MOTOR SPORT

REIGNING CHAMPION Ray Breen had a disastrous start to this year’s Petro Systems National Forestry Stages Rally Championship when he retired his Ford Focus WRC with engine trouble on the recent opening round.

The Kilkenny driver is the number one seed in Sunday’s round two, the Carrick-On-Suir MC’s Willie Loughman Memorial Rally, which he won last year. His main challengers will be Trevor Harding (Subaru WRC), John Reid (Toyota Corolla WRC) and James Murphy (Ford Escort WRC).

Leading Group N is driver Pat O’Connell in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7. Harding was second to Keith Cronin on the opening round, and he is effectively the championship leader as Cronin is not contesting round two.

For two-wheel-drive expert Frank Kelly it will be a busy weekend as he drives his Ford Escort Mk.2 in tomorrow’s Omagh MC Spring Rally, after which he takes the long road to Tipperary.

Ray Breen’s son Craig leads the Junior Championship after his class win in round one at the wheel of a Citroen C2R2.

This year’s Larsen Circuit of Ireland will be just a two-day event on Easter Saturday and Sunday, based in Dundalk with all stages in Northern Ireland (south Down and Armagh).

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday – Garda Síochána MC, Sporting Trial, Aughfarrell, Brittas, Co Wicklow, 11.30am; Kerry MC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Tralee racecourse, 2pm. Sunday – Carrick-On-Suir MC, Forestry Stages Rally, starts 9.30am; Kerry MC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Tralee racecourse, 11am.