WITH their home event just a week away, Irish drivers, Colin Turkington and Gavin Smith will be hoping to improve their current positions within the British Touring Car Championship in Sunday’s three rounds at Croft.

With a thrilling victory in the Sligo Rally, Kilkenny driver Ray Breen (Ford Focus WRC) has boosted his chances of landing the Dunlop National Rally championship.

Kilkenny’s Ray Breen notched up his first major rally success today by winning the Suirway Forklifts Raven’s Rock Rally in Waterford.

Cork-born driver, Donie O’Sullivan and his Killarney co-driver, Paul Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) leads the Crosbie Cedars Hotel Wexford Rally by some 20 seconds after the opening two stages.

After four stages of the Sepam Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, the seventh round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, Jim Harrison and co-driver Harvey Bell in the McKinstry prepared Subaru WRC have a 20 second advantage over the Subaru of Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan.

Entering the final two stages of the Sligo Rally, the sixth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) has a seven second lead over the Subaru of Patrick Elliott with Sean Devine, also in a Subaru WRC over two minutes behind in third.

Derry driver, Kevin Lynch, co driven by Gordon Noble, took his maiden victory in a round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship at the Waterford based Suirway Forklifts/Eddie Garry Car Sales co-sponsored Raven’s Rock Rally, round five of the series.

Dunlop National Rally Championship leader Niall Maguire and co-driver Paul McLaughlin have crashed out of the Raven’s Rock Rally, round five of the national series.

After a four year absence from competitive action, Carlow’s, Stephen Murphy and co-driver, Mickey Joe Morrissey in a Subaru WRC won the Seven Oaks Hotel/Dargan Tools Carlow Rally by over a minute from the Subaru of Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell with Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan, also in a Subaru, third.

Midway through the Seven Oaks Hotel/Dargan Tools Carlow Rally, former Irish National Rally champion, Stephen Murphy and co-driver, Mickey Joe Morrissey (Subaru) have a 22 second lead over the Subaru of Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell with Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan, also in a Subaru, a further 15 seconds adrift.

Garnering 27 seconds from stages four, five and six, Niall Maguire and co-driver, Paul McLaughlin, in a Subaru WRC, now lead the Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Rally, the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, by 41 seconds.

Niall Maguire, in a Subaru WRC, leads the Monaghan Rally, the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, after the completion of the opening loop of three stages.

At the half way point of the Circuit of Wicklow Forest Rally, round three of the McCauley Trailers Irish

A dramatic finish to the Sean Conlon Memorial Rally in Mitchelstown resulted in a fine victory for Brian Murphy and co driver Joe Downey (Subaru Impreza), who reeled in early leaders John McCarthy/Dan Maguire (Toyota Corolla WRC) on the penultimate stage.

Derry’s, Kevin Lynch, in his KPL Subaru World Rally Car emerged an easy winner of the nine stage Roscommon Moto Rally – finishing with a victory margin of two minutes and seven seconds.

Eugene Donnelly, courtesy of his victory in the Galway Summer Rally in Portumna, is the new leader of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Dunlop National Rally Championship contender, Eugene Donnelly leads the Galway Summer Rally in his Subaru at the end of the opening loop of three stages.

Former double RT2000 Irish champion, Jonathan Fildes, in his first full season of racing in Britain, won the seventh round of the Elf Clio Renaultsport Championship at Croft where fellow Irishman, Eoin

Derry’s, Eugene Donnelly, in his Rally of the Lakes winning Subaru WRC has a 37 second lead after four of the eight stages of the Suirway Forklifts Raven’s Rock Rally, the sixth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Derry’s, Eugene Donnelly and co-driver, Paddy Toner, won the Woodland’s House Hotel Circuit of Munster, the fifth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Wicklow’s Eddie Kinirons in a Toyota Celica leads the Midleton based Moonraker Forest Rally, round four of the KBB Doors National Forest Championship after six of the event’s ten stages.

Setting fastest times on two of the three stages of the second loop, Michael Barrable (Subaru WRC) has stretched his advantage in the Monaghan Rally to 20 seconds.

MICHAEL KEOHANE and Austin McHale face their respective assignments in Donington Park and the Circuit of Kerry with a common theme – success in a British Championship.

Leading from the start, Sean Gallagher and co-driver, Liam Costello (Escort Cosworth) dominated the Midland Mini Stage Rally in Carrick on Shannon and ran out convincing winners by 39 seconds.

In the first round of the Dunlop National Rally championship, the Downhill House Hotel Mayo Rally,

THE Irish rallying championship season gets underway on Sunday against the backdrop of a strong statement from the sport’s governing body, Motorsport Ireland.

TREVOR MOORE, in an Escort Cosworth, won the Toshiba Rally after he capitalised on the retirement of Robbie McGurk (Subaru) who set the pace through the first five stages.

The Irish National Forest Rally Championship will be decided on the final round as championship leader, Eugene Donnelly failed to finish today’s penultimate round, the Birr Forest Rally.

MICHAEL KEOHANE made a dramatic return to the British Formula 3 Championship at Thruxton where he claimed a podium place in the first race and drove a sensational race

Cork driver, Michael Keohane, made a dramatic return to the British Formula 3 championship at Thruxton today to claim second place behind race winner, Heikki Kovalainen.

Portadown’s, Adam Carroll (Sweeney Racing) is the 2002 Avon Tyres British Formula 3 Scholarship Champion.

AS expected, Niall Maguire wrapped up the 2002 Dunlop National Rally Championship at the Clonmel Arms/FESP Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally.

AS expected, Niall Maguire wrapped up the 2002 Dunlop National Rally Championship at the Clonmel Arms/FESP Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally.

Second place on the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally for Niall Maguire was enough to clinch the 2002 Dunlop National Rally Championship, his second win in four years.

Entering the final three stages of the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, the eighth round of the Dunlop

Setting fastest times on the opening three stages of the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, round 8 of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, Michael Barrable and co-driver, Dermot O’Gorman (Subaru WRC) have taken a 36 second advantage over the similar Subaru of Niall Maguire.

Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin in their Subaru WRC have won the Sligo Rally, the seventh round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship and can now clinch the series on the next round in Co Tipperary.

Niall Maguire and co-driver, Paul McLaughlin have eked out a nine second lead over the Toyota Celica of Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely in the Sligo Rally, the seventh round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Clonakilty’s Michael Keohane finished second in the first of today’s Avon Tyres British Formula 3 races at Brands Hatch. He finished behind pole sitter, Robbie Kerr with Rob Austin completing the podium celebrations.

Northern Ireland’s, Eugene Donnelly, driving a Toyota Celica ST205, is continuing his recent fine form as he leads the Formula Karting Mourne Rally.

London based Limerick driver, Ollie O’Donovan and his Cork co-driver, David Moynihan ran out comfortable winners of the Des Golden sponsored Cork Rallysprint at the Cork Showgrounds.

Cork driver Michael Keohane has moved into second place in the Avon Tyres British Formula 3 Championship race at a rainy Croft near Newcastle.