One of the most scenic locations in the country, Achill Island, provides the backdrop for the opening round of the Triton Showers Rally Championship on Sunday.

The World Rally Championship was launched at the Autosport Show at the NEC in Birmingham yesterday, with a strong interest from the Emerald Isle.

Donegal’s Donagh Kelly bids for a fourth successive victory at the Quality Hotel West Cork Rally this weekend - a feat that has never been achieved in the 40-year history of the Clonakilty event.

A case of third time lucky and with it the luck of the Irish as Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle took their Citroen C3 WRC to victory in Rally Mexico, round three of the World Rally Championship. 

Having failed to go the full distance in the opening two rounds of the World Rally Championship, the Irish duo of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) seek better fortune on this weekend’s Rally Mexico, the first gravel event of the year. 

Having set the fastest time on the qualifying stage for the SATA Rallye Acores, round four of the European Rally Championship, Craig Breen and co-driver Scott Martin on board their Peugeot Rally Academy 208 T16 brought that form through last evening’s opening three stages to lead the event.

As the World Rally Championship moves to higher temperatures in Rally Guanajuato Mexico in stark contrast to the two rounds in Monte Carlo and Sweden, the Irish crew of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle in their Total Abu Dhabi Citroen DS3 WRC know they have to stop making the type of mistakes that have already cost them valuable championship points.

Motorsport: Organisers of the Irish Forest Rally Championship received a major boost at their awards ceremony in Clonmel on Saturday night with the announcement that Valvoline will underpin the series for the next three seasons.

Irish rallying has received a major boost after Triton Showers was confirmed as title sponsor of the National Rally Championship.

Although not a round of the Dunlop series, tomorrow’s Kilkenny-based Raven’s Rock Rally has still attracted an entry in excess of 100 crews along with 18 competitors in the junior category.

Already shaping up to be a good contest between the Subaru S11 quartet of Dunlop regulars Kevin Barrett and Niall Maguire and newcomers, Thomas Fitzmaurice and Brian O’Mahony, the Dunlop National Rally Championship continues on Sunday with the Claremorris based McWilliam Park Hotel/Fleet Transport Magazine Mayo Rally.

FORMER five-times Irish Tarmac champion Eugene Donnelly is a dramatic late entry for next week’s Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally in Bantry.

A LATE entry from Armagh’s Darren Gass (Subaru WRC) has added extra spice to Sunday’s Carlton Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally in Tralee, the second round of the Top Part West Coast Championship.

TWO of Ireland’s most talented drivers, Waterford’s, Craig Breen and Fermanagh’s, Alastair Fisher compete in the WRC Academy series that begins this weekend alongside Rally Portugal, the third round of the World Rally championship.

OVER two years since he last competed, five times Irish Tarmac champion Austin MacHale makes a return to action behind the wheel of a BMW M3 on Sunday.

Ireland’s World Rally Championship top points scoring driver in 2007, Gareth MacHale (Ford Focus WRC), leads the entry for the Circuit of Ireland that begins on Friday, March 21.

Reigning Dunlop National Rally Champions, Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy (Ford Focus WRC) have won the Castlebar based TF Royal Hotel & Theatre Mayo Rally, the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

The opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, the Castlebar-based TF Royal Hotel & Theatre Mayo Rally, resulted in a fine victory for former Dunlop champion Ray Breen and his co-driver, Damien Morrissey.

The Castlebar-based TF Royal Hotel Mayo Rally was won by Derry driver, Charlie Donnelly today.

IT’S a venture into the unknown for Dubliner George Tracey, who competes in the Swedish Rally, the second round of the World Rally Championship, that begins today.

KENNY McKINSTRY starts this weekend’s Clonakilty based Quality Hotels West Cork Rally as favourite with the Banbridge car preparation expert bidding to complete an unique hat-trick.

ANDREW NESBITT and NIALL MAGUIRE are still uncertain about their title defences in 2003. Nesbitt is the reigning Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac champion while Maguire is the Dunlop National Rally Champion.

Leading from the start, Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin, in their Subaru WRC still lead the Breaffy House Hotel Mayo Rally, round one of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Former national rally champion, Niall Maguire set the fastest time on the first stage of the Breaffy House Hotel Mayo Rally, the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Donegal's Eugene Ferry, in a Mk. 2 Ford Escort, has consolidated his lead in the Castlecourt Hotel Mayo Rally.