LIAM O'CALLAGHAN of Kanturk is aiming for his first international rally victory in this weekend's Fitzpatrick's Silversprings Hotel Cork 20 and, barring an accident or mechanical trouble, he should do it.
O'Callaghan, in a Toyota Celica GT4, heads the 70 strong entry and his main opposition will be Eamonn Boland in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth, also trying for his first international win, Frank O'Mahony in a Subaru Legacy, Denis Cronin in a BMW and Liam McCarthy in another Escort Cosworth.
Bertie Fisher has won the Tarmac Championship, for the fourth time, and is not competing in Cork. James Cullen is also opting out of the final championship event and if O'Callaghan wins he will demote Cullen from second to third.
Today's stages are around Macroom, while the tomorrows stages will be held North of Cork between Fermoy and Mallow.
Jamie Whitman and Niall Mackenzie are two of the British riders competing in today's Sunflower International motor cycle races over the 1.9 mile Bishopscourt circuit. All eyes will be on Ulster rider Phillip McCallen, as well as Ray Stringer, Jason Griffiths, Paul Brown, Ian Simpson, Jim Moodie, Woolsey Coulter, Robert Dunlop and Phelim Owens.
Today's 10 race programme includes all the usual classes, the open Sunflower Trophy feature race and two sidecar races.
Belfast rider Derek Young (Honda) clinched the Regal 600 Championship in a dramatic battle with Alan Irwin of Newtownabbey on a Kawasaki at Bishopscourt last Saturday. Both riders will race again at Bishopscourt today.
Only seven seconds separated Eamonn Byrne and Dermot Carnegie after 12 autotests in the last round of the BIAC Hewison Trophy Championship, held at Newcastlewest. Byrne has five Hewison titles to his name but has a long way to go to match the record 11 championships won by Carnegie.
Carnegie leads the 1996/97 series on 94 points from Christopher Evans (90). Clive Peterson (83), Paddy Power (77), Byrne and Andrew O'Donohoe (75) each, Paul Phelan (70) and J J Farrell (68). Byrne's lowly position is due to the fact that he missed one of the four rounds held to date. But he has won three out of the three he raced and will be difficult to beat for a sixth Hewison title.
Dublin and District MCC's Moran Cup Trial tomorrow is the seventh round of the 12 round 1996 MCUI Irish Trials Championship. In Grade A, reigning champion Paul McLoughlin of Greystones leads Ulsterman Andrew Perry by 10 points, both well ahead of another Ulster rider Philip Hanlon in third place. Paul's brother Brian McLoughlin heads Grade B by seven points from Aaron Trecey.
In Grade C, Stuart Martin from Ashford, Co Wicklow has a 40 points lead over Conor Nolan. Ross Darlington, Karl Tracey and Derek Hogan are battling for Junior grade honours and Davey McBride leads the Pre 65 class. The D and D event is at Lacken, near Blessington.
Mark Mooney, Gillian Kinsella, Ian Kelly, Graeme Vigors and Robert Lynn are expected to set the fast pace in tomorrow's Acron Trophy Motocross at Priesttown farm Kilbride, Co Meath. The venue will be signposted from the main Dublin Ashford road.
Killarney and District Motor Club will run the first Killarney Historic Stages Rally on Sunday, December 8th. The event will consist of eight stages - Molls Gap, Borlin, Tim Healy Pass and Kilmackillogue run twice each and finally Molls Gap again, but in a reverse direction to the morning run.
It is hoped to attract a big entry of Historic, Post Historic and Classic rally cars, from home and abroad. Special rates are on offer in the Gleneagle Hotel and the ferries from Britain. Regulations and further details from the vent secretary Angela Nagle on 064-32052.
