WHAT began as a relatively low profile season for Alan Ring has ended up in a hectic end of season finale that has the former Kerry circuit racer chasing success on three different championships fronts.

Kilkenny’s Ray Breen and his Waterford co-driver, Andrew Purcell have won the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

With three stages remaining in the Murphy Construction Cork 20 International Rally, the final and deciding round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, Tim NcNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) hold a 49-second advantage over the Toyota Corolla WRC of Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC).

At the conclusion of the first leg of the Murphy Construction Cork “20” International Rally, Tim NcNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) have a 23 second advantage over the Subaru of Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman with Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) a further 22 seconds in arrears.

After six stages of today’s first leg of the Murphy Construction Cork 20 International Rally, Tim NcNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) hold a 37-second advantage over the Subaru of Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman with Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) a further 21 seconds in arrears.

London-based Limerick driver, Ollie O’Donovan and his Cork co-driver, David Moynihan won the eight stage Ennis-based Clare Rally.

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.

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.

It was a good day for Irish drivers in the Bournemouth based Rallye Sunseeker, the opening round of the Kumho National Rally Championship.

In very icy conditions, Brendan Crealey in his works backed Mitsubishi heads the Irish challenge in the Rallye Sunseeker, the opening round of the Kumho National Rally Championship.

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

At the Ferrari-owned Mugello track in Italy, Michael Cullen won the final event of the European Ferrari

The fifth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, the Adare-based Circuit of Munster is

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

Cork driver John McCarthy, on his debut in the ex-Bertie Fisher Subaru 555 on the Carrick on Suir

THE Irish rallying championship season gets underway on Sunday against the backdrop of a strong statement from the sport’s governing body, Motorsport Ireland.

Kenny McKinstry and co-driver, Sean Mullally won the Marine Hotel Fastnet Rally, the final round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

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.

Andrew Nesbitt has clinched his second Irish Tarmac Championship on the 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.

Colin McRae, the most successful driver in the history of the World Rally Championship, headlines the Punchestown Rally Masters on Sunday along with the cream of Irish rallying.

London based Limerick driver, Ollie O’Donovan and his Cork co-driver, David Moynihan ran out comfortable winners of the Des Golden sponsored Cork Rallysprint at the Cork Showgrounds.

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.

Kenny McKinstry and co-driver, Noel Orr have won the Rallye Sunseeker in Bournemouth, the opening round of the ANCRO Rally Championship. The Banbridge car preparation expert was never headed through today’s sixteen stages.

Banbridge driver, Kenny McKinstry has opened up a 32 second lead in the Bournemouth based Rallye Sunseeker, the first round of the ANCRO Rally Championship.

Setting fastest times on the first three stages, Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan, in an Escort WRC, have opened up a substantial lead in the Sean Conlon Memorial Forest Rally in Mitchelstown.

Swapping roles from that of co-driver, Brian Murphy won the Carlow Motor Club Rallysprint at Mondello Park that attracted an entry of 150 drivers.

Ballymena’s, Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan, in the ex-Eamonn Boland Escort WRC, won the Lismore Forest Rally by a 48 second margin.

The RT Greenmount Rallysprint at the new state of the art Limerick Racecourse went down to the wire.

The Marine Hotel Fastnet Rally, due to take place in Glandore, West Cork on Sunday 28th has been cancelled.

Midway through the World Rally Masters at Punchestown, Andrew Nesbitt, in his Subaru Ireland WRC, has a one second lead over the Toyota Corolla WRC

Andrew Nesbitt has won the first ever Punchestown Rally Master in his Cuisine de France Subaru WRC.

Three Irish co-drivers with their respective Middle East drivers hold top ten places entering today’s final leg of the Jordan International Rally.