LAWRENCE GIBSON IN A Metro 6R4 beat Ford Escort Cosworth driver Helmut Holfeld to win the recent opening round of the Mondello Rallycross Championship. They lead the field in Sunday's Round Two, after which the series goes into hibernation until February 9th, with two more rounds scheduled for March 2nd and April 27th, 1997.

Red Bog, Blessington is the venue for tomorrow's MEC Sporting Trial, the third mud plug of the winter series. Gordon Erskine has won all three opening rounds at the wheel of the Erskine Harley Davidson Special, which he shares with his twin brother Philip. The latest Erskine creation features a front mounted Volkswagen engine, which is performing very well in the hands of Robert and Stephen Bell.

Robert was fourth first time out in the new Erskine VW, which he had only driven some 20 minutes prior to the first event of the season. Stephen then had a fifth place finish in the second event.

Although he is only currently ninth in the points standings, five times Hewison Trophy champion Eamonn Byrne is favourite to win the autotest championship. He snatched victory from Dermot Carnegie at Salthill last Saturday, as a result of Carnegie loosing five seconds for a line fault.

Byrne won by just half a second in one of the closest finishes. Byrne again beat Carnegie Sligo last Sunday.

Sunday's ISBMCC Motocross at Johnstown, Naas is the final such event of the year. Following the youth events, there will be a three hours race for 35 adult teams for the Eamonn Walsh Memorial Trophy.

Leinster MC's trial, in the Sloggers Bohernabreena area of the Dublin Mountains is the 12th and final round of the MCUI (Southern Centre) Championship.