DOUBLE British Rally Champion Keith Cronin has shelved his progress to the next level of the sport due to a lack of opportunities.

AS if a Munster derby needed any extra spice, tonight’s eircom League clash between Waterford United and Cork City at the RSC (7.30pm) offers a striking contrast in fortunes.

Competing in a World Rally Car on gravel surface for the first time, Gareth MacHale made it a winning debut in the Carrick on Suir Forest Rally, round one of the McCauley Trailers National Forest Championship.

IT’S a venture into the unknown for Dubliner George Tracey, who competes in the Swedish Rally, the second round of the World Rally Championship, that begins today.

Cork driver Gerard Lucey (Toyota Special), needing to finish ahead of his championship rival David Forde (Toyota Special), did just that and duly annexed the Munster Autocross Championship at the final round of the series at Clonakilty this afternoon.

With just two of the 23 stages remaining in the Gibbs Aquada Manx International Rally, a counting round of the Irish and British Pirelli Championships.

After the opening six stages of the Ordnance Survey Ireland/Gleneagle Hotel Rally of the Lakes, the third round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman (Subaru WRC) have a 34 second lead over Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely in a Toyota Corolla WRC.

Finnish driver Tapio Laukkanen, in his Subaru Impreza WRC S7, is top seed for the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2004.

Dubliner, George Tracey will become the first privateer in either Ireland or Britain to rally a Peugeot 206 WRC. The Cabinteely man has acquired the ex-Freddy Loix Peugeot 206 WRC and will debut the car on the forthcoming International Rally of the Lakes Rally in Killarney (May1-2).

IN the immediate absence of his principal rivals Glengormley’s, Derek McGarrity has an excellent opportunity to strengthen his bid to win the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac Championship for the very first time.

AUSTIN McHALE has been forced to withdraw from this weekend’s Swedish Rally, the second round of the World Rally Championship.

AS expected, Niall Maguire wrapped up the 2002 Dunlop National Rally Championship at the Clonmel Arms/FESP Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally.

AS expected, Niall Maguire wrapped up the 2002 Dunlop National Rally Championship at the Clonmel Arms/FESP Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally.

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

Setting fastest times on the opening three stages of the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, round 8 of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, Michael Barrable and co-driver, Dermot O’Gorman (Subaru WRC) have taken a 36 second advantage over the similar Subaru of Niall Maguire.

Leading from the start, Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin, in their Subaru WRC still lead the Breaffy House Hotel Mayo Rally, round one of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Former national rally champion, Niall Maguire set the fastest time on the first stage of the Breaffy House Hotel Mayo Rally, the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Irish duo, Roy White and Michael Patterson, in their FESP Mitsubishi are in sixth place going into the fourth and final day of the Bianchi Rally in Belgium.

There was drama aplenty for Irish crew Eamonn Boland/Anthony Nestor prior to the start of the Bianchi Rally in Belgium.

It's a case of home and away for Irish drivers this weekend, as they face into two days of rallying, racing, karting and autocross.