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.

The overall title may have been decided, but the battle is still very much on as the M.E.Crowe Northern Ireland Rally Championship heads into the forests of Co Antrim for the grand finale - the Toshiba Rally.

Manx born, Mark Higgins in the David Greer prepared Toyota Corolla WRC leads the Manx International Rally at the end of today’s first leg.

Colin McRae dominated the Punchestown Rally Experience and at the end of the six timed runs, he had 14 seconds to spare over Irish Tarmac champions, Andrew Nesbitt/James O’Brien (Subaru WRC).

Colin McRae, the most successful driver in the history of the World Rally Championship leads the Punchestown

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.

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.

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.

Mark Higgins - co-driven by Belfast´s Michael Gibson (Ford Focus WRC) - have won the Newcastle based Pirelli International Rally, the opening round of the Pirelli sponsored British Rally Championship.

David Sterckx, the driver that stands between Tipperary's, Roy White and a Group N Belgian Championship victory has retired from the Condroz Rally.

At Brands Hatch, venue for the penultimate double header in the British Formula 3 Championship, Northern Ireland’s, Matthew Gilmore (Performance Racing) topped the sheets in qualifying for tomorrow’s first of two races in the Scholarship Class.