Motor sport ColumnEddie Peterson has a perfect record of 10 successive wins in the Motorsport Ireland Hewison Trophy 2004/05 series. And although he trails Eamonn Byrne by three points after 11 rounds, Peterson is virtually certain to win the autotest championship for the first time.
Along with Dermot Carnegie, Byrne has a record 10 Hewison titles. This season he is driving a Mini saloon and scored maximum points in the opening round, in the absence of Peterson in his Mini Special. Over rounds 12 and 13, in Monaghan on Sunday and Rathcoole on February 20th, the points standings are likely to change in favour of Peterson as drivers count their best 12 scores out of 16 events.
STANDINGS: E Byrne 253pts, E Peterson 250, C Evans 242, P Power 227, C Grimes 220.
CLASS LEADERS: Byrne (Mini saloon); Peterson (Mini Special), Evans (Westfield sportcar), L Cashman (Toyota Starlet), F Lenehan (Opel Corsa). Europa Cup (novices): G Lynch (TCS) 34; M Doran (Corsa) 30; C Nutty (Locost) 26.
The exciting battle between Eugene Donnelly and Austin McHale in the Galway International will no doubt be renewed in the Circuit of Ireland at Easter, of which the Ulster Automobile Club released details this week.
Round two of the Pirelli Tarmac rally championship will be based in Enniskillen. The main rally will take place over three days, starting with a super special stage at St Angelo on Easter Saturday morning, which will feature for the first time a crossover bridge and a tunnel with two cars racing head-to-head.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday: Donegal MC, Navigation trial, starts Mill Park Hotel, Donegal, 8.45pm.
Sunday: Co Cavan MC, Autocross, Ballybay-Cootehill Rd, Cavan, 10.30am; Co Monaghan MC, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Round 12, Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan, noon.
