LIAM O'CALLAGHAN of Kanturk is aiming for his first international rally victory in the weekend's Fitzpatrick's Silversprings Hotel Cork 20, and barring an accident or car trouble, he should do so.
O'Callaghan in a Toyota Celica GT4 heads the 70 strong entry, and his main opposition will be Eamonn Boland in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth, also trying for his first international win, Frank O'Mahony in a Subaru Legacy, Denis Cronin in a BMW and Liam McCarthy in another Escort Cosworth.
Tomorrow's stages are around Macroom, while the Sunday stages will be held in an area north of Cork between Fermoy and Mallow.
Jamie Whitman and Niall Mackenzie are two of the British riders competing in tomorrow's Sunflower International motor cycle races over the 1.9 miles
Bishopscourt circuit located just a few miles from Downpatrick.
Only seven seconds separated Eamonn Byrne and Dermot Carnegie after 12 autotests in the last round of the RIAC Hewison Trophy Championship, held at Newcastlewest. Byrne has five Hewison titles to his name but has a long way to go to match the record 11 championships won by Carnegie.
Dublin and District MCC's Moran Cup Trial on Sunday is round seven of the 12-round 1996 MCUI Irish Trials Championship. In Grade A, reigning champion Paul McLoughlin of Greystones leads Ulsterman Andrew Perry by 10 points.
Mark Mooney, Gillian Kinsella, Ian Kelly, Graeme Vigors and Robert Lynn are expected to set the pace in Sunday's Acron Trophy Motocross at Priestown farm, Kilbride, Co Meath. The venue will be signposted from the main Dublin Ashford road.
Killarney and District Motor Club will run the first Killarney Historic Stages Rally n Sunday, December 8th.
Details are available from Angela Nagle Tel: 064-32052.
. Former world motor racing Nigel Mansell is poised to make a dramatic return to Formula One. The 42-year-old Mansell said yesterday he would love to race again and was simply waiting for the right offer.
The veteran driver's admission is bound to alert Jackie Stewart, who missed out on the signature of Damon Hill to front his new team for next season.
"If a good opportunity came along I would consider it seriously."
