This weekend’s Cork ’20’ is a round of the 023 Tiles Southern 4 Championship as well as the Tarmac series. Tim O’Donovan from West Cork is the current points leader, with Nigel Hicklin and Willie McCarthy in close attendance. Ollie O’Donovan is not that far down either, so if he gets a good run this weekend in the new Hyundai WRC he could be a strong contender.

Nigel Hicklin and co-driver Sam McMullan will also have their Subaru on the final National Championship round in Skibbereen to defend their runner up spot in the Get Connected Championship series, having finishing 4^th on the Lindisfarne.

The Ulster Automobile Club has announced that Neil Malcolm will take over Clerk of the Course duties for next Easter’s Circuit of Ireland from the long serving Chris Beck.

Cookstown’s Philip Shaw took his famous black Escort to victory on last weekend’s Monaghan Stage event. Co-driven by Herbie Blackburn, and despite some intercom difficulties on one stage, Shaw had a great dice with Seamus Donnelly and Norman Armstrong also in Mk Escorts, and they finished 2^nd & 3^rd.

Gerry Keyes, current leader of the Ford Ireland Ka series will unfortunately be out of action for this weekend’s Cork ‘20’ round, having hurt his back in an accident on the Clare stages. Keyes does have a very substantial points lead and only Kenneth Mulvaney or David Lyons have a mathematical chance of taking the championship. Both drivers would each have to win the final two rounds to win.

When Clare Stages road penalties were taken into account, it transpired that Hamilton Bell has taken the lead in the Ford Ireland Focus series heading into this weekend’s Cork ‘20’ round. Oliver Stanley and Cathal O’Reilly tie for runner up spot.

Clonmel’s Willie Walsh will be the 2003 co-ordinator for the KBB Doors Forestry series, while Noel Clarke will head up next season’s Dunlop National Championship organising team.

Motorsport Ireland has produced a far reaching and penetrating safety review report for closed road stage rallying and hillclimb. Particular significance is attached to the implementation of safety plans, marshalling, use of chicanes at the approach to danger spots, accident warning boards, spectator education and several more points. Specific committees will look into each area, while overall the aim is to encourage organisers and competitors to exceed laid down safety standards and levels of care.