Nesbitt and Maguire undecided over races

ANDREW NESBITT and NIALL MAGUIRE are still uncertain about their title defences in 2003. Nesbitt is the reigning Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac champion while Maguire is the Dunlop National Rally Champion.

Speaking from a short holiday break in Austria earlier this week, Nesbitt said: “At this moment, I haven’t made up my mind. One thing for certain is that 22 Motorsport will again be the key to the whole plan.” All of the events in the Irish Tarmac Championship are very special in their own right for Nesbitt, who has been practically invincible since his first Tarmac Championship victory in 2000.

Eamonn Boland, who is set to compete in the Monte Carlo Rally later this month is destined to have a new Subaru WRC and dovetail the Irish series with other events.

Eugene Donnelly, winner of the West 2002 last November, is also linked to the Tarmac Championship. Tim NcNulty, who has acquired a Subaru WRC, will contest the Tarmac series and will use the Circuit of Kerry as a shakedown.

Meanwhile, Niall Maguire said he would like to compete in the Tarmac Championship but may resort to the defence of his Dunlop title. He will contest the opening round of the Dunlop series, the Mayo Rally in early March and will decide on his plans after a few rounds. Cork driver, John McCarthy has acquired the ex-Bertie Fisher Subaru Impreza 555 and will contest the National Forest Championship in late February.

The Carrigtwohill-based businessman, who campaigned a succession of Ford Escorts in recent years, should be amongst the challengers for Eugene Donnelly’s crown.

Although it may come as surprise to take such a car into the forests, McCarthy has very legitimate reasons for doing so. McCarthy first rallied in the 1982 West Cork Rally and from a seeded position of 76, he finished up 20th overall.

The past season, in which he campaigned in an Escort WRC, he set times comparable with the front-runners, however, a litany of niggling problems always seemed to thwart his efforts.

Over the coming weeks the car will be converted to gravel specification in preparation for the series with McCarthy’s regular co-driver, Dan Maguire also returning for the championship bid.

The series is set to include a two-day event in Cork in late July.

Brian Murphy, well-known co-driver to Austin MacHale has agreed to purchase Patrick Elliott’s Subaru Impreza.

Although he reiterated that his first commitment remains with MacHale, he is likely to use the car on some gravel events this season. He won the 2001 Carlow Rallysprint and has shown considerable pace on events like the Carrick Forest rally.

The Monaghan Night Navigation trial starts from the GAA complex, Threemilehouse tomorrow night and on Sunday, the Hewison Autotest series resumes with the Midland Autotest at the Roscommon Enterprise Centre, Roscommon at 11.00am.

The top six after eight rounds are 1. JJ Farrell (Mini Special) 166 points; 2. Eddie Peterson (Mini Special) 166 points; 3. Eamonn Byrne (Mini Special) 162 points; 4. Chris Grimes (Mini) 133 points; 5. Sam Johnston (Mini Special) 128 points 6. Paddy Power (Mini Moke) 119 points.