Tarmac Champion Andrew Nesbitt has arranged a deal to drive an ex Petter Solberg Impreza WRC S8 on this weekend’s Donegal International. The paddle shift car, ‘X12SRT’ has just had a complete nuts and bolts build by Prodrive, is coming through Derek McGarrity and will be run by Kenny McKinstry.

Two times Donegal winner James Cullen has settled on a Honda Civic for this weekend, not the hoped for Subaru. The Letterkenny man comments, "Its twenty years ago that I was Clerk of the Course of the rally, when Shell first came on board as sponsors and Reba Graham was the secretary of the meeting. I felt it would be good to do the event this time, with Reba co-driving."

Rory Kennedy has been the most successful co-driver on the Donegal International, notably with Bertie Fisher, and first competed with James Cullen back in 1979. Rory misses the event this weekend, to co-drive for Alister Ginley on the Cyprus WRC.

Paddy White has been testing his ex Solberg Impreza WRC at Nutts Corner and Cooley Mountain and says of the new car, "It’s a big step up from the older Impreza WRC and I’m loving every minute of it, including the sequential change. It feels a lot quicker" McGarrity was also testing his new Impreza WRC S8 at Cooley.

Michael Barrable’s points tally in the Dunlop National Championship after the Circuit of Munster, round 5 of 10, is 90, with Eugene Donnelly on 78 and Adrian McElvaney on 58. Barrable is seeded at 3 for the next round, the Kilkenny based 29^th June Ravens Rock. Defending Champion Niall Maguire is at 2, Eugene Donnelly at 3. The Get Connected contenders are headed by Melvyn Evans at 4.

Current class leaders in the Dunlop series include, Cl1 Trevor Graham, Cl2 Aidan Bourke, Cl3 Tomas O’Rourke, Cl4 Derrick Jobb, Cl5 Kieran Henry , Cl6 Trevor Morrow, Cl7 Brian Doherty, Cl9 Noel Lappin, Cl.10 Shane McEnearney, Cl.11 Andrew Purcell, Cl.12 Raymond Drury, Cl.13 Mac McKenna, Cl.14 Enda Keenan, Cl.15 Sean Gallagher.

Rodney White from Co. Antrim has built a works replica Lotus Sunbeam, but with a 252 bhp Vauxhall engine and shook the car down on the Mourne Rally. Rodney intends to compete on this week’s Mid Antrim MC Festival Stages Rally, and hopes for a top result with the BSS/Events Unlimited backed machine.

Tommy Kylie scored a 36 second win over James Coleman, with Willie Whitty 3^rd, all driving Escorts, on last Sunday’s successful Tipperary Stage event. Young Andrew Purcell had led initially but put his Civic off the road.

Eugene Donnelly will have a chance to regain his NI Championship lead on the next round of the series, the Gorteen Hotel Limavady based 19^th August Dogleap Rally. Clerk of the Course Michael Carlin has found several new forest stages and has arranged a ‘recce’ for the Sunday before.

Regards, Brian Patterson.