M-Sport had a Focus WRC over in the Glens of Antrim in Northern Ireland last week for various drivers including Andrew Nesbitt, Eamonn Boland and Derek McGarrity to have a test run, the company keen to see a Ford back on the Irish tarmac.

Former NI Champion Stephen Harron, winner of the recent Park Stages Rally in Scotland is planning a run on the Bulldog Rally, and hoping for an entry on Rally GB.

A long-running controversy about NI Rally Championship points has now been resolved in that Derek McGarrity has had his points removed for the Easter Stages section of the Circuit of Ireland. This was through no fault of Derek's, but a technicality in the regulations. Derek and co driver James McKee are still the 2002 Champions, even with 1 round remaining, the Mid Antrim MC event. Willie McKee is the gpN Champion in his Lancer and Fermanagh's Aisling Dooris (Swift) the Ladies title winner.

Cahir's Kevin Dalton, on his first full year in rallying, has won the class based Triton Showers South East Championship following his class win on last weekend's Birr Forestry Rally.

Co-driver Killian Duffy is anxious for a run on Skibbereen in the class 4 category. Telephone 096 31646.

Dessie Keenan would appear to be one of the front runners for consideration for this year's Billy Coleman Award. The 25 year old from Monaghan has been switching between a Mk2 Escort and a 1600 Peugeot 106 and has scored a succession of class wins, in a variety of championships, including the Tarmac series and the National Championship. Dessie took class wins on both the Killarney International Rally of the Lakes, and the Manx International. He finished right up amongst the Peugeot 206 Super Cup contenders on the Ulster Rally, and for winning his class on the Castle Hellfire Rally took the Joe McGurk Perpetual Trophy. Dessie comes from a very well known rally family, with his father Enda still an active competitor, and his sister Laura quite often in the co-driver's seat.

Daniel and Michael Doherty, 3rd on the recent Ulster Rally in their Impreza WRC, will head the field on the Donegal Harvest Rally, re-scheduled for Sunday October 20th to avoid the Nice referendum. The rally, final round of the Border Championship, is based at Bundoran, a short distance from the Doherty's Carndonagh base.