Motor Sport: Michael Barrable has extended his lead in the Dunlop National Rally Championship following his recent win in Carlow.
The Dublin driver has a 13-point advantage over Adrian McElvaney (Monaghan), on 58 points.
Eugene Donnelly (Magherafelt) missed round three and has dropped to third on 38 points, in front of Seán Gallagher (37) and David Armstrong (30). After winning the Killarney International, Donnelly is back on the national scene in Sunday's Cavan stages.
It's going to be a hectic weekend for Donnelly who competes in his local Tour of Sperrins on Sunday. He is entered in a Subaru WRC for the Cavan event, but don't be surprised if he turns up in his older Toyota Celica borrowed from his brother Charlie, which is the same car he drove to victory ilast year's National Forestry Stages Championship in which he was second to Barrable.
Armstrong was unlucky to lose the Carlow event, his Ford Escort WRC slowed by two punctures on the final stage. Barrable in his Subaru WRC will be under pressure from Donnelly, Armstrong, reigning champion Niall Maguire and Londoner Jame Harrison over the tight Cavan stages.
McElvaney will no doubt be boosted by his second-place finish in Carlow and Patrick Elliott should be back behind the wheel after his Monaghan mishap. James Cullen and Rory Kennedy are favourites to win Group N in a Subaru. Cullen won the Cavan Rally in 1999. The showroom category opposition is most likely to come from Willie John Dokan in yet another Subaru and Willie Fannin in a Mitsubishi.
Wexford Motor Club run rounds three and four of the Dunlop Hillclimb Championship at a new venue near Fethard-On-Sea. Championship leader Michael B Roche and Michael A Roche will be competing on home ground, and will be challenged by reigning champion Frank Byrnes
WEEKEND FIXTURES: Tomorrow - Wexford MC, Dunlop Hillclimb, Fethard-On-Sea, 11.30 a.m.; Carrick-On-Suir MC, Autocross, Belline, Piltown, Co Kilkenny, noon. Sunday - Co Cavan MC, Dunlop Championship Rally, starts Hotel Kilmore, Cavan, 11.15 a.m.; Wexford MC, Dunlop Hillclimb, Fethard-On-Sea, 11.30 a.m.; Carrick-On-Suir MC, Autocross, Belline, noon; IKC, Kart Racing, Mondello Park, noon.
