IN a remarkable coincidence, the County Dublin village of Swords netted the young Driver of the Year awards for rallying and racing as Motorsport Ireland honoured its top achievers yesterday.

CHRIS PATTERSON (41) will be the new partner for Norwegian driver Petter Solberg in the World Rally Championship. Early last month, Phil Mills, Solberg’s regular co-driver, stepped down from his role with the flamboyant Norwegian, who has 152 WRC starts including 13 wins and one world title.

Dubliner, Gareth MacHale on board his Ford Focus WRC, heads up the entry for next week's Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally where opposition includes a trio of drivers that have already won this iconic event.

Irish drivers, Keith Cronin, Neil McCance and Daniel Barry took the top three places in the UK Mitsubishi Evolution Ralliart series on the RBS International Manx Rally that ended this afternoon.

Kenny McKinstry (Subaru) heads a strong Irish contingent at the end of the first leg of the Manx International Rally, a vital round of both the Irish and British Rally Championships.

Mid way through the Castlebar-based TF Royal Mayo Rally, the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, British driver, Jim Harrison in his McKinstry hired Subaru WRC has a 15-second lead over the Subaru WRC of Donegal’s, Daniel Doherty.

Dunlop National Rally Championship leader Niall Maguire and co-driver Paul McLaughlin have crashed out of the Raven’s Rock Rally, round five of the national series.

In the Waterford-based Raven’s Rock Rally, with fastest times on all of the first four stages, Derry’s Kevin Lynch and co-driver Gordon Noble in a Subaru WRC have amassed a lead of 44 seconds over the Subaru of Dunlop National Rally Championship leaders Niall Maguire and Paul McLaughlin, who are a further 14 seconds ahead of the Subaru of Jim Harrison and Harvey Bell.

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.

Former Irish Tarmac Champion, Kenny McKinstry and co-driver, Noel Orr, in a Subaru WRC won the Roush Manx Rally.

Surviving two moments today when problems cost him almost two minutes, Donie O’Sullivan and Paul Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) have won the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally in Clonakilty.

After dominating most of today’s eight stages, Killarney’s, Donie O’Sullivan and co-driver, Paul

After four of the eight stages of the Glandore based Marine Hotel Fastnet Rally, Kenny McKinstry in a

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

Wexford driver, Eamonn Boland set the pace on the opening four stages of the Murphy Construction Cork “20” Rally, the final round of the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac Championship.

Having won the other major rallies in Co Cork, the Cork '20' and the Fastnet Rally, Kenny McKinstry today added to that impresive list with a well merited win in the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally.

At the conclusion of an exciting first leg of the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally in Clonakilty, former

The Subaru WRC’s of Kenny McKinstry and Michael Barrable are dominating the early stages in the

KENNY McKINSTRY starts this weekend’s Clonakilty based Quality Hotels West Cork Rally as favourite with the Banbridge car preparation expert bidding to complete an unique hat-trick.

CELEBRATING a century of involvement in Irish Motorsport, Dunlop is again supporting the National Rally Championship that begins in Ballina on Sunday.

A MINIMUM prize fund of €25,000 has been put up for this season’s Formula Ireland championship that will begin in Kirkistown on April 5.

Kenny McKinstry and co-driver, Sean Mullally on board their Subaru WRC have a 29 second lead heading into the final stages of the Marine Hotel Fastnet Rally.

THERE can be few greater comparisons in Irish rallying than Sunday’s restricted single stage rally in Cahir, which is in sharp contrast to last week’s Cork 20 International Rally.

Fastest on all today’s five stages, Andrew Nesbitt has a 45 second lead in the Murphy Construction Cork '20' International Rally, the penultimate round of the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac Championship.

MOTIVATION is not an issue for Andrew Nesbitt ahead of the Murphy Construction Cork “20” International Rally that is set to yield the Armagh ace his second Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac Championship title.

Clonakilty’s Michael Keohane finished second in the first of today’s Avon Tyres British Formula 3 races at Brands Hatch. He finished behind pole sitter, Robbie Kerr with Rob Austin completing the podium celebrations.

Clonakilty’s Michael Keohane had a disappointing qualifying session for the seventh round of the Avon Tyres British Formula 3 Championship at Knockhill, Scotland today.

Melvyn Evans and his co-driver, Alun Davies, duly won the Irishmobioles.com West Cork Rally in Clonakilty with fellow overseas crews, Steve Fleck/Mark Aspinall (Subaru WRC) and Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Subaru WRC) completing the top three.

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.

Through today’s eight stages, Melvyn Evans, in an Escort World Rally Car was virtually untouchable.

Richie Curran (Escort Cosworth) ran out an easy winner of the Carrick Suirway Single Stage Rally in Carrick on Suir.