IDENTIFYING each other as their principal rival, Dermot Kelly and John McCarthy have justified the decision of the organisers to seed them in the top two positions for Sunday’s Mitchelstown-based Sean Conlon Memorial Tipperary Forest Rally — the second round of the KBB Doors National Forest Rally Championship.

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.

Cork’s John McCarthy/Dan Maguire made an impressive start to the KBB Doors National Forest Championship with a dominant victory in the Suirway Lifts Carrick on Suir Forest Rally. Debuting a Subaru Impreza 555, they controlled the rally from the opening stage.

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.

Following his victory in the Windscreen Centre Cork Forest Rally, Eugene Donnelly (Toyota Celica) is the new leader of the KBB Doors National Forest Championship.

Through today’s eight stages, Melvyn Evans, in an Escort World Rally Car was virtually untouchable.

Kenny McKinstry and co-driver, Noel Orr have won the Rallye Sunseeker in Bournemouth, the opening round of the ANCRO Rally Championship. The Banbridge car preparation expert was never headed through today’s sixteen stages.

Setting fastest times on the first three stages, Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan, in an Escort WRC, have opened up a substantial lead in the Sean Conlon Memorial Forest Rally in Mitchelstown.

Swapping roles from that of co-driver, Brian Murphy won the Carlow Motor Club Rallysprint at Mondello Park that attracted an entry of 150 drivers.

Ballymena’s, Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan, in the ex-Eamonn Boland Escort WRC, won the Lismore Forest Rally by a 48 second margin.

George McAlpin extended his Ford of Ireland Ford Zetec Championship lead courtesy of a win on the eighth round in Kirkistown.

The Marine Hotel Fastnet Rally, due to take place in Glandore, West Cork on Sunday 28th has been cancelled.

Gwyndaf Evans, partnered by SEAT Sales Director, Gary Savage, proved too quick for the opposition in the SEAT Lurgan Park Rally.

Andrew Nesbitt has won the first ever Punchestown Rally Master in his Cuisine de France Subaru WRC.

Just a second covered the Subaru World Rally Cars of Kenny McKinstry and Andrew Nesbitt after the first run of the Punchestown Rally Masters.