Leader in sights of Welsh ace Evans

Dunlop National Rally Championship leader Thomas Fitzmaurice will battle a strong overseas contingent at Sunday’s ALMC Rally in Meath and Louth.

The rally is a counting round of the REIS Get Connected UK Asphalt Championship, with Welsh ace Mel Evans (Subaru WRC) heading the 80-plus entry. A regular in Irish rallying, he is the overwhelming favourite and Kerryman Fitzmaurice played down his own chances over the nine stages.

“The engine has just been rebuilt and I need to run it in and also blow off the cobwebs so to speak,” he said. “I’ll play it good and safe and see what happens after that. I’m actually quite nervous as I haven’t competed since early May.”