Motorsport: Irish drivers face home and away action

It's a case of home and away for Irish drivers this weekend, as they face into two days of rallying, racing, karting and autocross.

The three-day Cyprus Rally, the latest round of the World Rally Championship, involves two Irish co-drivers.

Chris Patterson partners Greek driver, John Papadimetriou while Trevor Agnew calls the notes for British driver, Neil Wearden. Both are in Peugeot 206 World Rally Cars.

There is a much bigger Irish contingent in Belgium for the Bianchi Rally starting in Charleroi on Saturday morning.

The Wexford/Limerick combination of Eamonn Boland and Anthony Nestor, in their NVD Subaru WRC are seeded at number three.

Tipperary’s Roy White and his Northern Ireland co-driver, Michael Patterson, who are currently third in the Group N category in the Belgian series, are hoping to close the gap to the leading duo in the showroom category.

Meanwhile, Patrick Price, like White, in a Mitsubishi Evo 6, along with Rory O’Connor and George Tracey ensure plenty of Irish interest in the two-day event.

15 of the 21 stages take place on Saturday and the rally finishes on Sunday afternoon.

Robbie Coleman and Matthew Griffin will contest the fourth round of the British Formula Renault Championship at Silverstone. Coleman will race with Team DFR and Griffin is a member of the Manor Motorsport team.

The race meeting is part of the TOCA package that includes a night race, hence Saturday’s 7pm start for the Renaults.

On the domestic scene, round three of the Irish Karting Championships at Kartworld, Watergrasshill will feature some 180 karters spread across the

various classes.

Qualifying starts at 10.30 am on Sunday with the first of the finals getting underway at 3.30pm.

Two Loose Surface Autocross events are scheduled for Grancore, Clonakilty, Co. Cork and Scotstwon, Co Monaghan on Sunday.

The Clonakilty event is a round of the Munster Autocross Championship with the likes of former national champion, Ger Brennan and rally driver, Ray Benskin, amongst the line-up.

Elsewhere, the Wexford Autotest in New Ross has a noon start.