The 2002 Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac Championship will consist of eight rounds - four of which are within the jurisdiction of Motorsport Ireland and the rest under the auspices of the Motor Sport Association (MSA) its British counterpart.

Former national rally champions, Peadar Hurson and Ian Porter, in their Toyota Celica ST205, are the early leaders of the Cedar Hotel Wexford Rally.

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone is under no threat from foot-and-mouth unless the crisis spirals out of control.