Well known competitors Maurice and Kenny Gass are backing the 12th June Mourne Rally through their Gosford Pk Service Station. Activities will include a barbeque where co-driving runs have been donated for auction by such top drivers as Kenny McKinstry, Eugene Donnelly and Andrew Nesbitt. Proceeds throughout the weekend will go to Newry Hospice.

The Mourne Rally is round 5 of the NI Championship. Kevin Lynch currently leads the series, but is contemplating a few weeks away from the special stages to allow his back, injured in a testing accident, a chance to recover.

Donegal brothers Michael & Daniel Doherty were disappointed not to get started last weekend's Cavan Stages, where their Impreza WRC suffered gearbox sensor gremlins. They were anxious to get some stage miles in before their home Donegal International.

Despite recent speculation, it would appear fairly certain that Andrew Nesbitt will drive a fresh Impreza WRC S9 from the McKinstry equipe on the Donegal International.

Maiden City MC is running the Aghadowey Stage Rally this Saturday. Based at Garvagh's Imperial Hotel, over 100 cars are entered, with top runners including George Robinson in his Escort WRC and Sean Devine having his first run in his Impreza WRC since it was converted to RHD.

George Robinson took his Escort WRC to victory for the second year in a row on the Ballypatrick Tarmac Stages event last Saturday, Declan McNaughton was 2nd in his Escort and Rodney White (Sunbeam) 3rd.

Cashel's Pat O'Connell took maximum points on the recent Midleton Forestry round of the Ford Ireland KA Championship, and moves into 2nd place in the series behind Thomas O'Brien and ahead of Daniel Barry.

Niall Maguire (Impreza WRC) has extended his lead in the Dunlop National series following last Sunday's Cavan victory, with Cahal Arthurs (Accent WRC) moving into 2nd and Jim Harrison (Subaru) 3rd.

Brian Patterson.