Eugene Donnelly was expecting to get his straightened Corolla WRC, which was badly damaged in the well documented notorious Cork '20' accident, back from Germany just before the start of the Christmas holidays.

Joint Tarmac Champion Eugene is hoping to get the Corolla rebuilt, complete with re-designed rear cradle and development Raeger suspension, in time for the 5^th/6^th Feb Galway International.

National GpN Champion Willie Fannin is having his Impreza N9 upgraded to N10 specification over the winter closed season. Willie intends to start both the Pirelli Tarmac and Dunlop National Championships. He plans to concentrate on whichever one progresses best.

The Mayo Rally is now the opening round of the Dunlop National Championship. CoC Sean McHugh reports that the 13^th March Westport based event will have four stages repeated, allowing 151 starters.

McCauley Trailers are backing the Southern Forestry Championship again for 2005. There will be 8 rounds, best 7 to count. The opening round is the Wm Loughman on March 6^th. Innovations for the series include a new Junior class for 1^st time licence holders in cars under 1400cc.

Kearney's Castle Hotel in Cashel is hosting a forum at 2.00pm on Sunday 16^th January to introduce the McCauley Trailers series.

FitzSamuel Insurance chief Dermot Hanafin plans to move up from GpN to a McGarrity hire Impreza WRC for selected rounds of the Pirelli Tarmac Championship in 2005.

The Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Prizegiving will be held on the 15^th January in the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork. Tickets are available from series manager Don Wilmont. Tel. 07768 687526.

Brian Patterson.