The Phoenix Park meeting should be the highlight of the Irish motor-racing year but it's sad that this weekend's programme of races will be but a shadow of former glory days in Dublin's famous parkland.

The joint organisers, Irish Motor Racing Club and Leinster Motor Club, originally intended to introduce a novelty element by holding a rally stage on the Saturday, with famous international rally co-driver Ronan Morgan co-ordinating an invitation list of big name drivers.

It was to happen on the last weekend of July, until the powers-that-be decided to have the grand opening of Farnleigh, the former Guinness estate within the Phoenix Park, on July 29th.

To have noisy racing cars upsetting the chit chat at the champagne and strawberries party on the manicured lawns of the Government-owned mansion would not have been acceptable. So the motor racing had to be brought forward by a week.

A far cry indeed from the halcyon era of the Irish grands prix that ran from 1929 to 1931, when spectators paid admission, the army of the Free State was drafted in to assist in crowd and race control and Dail Eireann was officially represented.

The result of the enforced date change means that the rally stage has been abandoned, and will instead be held at Punchestown race course on Saturday week, July 28th.

Fastest cars in the Park will be the RT2000 saloons, in two non-championship races. The standings in the Dunlop Championship after four of nine rounds are a pointer to the form that can be expected over the weekend.

Brian Donegan with two race wins leads on 43 points from Jonathan Fildes (33), Mark Turley (32), Derek Cunneely (26) and David Donegan (24).