Irish Notes 23rd of February 2005.

National Champion Niall Maguire in his Impreza WRC heads a very interesting top entry for Birr Motor Club's Laoise based stages rally this weekend. Patrick Elliott, Noel Redmond and Kevin Barrett, also in Impreza WRC's, and Ray Breen and JJ Fleming in Focus WRC's make up the top six.

The Birr Club's event, with four really good asphalt stages done twice, is seen as an ideal shakedown for the opening Dunlop National Championship round in two weeks time. The entry will have 150 entries plus 20 'juniors' who will join in after lunch.

The GPN category in Laoise will also be interesting, with Noel McCarrick, Peter Clifford and Gabriel Martin all in new machines and making up the back of the top ten seeds, behind Tommy Graham at 7 in his Impreza WRC. The rally leaves the new Heritage Hotel just after 09.00hrs.

Kevin Lynch, with Francis Reagan co-driving in his Impreza WRC, opened his defence of his NI Rally title in style by winning the Eurocables Kirkistown event in dramatic style last Saturday. Dungiven man Lynch's next outing will be the Mayo Stages event, with Gordon Noble co-driving his Subaru this time.

As well as the usual top Dunlop Championship contenders in Mayo, Charlie Donnelly is joining the fray this time in his brother Eugene's joint Tarmac Championship winning Corolla, and Donie O'Sullivan will be out in his usual Focus WRC.

Following the 023 Tiles Southern Four Championship awards evening last Saturday, where Liam McCarthy took the top award, series sponsor James O'Sullivan has pledged his support for another year. Counting rounds are West Cork, Killarney Lakes, Ravens Rock, Cork '20' and Fastnet, with the best 4 rounds to count.

Young Cork man Owen Murphy is just one of many Irish drivers who will be competing on the Rallye Sunseeker this weekend. Owen, still a teenager, takes his Gerry McGarrity prepared 206 for his debut UK mainland event and it will be interesting to see his pace. He won the Ford Rallye Academy in 2003 and although he doesn't have a lot of stage experience he has had success in karting and autocross.

Another 19 year old out to make his mark in Bournemouth is Letterkenny's Conor Harvey. Conor, son of well-known rallyman Noel, has won the David Higgins Rallyschool award. This will be his first foray in the Peugeot 206 Cup.

The Irish Peugeot 205 Challenge head for Sweet Lamb this weekend and the Tollpott Keeton Winter Stages Rally. This is the penultimate round of six events and Graeme Colfer is the current points leader, with Adrian McBride and Seamus O'Grady tied for 2nd and all to play for.   Also making the trip to Sweet Lamb is young Matt Shinnors.  Matt is driving a Ford Escort and will have his brother George on the maps.

Regards, Brian Patterson.