THE highlight of the 1996 motor-racing year was unquestionably the IMRC/Leinster MC joint promotion of the Rothmans Phoenix Park road races in August. The weather was not exactly of heat-wave temperatures last year, but two days of sunshine brought out the crowds in huge numbers. All the classes produced close and exciting racing, but everyone was thrilled by the sight and glorious sound of the historic Grand Prix cars.

It was a hard act indeed to follow, but the promoters and sponsors have more surprises in store for this year's Park races on August 16th and 17th - a return of the historic Grand Prix cars and classic sports racing cars are on the cards. All will be revealed in due course.

An RIAC ruling will remove all championship rounds for single-seater racing cars i.e., Formulae Opel, Ford and Vee, from the Park event. This is to eliminate the `compulsory' factor of having to race at the meeting for championship points. This is unlikely to affect the entries seriously, and the hazards of road racing are mentally over-ruled by the honour and glory of a Phoenix Park victory.

Last July, the Mondello racing management received planning permission from An Bord Pleanala, following refusal by Kildare County Council, for an extension to the track. When finished, hopefully this year, Mondello will have a circuit length of over two miles which will open up opportunities for more international meetings.

Initial plans for the extension show a series of tight corners in fact more of the same. Perhaps this is not the way forward, for although Mondello produces close racing, the nature of the circuit with its short straights and tight turns makes for difficult overtaking. Some faster bends would surely be more challenging for the drivers and make for more exciting racing.a

The bib spectator attraction is, of course, the European Rallycross Championship fixture, on June 21st and 22nd. Last year there was a ludicrous clash of dates between the Euro event and the Donegal International Rally, but this summer the Donegal fixture is a week earlier.

Of the race meetings, the first Irish Super Prix in September was by far the best. The mixture of 3.5 litre ex-formula One and 3000 cars had all the right ingredients - tremendous acceleration and the thrilling sound of real racing engines. And for good measure there was a new lap record, winner Johan Rajamaki of Sweden driving his Footwork FA13B/Judd V10 to claim the 1000 guineas with a time of 50.72 seconds beating the 52.30 set in 1988 by Martin Donnelly in an Eddie Jordan Racing F.3000 car.

The Irish Super Prix will be held at Mondello until the year 2001, and a field of 20 Formula One/3000 cars is being invited for this race on May 18th. The Leinster Trophy meeting will take place on the later date of September 20th and 21st, and may feature a round of the Formula Opel Euroseries. There are even talks of the Nations Cup at Mondello.

Bridgestone Tyres may not sponsor the Irish Formula Opel Championship this year. If the numbers are not there to make for full grids, the writing could be on the wall for the premiership in Irish racing. A replacement could be found in Formula Libre, a "free for all" class, but there is always the danger that this could lead to "cheque book" racing, which would no doubt price itself out of existence for all but the very wealthy.

The Mondello motor racing season starts on March 16th. In addition to the various car events, there will be a full programme of motorcycle and kart racing.

In 1996, the Royal Irish Automobile Club issued 2,700 competition licences. The growth in motorsport over the last seven years is reflected in the dramatically increased number of competitors, from 1,864 in 1990.

Each licence holder most likely has a minimum of two to three close followers, mechanical both professional and amateur, helpers, timekeepers, even team managers. This adds up to at least 10,000 to 12,000 people actively involved in some form of motor sport, and that does not take into account all the organisers, rally and circuit marshals, officials and so on, ad infinitum.

The RIAC of course only issues competition licences in the Republic. The RAC does so in Northern Ireland, and the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster and Southern Centres) issues licences for motorcycle sport.

A new club, the North-East Motorsports Club, has been granted affiliation to the RIAC Motor Sport Commission. The club will operate in Co Louth, led by well known rally enthusiast Adrian Crawley who is the hon. secretary. He can be contacted at 2 John Street, Ardee. Phone/Fax: 041-56885.