Ford works driver Markko Martin is tipped to be just one of the star drivers in his Focus WRC at the 25^th July Punchestown World Rally Masters event. There will be a major announcement at the end of this month.

Mid Antrim Motor Club is running the now traditional Ballypatrick stage event this Saturday. Last year’s winner George Robinson is the top seed in his Escort WRC, with Gary White and Keith White in their respective Escorts making up the top three. Patrick McDaid is one of the visiting Donegal drivers and the event is backed by Turtles Peugeot.

Magherafelt MC ran a group of eight 1300 cars at the front of the field, plus John Keatley in his historic Escort and Yorkshire’s John Percey in his Datsun 240Z, on their Sperrins Rally last Saturday. Keatley won the Historic section, and the 1300’s enjoyed the clean roads, but the rally, as well as being a great success, did run late, well into the evening.

WRC GpN front runner Niall McShea was drafted into the co-driver’s seat of Donagh Kelly’s Tdi Golf on the Sperrins last Saturday, the original co-driver having only an International Finnish licence that wasn’t eligible. Surrounded by bits of paper, a slightly bemused McShea commented, "I think Kaj Lindsrom’s job is safe enough!" McShea went on to say that he is hoping to add Ypres Rally to his schedule.

West Cork and Circuit of Kerry winner Donie O’Sullivan, a front runner on the Pirelli Tarmac Championship, is still hoping to make the start of the 18^th/20^th June Shell Donegal Rally, although his own Focus WRC is unlikely to be repaired, following its Killarney Lakes accident. Donie comments, "I’d be disappointed not to be doing it, to me Donegal and the Manx are extra special. I would like to do it in a Focus, but my own car will definitely not be ready, so hopefully we can work something else out".

USA Rally Champion David Higgins is tipped to be on stand-by to replace the injured Geoff Jones in the Prodrive Subaru Impreza N10 for the Shell Donegal Rally.

Regards, Brian Patterson.