MOTOR SPORT: The McHale family is in the news again this week as Austin and sons Aaron and Gareth line up in round two of the British Rally Championship which starts this evening (7pm) in Carlisle. After an overnight stop the 380-mile event in Cumbria concludes tomorrow evening.
Competition for overall leader Austin McHale will come from the Higgins brothers. Reigning British champion David Higgins drives a works Mitsubishi Evolution VIII, along with Rory Galligan (Oldcastle). McHale is in a Ford Focus WRC.
Galligan was fourth overall and winner of the Production Class on the opening round, with Gareth McHale fifth, who has scored maximum points in the first four rounds of the Ireland National Forest Stages Championship driving a Toyota Corolla WRC. Aaron McHale, in a Mitsubishi Evo, is a contender for Group N honours.
British Championship (Points standing after round one): Drivers: 1, Austin McHale 20, 2, Sebastien Ling 18, 3, Jon Ingram 16, 4, Rory Galligan 15, 5, Gareth McHale 14.
The Irish rally focus switches to the Sperrin Mountains for tomorrow's round four of the Northern Ireland championship. Run out of Maghera, the tour has attracted 111 entries headed by reigning champion Kevin Lynch.
Having missed the two opening rounds of the German Formula Three Championship due to lack of sponsorship, Michael Devaney has signed with HS Technik to contest the rest of the series starting with two weekend races at Hockenheim, driving an Opel Speiss-powered Dallara. Leader is Frank Kechele of Germany on 18 points, with Chinese driver Ho Pin Tung second on 16. There are 192 points up for grabs over the next eight races.
Two recent wins at Croft have given Charlie Donnelly (Naas) a clear lead over American rival Joe D'Agostino after six rounds of the British Formula Ford Championship. The Naas driver needs two more good results on Sunday in Scotland to strengthen his grip on the championship.
A large contingent of Irish drivers compete at the Anglesey Circuit, Wales, in two weekend Dunlop Fiat Punto Abarth Championship races. Quention Smith leads on 45 points and following two recent Mondello wins Derek Graham is second on 32.
FIXTURES - Saturday: Carrick-On-Suir MC, Autocross, Airmount, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny, 10am. Sunday: Carrick-On-Suir MC, Autocross, Airmount, Slieverue, 10am; Mayo and District MSC, Autocross, Kilkelly, Co Mayo, 10.30am; IKC, Kart Racing, Mondello Park, 11am; Skibbereen and District CC, Autocross, Grancore, Clonakilty, Co Cork, 12pm.
