A common complaint of current day Irish motor racing is that there are too many classes. But those who complain loudest should be told about the so-called good old days when entries were scarce on the ground and there were only a handful of closed road circuit races per annum.

This year there were thirteen championship classes, plus the Dunlop Sexton Trophy, the winner of which will not be announced until January 2000. Formula Europa was poorly supported with Vivion Daly taking the honours. The Ford Ireland Formula Ford Zetec Championship was won by Paul Dagg. Tim Buckley was the first division winner and Tony Rodgers won the Formula Ford 1600 series. Brian Hearty won the National Formula Vee Championship for a 4th consecutive year.

Two more classes are on the cards next year, Formula Vee 1600 and V8 saloons, of which the Super Vee category is certain to happen whilst further news of the V8s is awaited. Designed and built by David Sheane of Wicklow, Super Vee looks particularly promising.

Formula Europa is set for a serious revival. A one make Crossle sports racing series is also looking promising.

Motorsport Ireland is to review the situation "with a view to putting in place a comprehensive plan for the future development of the sport".

All interested parties are invited to make submissions, to be received by January 31st next. A final report will be published by the end of May - which seems to be rather too late considering that the racing season will have started on March 19th, according to the Motorsport Ireland fixtures list.

Wexford Motor Club's Lighthouse Rally on Sunday is the last stage event of the century. The event will be run three times over a 9.6 miles stage starting and finishing in the village of Fethard.

To add to the challenge, the final run will be held in darkness. David James of Gorey in a Ford Escort G3 and South-East Rally Champion John Treacy in an Escort MK2 will set a hot pace as the two top speeds. The mud pluggers will compete at Russelstown near Blessington tomorrow.