Armagh’s Maurice Gass has concluded a deal for the Freddy Loix San Remo Hyundai WRC and will compete on the Galway International with the tarmac specification machine. Gass, a front runner on last year’s Tarmac Championship, has a complete spares package with the car, plus the services of two Hyundai engineers initially.

Clonmel’s Roy White, GpN winner on the Tarmac Championship, intends to contest the Evo Challenge this year in his Dom Buckley prepared Lancer. Roy, who was also runner up in the Production Cup on the Pirelli British Championship in 2003, hopes to upgrade the FESP backed car midway through the year when the new Evo 8.5 becomes available. Greg Shinnors will again co-drive.

Top NI co-driver Michael Gibson signed on in a more permanent manner last week when he tied the knot with Valerie. Just one of the guests at the wedding was Mark Higgins, whom Michael will be co-driving for on the Production WRC this season. The vintage Ford car taking Michael and Valerie from the church in Holywood to the reception in Ballymena broke down en route, a minor hiccup on a wonderful day.

North Armagh Motor Club is running an interesting motorsport quiz on Friday evening 30^th January at Tandragee Golf Club. Kenny McKinstry, Eugene Donnelly and Andrew Nesbitt have already been confirmed as team captains. Proceedings tee off at 7.30pm.

Abbeyfeale’s Dominic Naughton has taken delivery of an ex Sebastian Loeb Citroen Saxo Kit car and will contest the 6/7/8^th February Galway International.

Besides Focus WRC’s for Austin McHale and Donie O’Sullivan, Co.Tyrone man Craig Bennett has also acquired a Focus WRC and intends to compete on the NI Championship plus selected National events. Craig’s opener will be the 500 MRC stage rally at Kirkistown this weekend, where he will be against Kevin Lynch and several more WRC entries. The first stage is at 09.00.

The opening round this year’s Dunlop National Championship, the Circuit of Kerry, made public event details at the weekend. The April 4^th event has a new sponsor in the form of Bio-Tech and Harringtons restaurant and will make the move back to the picturesque Dingle Peninsula area of West Kerry. Former COC Richard Talbot has agreed to take over the reigns once again.

Brian Patterson.