Tarmac Champion Derek McGarrity heads a bulging entry list for this Saturday’ s Tour of the Sperrins Rally, round 4 of the NI Championship. McGarrity, winner of the first 2 rounds but unable to compete on the 3^rd, the Easter Stages, as he was busy winning the Circuit of Ireland, has yet to nominate which car from his large stable he will be driving.

The Sperrins event is based at Walsh’s Hotel in Maghera, starting at 10.00 am on Saturday. Well known competitor Philip Shaw is C of C, and he has laid on an interesting 12 stage event, with the enthusiastic Magherafelt Club having poured a lot of resource into putting the forest tracks into good shape.

Former NI Champions in the 100 plus Sperrins line-up include Robin Philips, Denis Biggerstaff and Sean Haveron. Currently joint 2^nd to McGarrity in the points line up are Kieran Shaw and Kevin Lynch, both driving Impreza WRC’s.

Kevin Lynch rolled the Impreza WRC he intended to use on the Midleton Cork forestry rally at a Friday morning test session immediately prior to the rally. The Stan Harper team performed wonders in re-roofing the machine before the rally and Lynch rewarded them with a victory to extend his lead in the McCauley Trailers Forestry Championship.

023 Tiles and Tarmacadam Championship front runner Nigel Hicklin has decided to take a sabbatical for the rest of this season following three non-finishes due to mechanical failure. Nigel has put his Impreza WRC and all the bits up for sale and intends to come back next season stronger than ever.

Regards, Brian Patterson.