Motor sport: This week Kildare driver John O'Hara signed with Shell Kinetic Racing to contest the Asian Formula Three championship in a Dallara-Toyota.
First race for the Formula Ireland champion is at Batangas in the Philippines on April 25th. His campaign takes in races in the Philippines, China and Thailand.
Speaking from Manilia, O'Hara said: "The weather is really hot and the tracks are very challenging, so I have to be in the best shape to win here. I know the drivers are all of a very high skill level so this will really be a good challenge for me".
Leading contenders are reigning Asian champion Pepon Marave and Christian Jones, son of 1980 World Champion Alan Jones.
Kevin Lynch, Brian Murphy, Kevin O'Kane and Pat Norris in Subaru Imprezas head the entry for Sunday's Circuit of Wicklow, Round Three of the McCauley Trailers National Forest Stages Rally Championship.
It all points to another Lynch-Murphy battle for victory as they both tie on 38 points in the championship. The event starts from Laragh with 2x2 stages at Glenmalure, Drumgoff, Ballydowling Hill and Glenealy. Rally HQ is the Glendalough Hotel, service is in the grounds of Avondale House, Rathdrum.
Motorsport Ireland has introduced two new initiatives to encourage forestry rallying. The first three finishers in this year's National Championship will be guaranteed free entry to the World Championship Wales Rally GB on September 17th/19th.
Some 120 classic cars from 1927 to 1974 will be driven by crews of 18 Nationalities in the Hero Trial which starts in Dublin on Monday morning and will finish in Belfast on the following Saturday.
The cars are all in pristine condition and the event is promoted by John Brown, former rally navigator with Russell Brookes, of Hero (Historic Endurance Rally Organisation), with Alan Verso the route co-ordinator.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Sunday: MEC Circuit of Wicklow, starts Laragh 10 a.m.; North-East MC, Autocross, Athboy, Co Meath, 10.30 a.m.; Tipperary LC & MCC, 4x4 Trial, Dualla, Cashel, 11a.m.
Monday: Hero Trial, starts City West, Saggart, Co Dublin, 7.00 a.m.
