Mid Antrim MC ’s Ballypatrick tarmac stage event takes place this Saturday, utilising the scenic roads of Ballycastle, Slieveanorra and Ballypatrick forest. George Robinson (Escort WRC) and Philip Shaw (Escort) are two of the top seeds.

Enfield’s Tom Holton, with Sean Walsh co-driving, is competing this weekend in his Celica GT4 on the Rallye de Flandres.

James Cullen, a two times Donegal winner, thought his gravel note duties with John Papadimitriou on the WRC would force him to miss his home International again this year as there is a clash with Cyprus. The Greek driver has however decided to miss Cyprus, so James may drive a GpN Subaru in Donegal. Allan Harryman, Papadimitriou’s co-driver, would also be interested in a run in Donegal.

Cork Forestry, scheduled for the 27^th July, is breaking with tradition by adopting a Saturday evening/Sunday format. The event is round 5 of the KBB Doors Forestry Championship, also a round of the Ford Ireland KA Championship, and is based at Mallow racecourse.

Eddie Kinirons (Celica) currently leads the KBB Doors Forestry Championship with 74 points, with Kevin O’Kane (Subaru)on 67 and early leader John McCarthy slipped to 61 following his retirement in Midleton when his Subaru suffered a damaged exhaust manifold. John Shanahan leads GpN with his Impreza and is 4^th overall on 57 points.

Driver/car changes this week include Kevin Barrett moving in to Eamonn Boland’s Monte Carlo Impreza WRC and Adrian McElvaney acquiring Kevin’s older Impreza WRC. Kevin is having the Boland machine converted to RHD for this weekend’s Limerick event.

Garry Jennings has acquired a six speed sequential box for his Peugeot 106 S16 in an effort to cure the gearbox woes that have afflicted him this season. Although a suitable linkage system has still to be constructed, the Ballinamallard man hopes to have the 106 out in Limerick, as a warm up for his Scottish outing in the ‘works’ 206.

Following Sunday’s Cavan Rally, Round 4 of the Dunlop series, Barrable still leads with 2 wins, 2 seconds and a 4^th place giving him 72 points. Eugene Donnelly has 2 wins, 2 seconds plus a dropped score, giving him 58. Jim Harrison and Adrian McElvaney tie for 3^rd on 45.

Following his Cavan victory Donnelly commented "The Cavan Rally was the first event I competed on, 19 years ago. I’m obviously delighted to have won. I take my hat off to Jim Harrison who was 2^nd, a great sportsman. I was pushed hard to beat his times over the final few stages. Fair play to Stan Harper who got the Subaru ready at such short notice. He and his mechanics worked all Saturday night to take the engine out of another car". Donnelly was supposed to be driving his Celica but crashed it on the Sperrins the previous day.

Regards, Brian Patterson.