MOTOR SPORT:Former Tyrone GAA great Peter Canavan and motorcycle ace Robert Dunlop are listed in Saturday's Rally of 1000 Entries at Kirkistown, Co Down.
Canavan is co-driving with Derrick Jobb of Omagh, a former badminton champion, in a Subaru.
Dunlop takes the wheel of a Ford Escort with UTV's RPM presenter Pamela Ballantine in the hot seat.
The pacesetters will no doubt be Eugene Donnelly, Gareth MacHale, Kenny McKinstry, Gwyndaf Evans and Niall Maguire.
Bertie Fisher's widow, Gladys, is donating some of her husband's rally trophies to raise money for the new Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Fund and to send Christopher Evans to China for treatment.
Evans is paralysed from the waist down following an accident four years ago in the Monaghan stages, in which his co-driver Shane O'Neill was killed.
Meanwhile, the big rally event in the coming year is Rally Ireland, which brings the World Rally Championship to this country for the first time, on November 16th, 17th and 18th.
Rally Ireland HQ will be in Sligo, with tarmac stages over closed roads in Donegal, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Sligo and Leitrim.
And yesterday Stormont was a hive of activity as the sound of rally cars echoed round the Stormont Estate.
Rally Ireland descended on the estate to test it as a potential venue for the event's Super Special Stage next November.
Belgian WRC ace Freddie Loix took to the roads more used to the sound of rallying cries than rally cars. Loix was full of praise for the venue.
"I've competed in Super Special Stages in many countries around the world and, without doubt, this is the most spectacular one I've seen," he said.
"Stormont Buildings makes a stunning backdrop and the roads are exciting and challenging to drive on. I think it makes a perfect venue for a WRC Super Special Stage."
The North's secretary of state, Peter Hain, also participated in the test event, accompanying Loix as his co-driver, and said, "It's no secret that I'm a great fan of motorsport, which is why I have authorised today's event in the Stormont Estate.
"I am also grateful to all the officials who have worked tirelessly to organise this special test run."
Rally Ireland is a joint initiative of Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC) and is supported by both the Irish and British governments.
Rally Ireland is licensed by Motorsport Ireland and organised with the assistance of the ANICC and Motorsport Ireland clubs.
The Rally Ireland CEO, David Marren, said the Super Special Stage would be broadcast live on television in a number of countries and added that the decision to test the venue to assess its suitability had been taken for a number of reasons.
"We want to make the first time the World Championships comes to Ireland a real spectacle for everyone," he said.
"Our goal is to bring this event to as many people as we can by concentrating the fast-paced action in a venue where tens of thousands of people can easily access it and get a feel for just how exciting and exhilarating the sport is, and why 800 million people in 200 countries around the world watch the championships on television."
Marren said that Rally Ireland's technical and sporting team would be discussing the outcome of yesterday's test and hoped to confirm the event route very soon.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday - Magherafelt & District MC, Rally of 1000 Entries, Kirkistown, Co Down, 10am.
