Brian Murphy flew from collecting his British Rally Champion co-drivers trophy in Birmingham straight to Cork for the Pirelli Tarmac Championship awards evening where he and Austin MacHale took the 3^rd overall prize. Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely and Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman shared the top Tarmac honours.

Denis Biggerstaff in his Impreza WRC is the top seed for this Saturday's 500 Motor Racing Club/UAC six stage rally at Kirkistown. The event is always considered 'a shake down' but still has attracted 15 WRC machines amongst the 70 entries.

An interesting name amongst many on the Kirkistown list is Peadar Hurson in his Impreza WRC, seeded at 10, while Nigel Hicklin, also returning after a lay-off, is at 5 in his Octavia WRC.

Seamus Leonard (Lancer Evo 8.5), Alan Nesbitt (Impreza N11) and Colm Murphy (Impreza N11) are just three drivers who will face 1993 GpN Tarmac Champion Roy White in his new FESP Lancer Evo N 8.5 on this year's Pirelli Tarmac Championship, starting with the 5^th/6^th February Galway International.

Fisher Foundation award winner Emily O'Mahony is another switching to a new Impreza N11 and plans to tackle the Pirelli Tarmac series as well as selected rounds of the BRC. Andrew Mullen of Sligo Pallets is tipped to be taking over Emily's ex works Puma.

Belfast businessman Neil McCance is having a new GpN Lancer Evo 8.5 built for his campaign on this season's Mitsubishi Challenge, centreing on the ANCRO series and Jim Clark.

Two of NI's top drivers, Wesley Patterson and Gary White, have been knocked back by illness. We wish each of them a speedy recovery.

Former two times Donegal winner James Cullen was testing the Bobby King 4WD Porsche last weekend, with the intention of contesting the Galway International. Reba Graham will co-drive.

Niall McShea is being supported by his home Fermanagh MC through a forum on Thursday evening 17^th February at the Ardhowen Theatre in the town. Just one of the attractions will be a preview of a forthcoming tape and programme about Niall by Tyndall Productions.

Dungannon MC is running a six-week navigation course, starting this Wednesday night 19^th January in Dungannon Rugby Club.

Brian Patterson (with many thanks to Paul Kiely)