Motor SportGareth McHale has scored maximum points in all four rounds of the McCauley Trailers-sponsored National Forestry Rally Championship, which currently gives him a 15-point lead over John McCarthy.
McHale's season suffered a setback when his Toyota Corolla GT suffered rollover damage in the recent Scottish Rally, and he may be in an unfamiliar Subaru Impreza in Sunday's Monaghan event. This is the forest spec car driven by Brian Murphy, whenever he is not co-driver for Austin McHale.
McCarthy, Glenn Allen, Adrian McElvaney, Pat Norris and Kevin O'Kane are seeded in that order behind McHale and will no doubt push the championship leader over 40 miles of forest stages which are all in excellent condition for a fast pace. Maurice Gass will also be in the reckoning. Johnny McKenna is the leading Group N contender in the 100-strong entry.
Peter Dempsey, Noel Dunne, Mike Edgar and Richard Tannahill top the Formula Ford 1600 entry for Sunday's MEC Mondello meeting.
In Formula Libre the fastest pair will be Dan Daly in a Formula 3000 Reynard and Simon McKinley in his powerful Lant hillclimber. Jonathan Fildes on 90 points is racing away with the Dunlop Supercars series.
Likewise, Derek Graham on 92 points has built up a commanding lead over Quentin Smith (59) in the Dunlop Fiat Punto Abarths.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday: RIAC Pioneer Run, starts Dawson Street, Dublin 2, 9.00am. Skibbereen & District CC, Autocross, Knockroe, Innishannon, Co Cork, 2.00pm. Sunday: Co Monaghan MC, Forest Stages rally, starts Threemilehouse, Co Monaghan, 9.30am; Kerry MC, Autosolo, Tralee Racecourse, Co Kerry, 11.00am; Galway MC, Sprint, Tynagh, Portumna, Co Galway, 11.00am; MEC, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, 11.20am; Skibbereen & District CC, Autocross, Knockroe, Innishannon, Co Cork, 2.00pm.
