A massive battle for supremacy during the second leg of the Manx International Rally saw Eugene Donnelly (Toyota Corolla) move 20 seconds ahead of rival and fellow Northern ace Kenny McKinstry (Subaru) tonight.

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.

Derek McGarrity and co-driver, Diarmuid Falvey (Subaru WRC) have won the Kelso based Jim Clark International Rally - a counting round of both the Irish and British Rally Championships.

THE Irish bid to host a round of the World Rally Championship will be further scrutinised today at the World Rally Commission meeting at FIA headquarters in Paris.

Sixty-nine entries have been received for Rally Ireland 2006, Ireland’s bid for qualification for a round of the World Rally Championship (WRC).

As expected, Manx born driver, Mark Higgins in a Ford Focus has taken a facile victory in the Manx International Rally, a counting round of both the Irish and British Pirelli Championships.

Irish driver Kenny McKinstry will have to wait another year to win the Manx International Rally as the Banbridge driver crashed out midway through the final stage of this evening’s second leg.

Welsh-based and Manx-born driver David Higgins (Ford Focus) managed to keep a strong Irish challenge at bay on this evening's first leg of the Total Manx International Rally.

Former British Rally champion, Mark Higgins and co-driver Bryan Thomas have won the Jim Clark Memorial Rally in Kelso, Scotland.

Manx born driver, Mark Higgins, in his Ford Focus WRC, has stemmed the Irish challenge at the end of the first leg of the Kelso based Jim Clark Rally, where he holds a 40 second advantage.

Irish crew, Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) finished second in the Scottish Rally, some, two minutes and 10.6 seconds behind the Ford Focus of Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas.

Irish driver Austin MacHale is already looking towards the next round of the British Rally Championship after claiming victory in this weekend’s Rally of Wales.

Austin MacHale and co-driver, Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) have won the International Rally of Wales, the opening round of the Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship.

Although Austin MacHale retains top spot at the end of the first leg of the Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship, the revised interim results has promoted David Higgins up into second place – 59 seconds behind MacHale, who is bidding to win his first international rally in over seven years.

Irish drivers occupy three of the top four places at the end of the first leg of the International Rally of Wales, the opening round of the Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship.

Meteor Electrical will sponsor next year’s Circuit of Ireland Rally on Easter weekend (Saturday 26-Monday 28 March). The event will be based in Enniskillen.

Andrew Nesbitt today stretched his lead in the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland.

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.

THE conclusion of the Irish Karting Championships, the penultimate rounds of two forest rally championships and the motorcycle short circuit races dominate weekend action.

Heavy rain and fog made conditions difficult for today’s second leg on the Manx International 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.

Northern Ireland’s, Derek McGarrity and his Athlone co-driver, Dermot O’Gorman, in a Subaru World Car are the overnight leaders of the Jim Clark Rally, a counting round of both the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac Championship and the Pirelli British Rally Championship.

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.

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.

Having finished second in the Tour of Sperrins Rally yesterday, Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Celica) went one better today by winning the Moonraker Forest Rally, the fourth round of the KBB Doors National Forest Rally Championship.

In the FIA Formula 3 Europe Cup, the Grand Prix of Pau, Cork driver, Michael Keohane, competing in his first ever street race, was eighth fastest in the Group A qualifying session this morning at the French town near the foot of the Pyrenees.

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.

In the Pirelli International Rally in Gateshead near Newcastle, and with six stages completed, Finland´sTapio Laukkanen - in a Group N Subaru Impreza - holds a 27 second advantage over the Ford Focus of British driver, Mark Higgins and his Northern Ireland co-driver, Michael Gibson.

Irish driver, Michael Keohane qualified on the second row of the grid for tomorrow’s third round of the

Fermanagh’s, Garry Jennings, co-driven by Cork’s, David Moynihan were the top Irish crew in the 50-stage mile Advance Windows Systems Rally that took place in the forests of Sweet Lamb and Hafren in Wales.

One of the hottest properties in Irish rallying Rory Galligan has clinched a works drive with Peugeot in next season’s British Rally Championship.

Rory Galligan, co-driven by Kerryman, Paul Nagle has won the Peugeot Super 106 Cup category of the Banbury Rally and has clinched the 2001 title. Galligan, from Oldcastle, was in superb form all through today's 14 stages.

Meath's, Rory Galligan retains his lead in the Peugeot Super 106 Cup category of the Banbury Rally in Oxford. Mid-way through the 14 stages, he has some ten seconds to spare over fellow Irish driver, Kris Meeke.

In the Banbury Rally in Oxford, Irish drivers, Gary Jennings and Rory Galligan are in contention for overall victory in the Peugeot Super 106 Cup.

Garry Jennings, co-driven by James O'Brien, took fine win on the Ashford Rally in Kent, the penultimate round of the Peugeot Super 106 Cup.

Fermanagh's, Gary Jennings and his Cork co-driver, James O 'Brien are the early leaders of the Peugeot Super 106 category in the Rally of Kent.

Mathew Gilmore and Michael Keohane finished first and second in today’s final race of the British Formula 3 Scholarship Class at Brands Hatch.

Irish drivers filled two of the top three places in the first of today’s British Formula 3 Scholarship Class races at Brands Hatch.

For the second time today, Matthew Gilmore has taken top spot in the British Formula 3 Scholarship Class qualifying session at Brands Hatch.

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.

Leading from start to finish. Paul Harris and his co-driver, Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru Impreza), the reigning national champions, won the six-stage Clonmel