Carlow’s Noel Redmond will field a Hyundai WRC, as well as Maurice Gass, on the forthcoming Galway International. Redmond will be co-driven by Ballina’s Killian Duffy, who will also be co-driving the previous weekend for Ahmed Al-Sabban on the UAE International Rally.

The Irish Rally Competitors Association (IRCA) has a top turnout of drivers, including Kenny McKinstry, Niall Maguire, Kevin Barrett, Adrian McElvaney, Aaron McHale and Scottish Champion Raymond Munro for their ‘Marshals Day’ Rally at Mondello this Sunday. The whole idea is to give marshals a run in a top rally car in an effort to repay them for some of their efforts during the season. There will also be fund raising for Temple St. Children’s Hospital.

The Ford Ireland KA Championship has been given the green light for 2004. The first of the six events (three gravel, three tarmac), will be the 22^nd February, Carrick on Suir Forestry.

Well respected 2002 West Coast GpN Champion Sean McHugh has agreed to be the Clerk of the Course of this year’s 7^th March Ballina Rally, opening round of the Quinn Direct Border series.

Kevin Lynch debuted his new Impreza WRC S9 in the best possible fashion by winning last Saturday’s Kirkistown Stage Rally. Nigel Hicklin was 2^nd in an older model Impreza WRC, while young Michael Curran was 3^rd in his GpN Lancer.

Top GpN exponent Seamus Leonard has expressed his intent in only doing selected Pirelli Tarmac Championship rounds this season, but will try a hired Impreza WRC on the Ballina Rally.

Derek McGarrity collected his Tarmac Champions award at a glittering occasion last Saturday night in the Armagh City Hotel. Glengormley man Derek says he is not setting his sights on defending his crown, but will almost certainly do the opening two rounds, Galway and the Circuit, "and see how it goes."

Eugene Donnelly carried out extensive asphalt testing last weekend with his recently acquired Corolla WRC, on both Friday night and on Saturday at Muckish. "We had two ex TTE engineers on hand, and everything from wet roads to frost and bone dry. We were able to really tweak the car, and I’m very pleased with it. It’s totally different from the ’98 Impreza WRC, I didn’t struggle with left hand drive, but I have nothing to mark the car against. I’m really curious to see how it goes in Galway." Eugene was due to receive his NI Rally Champion’s award on Monday night, after we went to press, and was also considered one of the favourites to win the NI 2003 Motorsport Award.

Regards, Brian Patterson.