DUBLIN driver Richie Holfeld will contest seven of the nine World Rally championship events this year at the wheel of a factory Group N Mitsubishi Lancer. His challenge starts with the Swedish Rally on February 8th 12th. Holfeld will have the very experienced Ian Grind rod, four times winning co driver on the Circuit of Ireland, as co driver.
Holfeld and his manager Ian Hume have been working towards a full factory backed world championship programme for the past two years. Holfeld has done most of his rallying abroad. In 1991 he won the British Trials and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA) Gold Star championship driving an MG Metro 6R4. He was also third overall in the 1993 Middle East rally championship, finishing second in both the Oman and Dubai rallies.
Meanwhile, entries for the Galway International Rally on February 17th-18th are beginning to shape up, with Liam O'Callaghan in one of the latest Toyota Celica GT4s and National Champion Stephen Murphy in a Escort Cosworth two of the top contenders.
The Barrable brothers Michael and Barry, who both tasted success last year, mount a two car challenge in this year's Dunlop Touring Championship, racing identical two litre Astras.
The motor racing season does not start until March but already there have been changes to the originally published calendar. The Kirkistown (Co Down) meeting listed for April 27th is cancelled and will be replaced by a new fixture on May 11th. The Irish Motor Racing Club's Mondello meeting, scheduled for October 13th, has been changed to October 20th. A round of the new (British) Grand Prix Lights is listed for Mondello Park on May 19th.
Team MSR International, the motorcycle racing team set up in 1994 by Co Antrim businessman Robert McLaughlin, has announced plans for the 1996 season. Five riders will compete in road racing James Courtney, on a 250cc Honda. Phelin Owens and Callum Ramsey on 250cc Aprilia machines and Alan McGregor (250cc Yamaha) and Nigel Robinson (600cc Honda). In motor cross, Danny McLaughlin will ride Honda bikes in the 125cc and 250cc classes with Richard McKeown on a 125cc Honda.
The two Hewison Trophy auto tests, rounds 11 and 12 of the championship, will be held in Waterford, tomorrow and Sunday. J J Farrell leads on 224 points, closely followed by Eamonn Byrne on 198. With six wins to his credit, Byrne has made up for missing the two opening rounds and is nicely placed to win a fourth Hewison Trophy.
