase his lead in the Dunlop National Rally Championship in which he aims for a third victory to add to his 1999 and 2002 titles, writes Brian Foley
Maguire was second on the opening round, the Circuit of Kerry won by Donie O'Sullivan in a Ford Focus RS. O'Sullivan is not competing in Monaghan, which will leave the championship battle to Maguire on 18 points, James Harrison 16, Ray Breen 14, JJ Fleming 13, Kevin Lynch 12, Adrian McElvaney 11 and George Cullen 10, and all driving Subaru Imprezas.
Lynch is having a great season, with tarmac wins on the UAC Easter Rally and Roscommon stages, and two wins and a second in the first three rounds of the National Forest Stages.
Maguire campaigns the Subaru driven to victory on last year's Circuit of Ireland by Derek McGarrity, and Cavan's Patrick Elliott drives McGarrity's 2004 Circuit-winning Subaru. Rally HQ is the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan Town, with 3x3 stages at Doogary, Feebah and Selloo.
Michael Devaney makes his debut in the German Formula Three Championship at Hockenheim on Sunday. The Dublin driver put together virtually a last-minute deal to drive for the reigning champion team JB Motorsports. He will drive a Dallara powered by a Spiess Opel engine.
Motorsport Ireland twice nominated Devaney as Young Racing Driver of The Year, and in his second season in the German-based Formula BMW Championship in 2003 he won three races and finished fourth overall.
Michael Keohane (Clonakilty) has a one-off drive in the weekend's high-profile Nissan World Series at Zolder in Belgium. His debut in one of the impressive 450bhp Dallara-Nissan formula cars will see him race against an impressive field of international drivers, including Ralph Firman who raced for Jordan Formula One last year.
Keohane, who was pitching for a drive in American racing this year, said: "After coming so close to a Champ Car seat and missing out at the last moment I am keeping my hand in by doing this event with my old Formula Three team Carlin Motorsport. I am in discussions with teams in America for the future."
The Dunlop Hillclimb Championship heads west for Rounds Three and Four at Ballyran and Ballyvaughan in in Co Clare.
Venue for the end-of-season (2003-04) Sporting Trial weekend is Moanyarhe, Boola, near Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
