Champion Maguire to race at Ballina

CELEBRATING a century of involvement in Irish Motorsport, Dunlop is again supporting the National Rally Championship that begins in Ballina on Sunday.

Defending Dunlop champion and last year's winner in Co Mayo, Niall Maguire, occupies top spot in his Subaru WRC, a car that is featured no less than six occasions in the top 10.

The Monaghan ace was practically invincible last year and although he is uncertain about a full championship assault this season, he will register for points in Ballina where the level of opposition is higher than last season.

His biggest challenge in the Downhill House Hotel-sponsored rally is set to come from West 2002 winner

Eugene Donnelly, also driving a Stan Harper-prepared Subaru WRC.

Donnelly is using the rally for a dual purpose as a shakedown for the Circuit of Ireland and also for a possible tilt at the Dunlop series.

The reigning Irish forest champion will start as favourite. David Armstrong, one of the most consistent drivers in the national arena, will make his debut on board the ex-Melvyn Evans Escort WRC.

The memory of losing the national title on the final round in 1991 remains quite vivid for Michael Barrable and he is intent on redressing the matter this season. His Subaru WRC is fully rebuilt as he begins his campaign to finally land the Vard Memorial Trophy.

However, there are several others with similar plans. British driver James Harrison, in a McKinstry-prepared Subaru WRC, is a contender. In the rounds he contested last season, he was more than a match for Maguire. He lost by 12 seconds in Mayo and on a tie-break in Kerry two results that give credence to his prospects.

Patrick Elliott, now armed with a Subaru WRC, will try to emulate last year's second overall in the Dunlop series.

Sunday's top 10 to compete in a loop of three stages repeated thrice in the Ballycastle area also includes Charlie Donnelly, (Toyota Celica), the Escort WRC of Kieran Shaw, James Gillen (Escort Cosworth) and the Subaru WRC of Adrian McElvaney.

Elsewhere, the entry features Sean Gallagher and Ivan Stewart, both in Escort Cosworths, Philip Shaw (Escort), Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC), Seamus Gallagher (Citroen Saxo),

Anthony O'Halloran (Opel Manta) and Sean Gallagher, who has returned from his exploits in Norway.

The Group N contest is a duel between the Mitsubishis of Ivan Stewart, Aaron MacHale, Michael Shaw and Stuart Darcy and the Subarus of Seamus Leonard and Noel McCarrick.

The first stage begins at 11.15 and service in Killala follows stages three and six. The rally is scheduled to finish at 6.30.

The National Autocross Championship begins in Nenagh tomorrow with the second round of the BioTech Engineering-sponsored series on Sunday at the same venue. Also tomorrow and Sunday, the closing rounds of the Hewison Autotest Championship take place in Tralee with the Mini Specials of Eddie Peterson (287 points), JJ Farrell (286 points) and Eamonn Byrne (281 points) occupying the top three places. Tomorrow night, the National Navigation Championship concludes in Monaghan third overall, the

Semi-Experts and Novice categories hang in the balance.

Michael Keohane completed the first test session with the new Lola-Dome F106 chassis at Snetterton earlier this week. Although weather conditions prevented comparisons with the other teams, the Sweeney Racing outfit expressed satisfaction with the outing.

"We clocked up some real mileage and everything went according to plan. We are gradually working through our test programme. It's great having Adam Airey on board from

Lola as the design engineer for the new car, his input is invaluable," said Keohane.

Meanwhile, team manager Roly Vincini remarked: "Michael's doing a great job and working well with the team. We're getting all the support we could ask for from Lola and now it's just a matter of getting our heads down and getting on with the job."

For the coming season, On the Limit Sports can be viewed on TV3 every Saturday (2.30pm) beginning on April 19. Meanwhile, TG4 will also broadcast a half-hour motorsport programme by the Mullingar-based outfit on Tuesdays at 9.30pm and a repeat on Saturday at 11.30am

The programme will also be transmitted on the satellite station Men and Motors.