Further to their maiden WRC win, the Irish duo of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) tackle this weekend’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal, round five of the World Rally Championship, in confident mood. They are also expected to benefit from redefined aerodynamics on the front end and a new bumper and redesigned wings.

The Moonraker Rally in Ballyvourney and the Rally de Portugal may not have that much in common other than gravel surfaces, but both have a tangible link with former triple British rally champion Keith Cronin.

Motorsport: Kelly and Flanagan Donegal’s Donagh Kelly and his Derry co-driver Kevin Flanagan (Ford Focus WRC) won the Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship.

Motorsport: It’s six years since a Tarmac champion made a successful defence of the series.

Dean Raftery is ready to make his mark in the World Rally Championship after being honoured at the Irish Motorsport Awards yesterday.

For Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle, today’s final round of the World Rally Championship, Rally GB, is the closest they get to competing on home ground.

On the cusp of his maiden Irish Tarmac Championship success, Donegal’s Declan Boyle (Subaru WRC) is taking nothing for granted ahead of the Todds Leap Ulster Rally, the penultimate round of the Clonakilty Black Pudding-supported series in Enniskillen this afternoon.

The British crew of Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank (Subaru WRC) roared to victory in the Trim-based ALMC Rally, round four of the REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship.

The Irish crew of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) made a bright start to Rally Poland – round seven of the World Rally Championship – and hold third place, seven seconds behind the VW Polo WRC of leaders Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia heading into today’s seven stages.

All seven nominees for this year’s Billy Coleman Award for the Young Rally Driver of the Year have now been announced.

There was a dramatic finish to the Sean Conlon Memorial Rally, round four of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship in Mitchelstown as Lisburn’s, Philip Morrow and co-driver, Simon Morrow (Mitsubishi) edged out Cork pair, Owen Murphy/James O’Brien (Mitsubishi) by three seconds.

The West Limerick Forest Rally, the opening round of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship, ended with a dramatic final stage victory for County Down’s, Philip Morrow and co-driver, Johnny Hart.

Galway’s Dean Raftery and Monaghan’s Daniel McKenna and Stephen Wright have been shortlisted for the 2012 Billy Coleman Award with a top prize of €50,000.

The full complement of nominees for the 2012 Billy Coleman Award, the top award in Irish motorsport, has been completed with the addition of two bi-monthly winners along with championship nominees and a wildcard selection.

Valvoline National Forest Rally Champions, Cork pair, Owen Murphy/James O’Brien (Mitsubishi) won the Mallow-based Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, the fourth round of the series after finishing 6.3 seconds ahead of Colin Britton/Arthur Kierans with former champions, Pat O’Connell/Mark Wiley just nine tenths of a second behind to complete a Mitsubishi top three.

Garry Jennings (Subaru 555), current leader of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship, could take a major step towards the title in tomorrow’s Mallow-based Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally.