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.

Motorsport: The Irish duo of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) had a frustrating day in Rally Poland, round seven of the World Rally Championship, and heading into the short Super Special stage late last evening, they had dropped to fifth position.

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.

Even with three British Rally Championship titles under his belt, Keith Cronin had not been able to progress his career due to a lack of funding.

Sebastien Loeb wrapped up his ninth consecutive World Rally Championship title in style with victory on home soil in France today.

Sebastian Loeb claimed his ninth Rally of Germany title with victory in Trier today.

Sebastien Loeb continued his dominance of the German Rally as he moved into a commanding lead on today’s second leg to stand on the brink of his ninth victory in this event.

Sebastien Loeb made a potentially decisive move in his quest for a ninth successive World Rally Championship title with a commanding first-day performance in Rallye Deutschland.

Local hero and six-time winner Niall Maguire heads a capacity entry for Sunday’s Monaghan Rally that includes a 30k stage as part of a three-stage loop.

World Rally S2000 Championship leader Craig Breen (Ford Fiesta S2000) seeks to consolidate his position in Rally Sweden, which gets under way in earnest this morning.

BRIDGING a 25-year gap, Midleton’s Daragh O’Riordan (29) became the first Cork driver since Billy Coleman to win the Silver Springs Moran Hotel/Orchard Motorsport Cork “20 International Rally.

Defending champion Sebastien Loeb looks set to win his second event of the current World Rally Championship season as he finished day two at the head of the field in Sardinia.

WATERFORD’S Craig Breen made a great start to the inaugural WRC Academy series in the Vodafone Rally de Portugal yesterday where he leads Estonian Egonaaur Kaur by 48.4 seconds after seven stages, with Fermanagh’s Alastair Fisher just 0.8 of a second behind in third.

Sebastien Ogier retained his lead after the second leg of the Rally Mexico but only after Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb fell foul of the rulebook.

Sebastien Ogier will take a 2.3-second lead into the second day of the Rally Mexico after edging out Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb on the first leg.

WITH the advent of a new title sponsor, Valvoline, organisers of the National Forest Rally Championship are hoping for a resurgence of the series as it gets underway next month.

IN his first full season in Irish rallying’s Group N showroom category, Monaghan’s Shane Maguire has already learned some salutary lessons.

NORWAY’s Petter Solberg and Irish co-driver, Chris Patterson begin today’s second stage of the Neste Oil Rally Finland in first position after setting the fastest time on last evening’s opening stage.

Championship leader Sebastien Loeb has warned he will not be taking anything for granted at the New Zealand Rally this weekend despite completing a hat-trick of wins last time out.

Sebastien Loeb made the perfect start to his bid to secure his sixth straight World Rally Championship title by winning four of today’s six stages to lead by 5.3 seconds after day one of the Rally of Great Britain.

Mikko Hirvonen took his first win on home soil at the Rally of Finland today to extend his World Rally Championship lead over Sebastien Loeb to three points.

World Rally Championship rivals Mikko Hirvonen and Sebastien Loeb enjoyed a thrilling battle for the lead on the first full day of the Rally of Finland.

Dani Sordo was the man to catch after the first day of the Rally Argentina after he won a thrilling battle with Mikko Hirvonen and Sebastien Loeb on the opening leg.

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb increased his advantage in the Cyprus Rally by eight seconds after claiming another stage victory on the gravel roads around Limassol today.

Sebastien Loeb continued his perfect start to the new World Rally Championship season by taking victory on Rally Norway to deal a major blow to Ford’s title hopes.

Sebastien Loeb has a 15-second lead going into the final day of Rally Norway after pulling away from Finnish rival Mikko Hirvonen during today’s seven stages.

SEBASTIEN LOEB holds the lead at the end of the opening day of the Rally of Norway, having moved ahead of Mikko Hirvonen on Friday’s final stage.

Jari-Matti Latvala maintained his lead at the end of the second day of the Wales Rally GB today despite allowing world champion Sebastian Loeb to claw back valuable time over the closing stages.

Ford’s Jari-Matti Latvala held a 12.9-second lead at the end of an action-packed opening day of the Wales Rally GB, as hail, sleet, ice and torrential rain caused major problems for the World Rally Championship fraternity.

Sebastien Loeb captured a record-breaking fifth straight World Rally Championship drivers' title today by finishing third at the Rally of Japan.

Mikko Hirvonen held onto the Rally Japan lead on Saturday, but conceded his world championship bid is virtually over after Sebastien Loeb remained on course for crown after holding onto third place.

Jari-Matti Latvala moved into the lead of the Rally New Zealand heading into the final day after Mikko Hirvonen and Sebastien Loeb eased off the power during today’s penultimate leg.

MOTORSPORT Ireland have stepped up their involvement in Rally Ireland and will actually promote the 2009 event that will kick start the World Rally Championship in late January. However, funding for the event has yet to be put in place.

Mikko Hirvonen reclaimed his spot at the top of the World Rally Championship standings today as Ford secured a one-two finish ahead of Citroen's Sebastien Loeb in Turkey.

Mikko Hirvonen will take a slight lead into the final day of the Rally of Turkey despite failing to make the most of running second on the gravel roads today.

FORD’S Finnish duo Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala gifted the lead to Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb at the end of the first leg of the Rally of Turkey in a tactical ploy to ensure the Frenchman starts first on day two.

Sebastien Loeb maintained his place at the top of the standings after coming back from a slow puncture early on day two of the Acropolis Rally in Greece.

BP Ford team leader Mikko Hirvonen admits he needs to learn how to control the World Rally Championship from the front if he is to take the title fight to reigning champion Sebastien Loeb.

Citroen's Sebastien Loeb edged closer to the top of the World Rally drivers' standings after holding off a valiant fightback by BP Ford duo Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala to win the Rally of Italy.

Reigning world rally champion Sebastien Loeb maintained his grip on the Italian Rally with some controlled driving on the second day.

BP Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen reclaimed the lead in the World Rally Championship after posting his first win of the season at the inaugural event in Jordan.

A sequence of unlikely events conspired to keep Citroen’s Dani Sordo at the head of the Jordan Rally standings at the end of day two.

Reigning four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb recovered from a difficult start to the Jordan Rally today to sit ominously just one second off the lead at the end of the first leg.

Sebastien Loeb remained on course for a fourth consecutive victory at the Rally Argentina, winning three of the nine stages on Saturday to put his Citroen nearly 80 seconds clear of second-placed Petter Solberg.