The positions at the top of the Dunlop National Championship are still very close, following the Ravens Rock Rally, with Michael Barrable on 108 points, Eugene Donnelly 98, Adrian McElvaney 72, Sean Gallagher 64 and Jim Harrison 50. The next round is the 10^th August Tipperary Stonethrowers.

Mayo man Francis Kenny is co-driving for Dominic McNeill on the forthcoming 26/27^th July Cork Forestry Rally and in Kenny’s own words, "This may be my only chance to win a rally outright!" The rally is the penultimate round of the KBB Doors Forestry Championship and is attracting a lot of interest.

Paul Kiely, who is co-driving for Eugene Donnelly this season on the Tarmac Championship, is driving himself on his home Sligo Rally this weekend, in the Peugeot 206 SuperCup machine he recently acquired from Jack Ingleby.

Top local drivers Niall Maguire, David McNulty and Glenn Allen are amongst the 151 Sligo Rally entries who will face the best Tarmacadam Championship drivers such as Melvyn Evans, Steve Hendy and David Kynaston on the Sligo Park Hotel based 8 stage event.

Three Irish crews made the trip to Rally Charlemagne last weekend. Tom Holton, co driven by Sean Walsh, set 5 fastest times in his Celica on the way to finishing runner up to Karl Jensen. Paddy White and co driver Frank Sweeney were 3^rd in their Impreza WRC. David James/Ron Guha were forced to retire their Escort when a half shaft broke on stage 2.

Garry Jennings has decided to take his Agip backed Peugeot 106 to the Derry based Lark in the Park Rally. Kevin Lynch, who is sponsoring the event, has entered his Impreza WRC. The 19^th July rally through St. Columbs Park and also features three runs over a 9 mile tarmac stage just across the border in Donegal. The organising Maiden City MC is still taking entries.

Ian Greer’s Tarmac Championship and Rallye Luxemburgh winning Corolla WRC has been sold to Erik Weivers in Holland, marking the end of a fabulously successful era for Hillsborough man Ian.

Killarney’s Donie O’Sullivan, with Paul Nagle co driving, is just one of several Irish drivers contesting the BHV Expo International Rally on the Belgian/Dutch border this weekend. Ollie O’Donovan and Kevin Barrett are also making the trip, all 3 driving Imprezas from the McKinstry stable. Tom Holton and Paddy White are also competing, following their successful weekend on Rally Charlemagne.

Brian Patterson.