One of the most arduous events in the World Rally Championship, Rally Italia Sardegna (Round 7), marks the beginning of Citroen’s post-Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle era.

As Rally Portugal begins in earnest today, Craig Breen scarcely needs reminding that he is the only driver from within the top echelon of the World Rally Championship yet to win a round of the series.

Although second spot was snatched away on the final stage, Ballylickey’s Keith Cronin was satisfied with third place on his debut in the PCRS Hyundai i20 R5 on the Pirelli Rally, the opening round of the Prestone MSA British Rally Championship in Carlisle.

Cork’s Keith Cronin will debut a different car in the British Rally Championship as he bids to equal the legendary Jimmy McCrae as a five-time winner of the series.

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

Five-time world rally champion Sebastien Ogier will soon decide whether he remains with M-Sport or retires from the World Rally Championship.

Five races in this season’s F4 British Championship powered by Ford EcoBoost have whetted Lucca Allen’s appetite to make it to the top table of motor racing: Formula 1.

After enduring months of frustration, there was sheer relief for Dungannon’s Kris Meeke and his Killarney co-driver Paul Nagle as they clambered onto the bonnet of their Citroen C3WRC to celebrate victory in RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de Espana, round 11 of the World Rally Championship.

Second fastest through yesterday’s shakedown stage for RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de Espana, round 11 of the World Rally Championship, Irish pair Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle spearhead Citroen’s challenge for the three-day encounter.

Monaghan’s Sam Moffett (Ford Fiesta WRC) produced a start-to-finish victory in the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, to increase his chances of winning all three major Irish rally championships.

With four rounds completed Sam Moffett (Ford Focus WRC) is marching towards success in the Triton National 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. 

Following a winter of uncertainty, Irish rallying springs into action tomorrow with the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship.

The best young drivers line up to contest the Circuit of Ireland that gets underway today in Antrim.

Cork racing ace Matt Griffin opens his competitive season this afternoon in the Hankook 24 Hour of Dubai with the Dragon Racing Team.

The Moffett sibling rivalry is set to dominate Sunday’s Sepam Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally in Clonmel, following the late entry of the elder brother Sam.

The Irish pair Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) could find little comfort at the end of Rally Guanajuato Mexico where they finished well outside the top ten.

Over terrain that will be relatively familiar, Keith Cronin knows that any advantage he can accrue over Frenchman, Sebastien Chardonnet will be a bonus as they go head to head for the most lucrative prize within the WRC3 feeder category of the World Rally Championship.

THESE are busy times for Craig Breen, yet another emerging Irish rallying star.

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.

THE ambition to succeed in the new World Rally Championship Academy series has prompted young Irish rally star, Craig Breen, to alter his plans for the forthcoming season.

FORD’S challenger in the new look World Rally Championship, the Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car, was launched at the Autosport Show at the NEC in Birmingham yesterday.

SAFETY is paramount in any sport, but particularly in motorsport. From the start of next season, the HANS device will be compulsory in Irish rallying.

IT’s easy to see just why Sebastien Loeb is the World Rally Champion, thousands of spectators had first hand experience over the weekend as he set a scintillating pace in the Murphy Construction Cork 20 International Rally.

Marcus Gronholm’s participation in the Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Global Group Irish Tarmac Championship, was to gain experience of the Irish roads ahead of next November’s Rally Ireland.

Today’s eights stages of the First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Global Group Irish Tarmac Championship featured a terrific duel between World rally ace, Finland’s Marcus Gronholm (Ford Focus WRC) and the Subaru WRC of Derry driver, Eugene Donnelly.

In the second day of the Shell Donegal International Rally, Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) have extended their lead to 23 seconds.

THE MOONRAKER Rally, an event steeped in tradition, marks a beginning of an era for the Munster Car Club, the rally section of the now technically disbanded Munster Motor Cycle and Car Club, one of the oldest clubs in the sport that originally catered for four different aspects of motorsport.