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

Dom Buckley/Brian Murphy won the Carlow Rally, the fourth round of the Dunlop Championship.

The opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, the Breaffy House Hotel Mayo Rally was won by Niall Maguire and co-driver, Paul McLoughlin, their Subaru WRC finished the 12 stage rally 22 seconds ahead of the similar car of Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell.