MOTOR SPORT:Marcus Gronholm, twice world champion, and Ireland's Gareth MacHale in a M-Sport "works" Ford Focus WRC led off last evening's ceremonial start in Eyre Square of the Galway International Rally, writes Brian Foley.

M-Sport is using the event as a full scale test for Rally Ireland in the north-west in November. Finnish ace Gronholm and MacHale face fierce competition from British champion Mark Higgins in a Subaru WRC, Eamonn Boland in another Focus WRC, and triple Irish champion and rally favourite Eugene Donnelly for the first time rallying a Subaru in place of his familiar Toyota Corolla WRC. The impressive entry is full of talented drivers in WR, including six times winner Austin MacHale, Tim McNulty, Kevin Lynch and Gareth Jones.