FORMULA Opel will have a new sponsor this year, with DHL Worldwide Express supporting the cream of Irish motor racing.
There will be a major rival to Formula Opel from Formula Ford 1800 Zetec, which has been give the official green light. Up to 20 Zetec cars are expected to be raced, and also there will be strong support for Formula Ford 1600 as a very competitive `B' class.
Details of Formula Ford 1800 Zetec will be announced in March, but news of the DHL Formula Opel Championship includes a prize fund of over £30,000, a special merit award of £5,000 and rookie of the year award of £2,000. There will also be an end of season prize fund valued at £6,000, to include a free entry for the championship winner for the prestigious Nations' Cup race.
Tyre subsidies are currently under negotiation with Bridgestone tyres. The series will cover 10 races of which six to eight will be televised for transmission on RTE's Sports Stadium.
There is also good news for rallying. Coras, the Ardee, Co Louth manufacturer of office system furniture will sponsor the RIAC/Coras Vard National Rally Championship for a third successive year. The 14 rounds are: March 9th, Ballina; April 13th, Circuit of Kerry; April 30th, Monaghan; May 11th, Carlow; May 25th, Cavan; June 1st, Circuit of Munster; June 29th, Carrick on Suir; July 13th, Sligo; July 27th, Clare; August 10th, Tipperary; August 24th, ALMC Laois; September 7th, Galway; October 11th, Donegal; October 25th, Skibbereen.
Of course, the Statoil Galway International on February 16th and 17th marks the start of the International Tarmac Rally Championship. Entries now confirmed include: Austin McHale; Andrew Nesbitt and Liam O'Callaghan in Toyota Celica GT4's and Ford Escort RS Cosworth drivers Stephen Murphy, Eamonn Boland, Pete Doughty and Bob Fowden. As yet there is no news of Bertie Fisher, James Cullen and Frank Meagher, but all three are expected to be on the starting ramp in Eyre Square on the morning of Saturday, February 15th.
Cork Motor Club now have regulations available for the 1997 Keohane Readymix West Cork Rally, one of the most popular of all Irish rallies and traditionally well supported by British crews competing in the EARS/Motoring News Championship, of which this is a qualifying round. The event will be held on March 15th and 16th, run out of Clonakilty. Details from: Laurence Hartigan, Ardrostig, Waterfall, Cork.
The Irish Motorcycle Trials Championship starts with tomorrow's Terry Hill Trophy near Saintfield, Co Down. Reigning champion Andrew Perry of Dundonald, Belfast, heads the entry, which includes Gareth Andrews, Philip Hanlon, Aaron Tracey, Brian McLoughlin (Grade B champion) and Stuart Martin - (Grade C champion).
Paul McLoughlin, the 1995 champion and last year's runner up, is not competing, as he is concentrating on Formula Vee motor racing this year.
