On what was his first rally in over eight months, Wexford’s James Stafford, in his rear wheel drive Darrian T90 GTR, took a well-earned victory in the Kilkenny-based Raven’s Rock Rally.

Although not a round of the Dunlop series, tomorrow’s Kilkenny-based Raven’s Rock Rally has still attracted an entry in excess of 100 crews along with 18 competitors in the junior category.

These are difficult times for all involved in Irish motorsport and while Sunday’s Circuit of Munster Rally is going ahead as planned, a number of the top crews have withdrawn as a mark of respect following the fatalities at last week’s Cavan Rally.

Whatever their individual qualities, the combination of stages in the Killarney area and those within the Beara Peninsula are probably unequalled within Europe.

HOME at last — the Munster Agricultural Society (MAS) has finally found permanent exhibition grounds at Curraheen, Cork, following five years of searching.

The Ordnance Survey Killarney International Rally of the Lakes, the third round of the Global Group Irish Tarmac Championship, has been won by Dungannon’s, Kris Meeke and his Swedish co-driver, Jonas Andersson.

An exciting Sepam Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally was won today by Ray Breen with Andrew Purcell in a Ford Focus WRC.

British crew, Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Subaru WRC) took their second victory in a round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, this time on the Woodland’s House Hotel Circuit of Munster Rally, the fourth round of the series.

WITH three different leaders after each of the opening three rounds, the Dunlop National Rally Championship is shaping up to be an intriguing contest.

Former World Rally champion Colin McRae is to appear at the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005, which will take place over the May weekend.

Changing weather conditions brought good fortune for Ballylickey’s Denis Cronin and his co-driver, Helen O’Sullivan (Subaru WRC).

Throughout today’s eight stages of the first leg of the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally in Clonakilty, local drivers, Liam McCarthy and Denis Cronin have been locked in combat and at the overnight halt, Dunmanway driver, McCarthy is just three tenths of a second ahead of Ballylickey’s Cronin, both in Subaru WRC’s.

WITH an air of expectancy, the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship season begins tomorrow with the First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally. Several top drivers are involved in some type of change, a factor that adds further intrigue to the first of the eight round series.

In a closely fought encounter, Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin won the Adare based Circuit of Munster Rally, the fourth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Cavan driver Patrick Elliott and his Cork co-driver David Moynihan (Subaru WRC) are the early leaders of the Adare-based Circuit of Munster Rally, the fourth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

As an event, this Ordnance Survey Ireland/Gleneagle Hotel Rally of the Lakes, the third round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, had all the ingredients.

Fresh from his win in yesterday’s Circuit of Kerry Rally in Dingle, Killarney’s Donie O’Sullivan heads

Killarney’s Donie O’Sullivan and co-driver Paul Nagle in their Ford Focus WRC won the Circuit of Kerry, the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Overnight leader Eamonn Boland and co-driver, Damien Morrissey are again setting the pace in the second and final day of the Murphy Construction Cork “20” Rally - the final round of the Toshiba

Eugene Donnelly has extended his advantage over Niall Maguire to 40 seconds with three stages remaining in the Galway Summer Rally.

Dunlop National Rally Championship contender, Eugene Donnelly leads the Galway Summer Rally in his Subaru at the end of the opening loop of three stages.

Andrew Nesbitt and co-driver James O’Brien have a 58 second advantage over the Subaru

Derry’s, Eugene Donnelly and co-driver, Paddy Toner, won the Woodland’s House Hotel Circuit of Munster, the fifth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

CONTAINING some of the most daunting stages in Irish rallying, this weekend’s Ordnance Survey Ireland/ Gleneagle Hotel co-sponsored Killarney International Rally of the Lakes, has several potential winners.

WITH three races at the Avon Tyres British Formula 3 Championship at Snetterton, the pendulum has swung back in favour of Robbie Kerr, who netted two wins yesterday.

TOMORROW'S Edinburgh-based Jim Clark Memorial Rally unites the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac and the Pirelli British Rally Championships for the first of three occasions this season.

Despite losing time on today’s second stage of the Irishmobiles.com West Cork Rally, Melvyn Evans in an Escort WRC continues to hold the advantage in slippery conditions.