Sport

Byrne seeking to bounce back

MOTORSPORT: Eamonn Byrne still has his sights set on winning the Hewison Trophy for a ninth time and is hoping to get his title…

By Brian Foley
Fri Jan 03 2003 - 00:00

MOTORSPORT: Eamonn Byrne still has his sights set on winning the Hewison Trophy for a ninth time and is hoping to get his title challenge back on course in Sunday's Midland Motor Club event at Roscommon Enterprise Centre.

Byrne failed to finish last time out and that setback sees him lying only third in the championship despite the fact he had won four of the previous six races in the series.

The Delgany driver trails JJ Farrell and Eddie Peterson, both on 166 points, by four points in the overall standings. Farrell is the overall leader by virtue of his two wins to Peterson's single victory.

Byrne is expected to redouble his efforts in Sunday's race as he seeks to equal Dermot Carnegie's record of 10 championships wins.

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Meanwhile, Irish crew Eamonn Boland and Damien Morrissey have entered a Subaru Impreza WRC in this month's Monte Carlo Rally, the opening round of the 2003 World Rally Championship. Paddy Hopkirk is the only Irish winner of the Monte Carlo Rally, driving a Mini Cooper S to a historic win in the 1960s.

The Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club has issued regulations for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz International Gordon Bennett Rally which will run over five days, from June 4th to 8th. As this event celebrates the centenary of the 1903 race held in Ireland, a capacity entry of 250 cars from pre-1905 to 1930 is expected.

2003 MERCEDES-BENZ INTERNATIONAL GORDON BENNETT RALLY: Details - Entries close January 31st. Entry forms from rally secretary Martin Leech, 128 Butterfield Park, Rathfarnham, D 14. Mobile: 087-2211807.

HEWISON SERIES STANDINGS: 1 JJ Farrell 166 points; 2 E Peterson 166; 3 E Byrne 162; 4 C Grimes 162; 5 S Johnston 128; 6 P Power 119; 7 K Irwin 113; 8 P Phelan 97; 9 D Carnegie 95; 10 L Cashman 95. Class leaders: C Grimes (Mini Saloon); E Byrne (Mini Special); K Irwin (Sports Cars-Westfield); L Cashman (1300cc Saloons-Toyota Starlet); J Pringle (Over 1300cc Saloons-Nova); D Hendrick (Novices-Starlet).

WEEKEND FIXTURES: Saturday - MEC Freeman Cup Sporting Trial, Crosschapel, Blessington, Co. Wicklow, 11.30.

Sunday - Midland MC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Roscommon Enterprise Centre, Race Course Road, Roscommon, 11.00.