West Cork crew Liam McCarthy and Kieran Murphy performed course car duties on the Killarney Historic in their Corolla WRC. The car was just back from an upgrade at TTE, virtually the last car to leave the premises before closure. The team has decided to stick with the Toyota and have a serious attempt at the Dunlop National Championship in 2003.

Gareth McHale, co-driven by Elva Roe, took his Peugeot 206 to 14^th o/a and a class win on last weekend’s Baltinglass Stage Rally, and that was despite getting held up by an Escort on the first stage which was struggling through with a broken gearbox. Gareth has set his sights on competing on the Peugeot 206 SuperCup in 2003, planning to finish at least couple of places higher than this year. "I know a bit more about the different rallies now – it just takes half a second here and there to make all the difference" observed the Dublin lad.

Wexford’s David James was bedding in a new 6 speed Quaife sequential gearbox in his well known Escort while carrying out course car duties on the Baltinlass event.

Terry Harryman will switch directly from the 30 plus temperatures of the Sahara in January where he will be co-driving a support truck for Ari Vatanen on the Paris-Dakar, to the minus 30’s of the Arctic where he will carry out gravel note duties for John Papadimitriou. Terry’s son Allan co-drives for the Greek hotelier.

Declan McCay has been selected by Donegal Motor Club to head the organising team for next year’s June International. Declan has been Clerk of the Course of Maiden City MC’s Lark in the Park over the last couple of years. Running the Donegal International, a huge event, will be a different ball game altogether, particularly following this year’s tragedy.

Two times Donegal International winner James Cullen has promised himself one last grand attack at an Irish tarmac rally before he hangs up his helmet. He would really like it to be the 2003 Donegal, but that clashes with the Cyprus Rally, which could be a problem. James would like particularly to get all the old team together, with the brilliant Ellen Morgan co-driving. Ellen is currently battling illness and we wish her a speedy recovery.

The Kings Hall Balmoral is to play host to a new Sportscar Car Show from 31^st January to 2^nd February 2003. One of the features will be a live special stage, along the lines pioneered by the Ulster Rally there in the late Nineties.

Obituary - The Irish rally fraternity were saddened to learn of the death last week of Waterford’s Joe Rochford. Joe was a very special marshal for many years and travelled the country to help out at events. He could always be relied upon to run a service area or a parc ferme. He carried out his duties in a most cheerful manner, with that broad toothy smile of his for everyone, no matter what the weather or the difficulty. Joe received several awards in latter years for his unselfish efforts. He will be missed.

Regards, Brian Patterson.