CARLOW'S Stephen Murphy and his Waterford co-driver Mickey Joe Morrissey only need to finish in the top three in Sunday's Clare Stages Rally to win the National Rally Championship. For Murphy this would be his second title in a row, having won the Championship last year.

Driving his Ford Escort RS Cosworth, Murphy has won six of the eight rounds held to date this season at Ballina, Kerry, Carlow, Limerick, Waterford and Sligo. He only needs to count his eight best events, out of 14 rounds, and could take the score to a maximum of 160 points.

Murphy leads the championship on 136 points from two litre class leader Norman Armstrong in a Ford Escort Mk, on 76 points. Ford Escort RS Cosworth drivers Eamonn Boland and John Gilleece are joint third on 70 points, but both will be missing from round nine in Clare.

Main opposition to Murphy on Sunday will be Frank O'Mahony in his McKinstry prepared Suharu Legacy, Denis Cronin in a BMW Ray Breen in a Metro 6R4, and Escort Cosworth drivers Marlin Ward and J J Fleming.

Ken Lyons, Johnny O'Sullivan, Ed Synan, Jim Casey, Charlie Mavitty, David Armstrong, Hal Lewis, Mickey McArdle and Stephen Harris are all lifted in the capacity entry of 130.

Sunday's event starts from Fitzpatrick's Hotel at Bunratty and will cover 3x3 stages at Barefield, Dromore and, Wiltbrook with service in Ennis. Industrial Estate.

The Bandit Monster Car Crusher Trick is the big attraction at Mondello Park on Sunday, apart from no less than 11 races on the `anti clockwise' circuit featuring Bridgestone Formula Opel, Ireland Formula Ford, Formula Vee, Dunlop Fiat Uno and Northern Ireland Metro championship rounds.

Formula Opel leader Jason Pollock faces disqualification from the last three races, which he won. Following a check, his engine did not comply with the strict regulations governing the two litre engines uses in this formula. Pollock stands to loose 60 points which would drop his downs to fifth in the championship, and ironically elevate fellow Northerner Michael Edgar to first on points. Edgar was disqualified last year over a technical infringement.

Tomorrow's Temple 100 motorcycle races at Saintfield, Co Down, are a big warm up for the Ulster Grand Prix meeting at Dundrod on Saturday week.