RALLY NEWS NO.1            Rally HQ..Sunday morning 08.30

Dunlop Tyres Ireland are the new sponsors for this opening round of the revamped 10 round National Championship 2000. Revised the series may be, but some things stay the same, namely the huge oversubscription of entries. There are lots of disappointed drivers not getting a run, despite the permitted entry now being pushed up to 150. Eddie Quinn is the new Clerk of the Course, and he has laid on an interesting route of four varied special stages each done twice.

Andrew Nesbitt, driving his fabulous Subaru World Rally Car, leads the 150 cars away from the Downhill Hotel. Armagh man  Andrew has a small army of engineers and tyre men in attendance, the name of the game getting the Prodrive prepared car into top shape for the Tarmac Championship.Triple Motoring News champion Pete Doughty is at 2 in his Escort WRC, the Nottingham man, a real stayer,looking a strong contender for the Dunlop National series. Rapid Donegal man Paul Harris is at 3 in his Subaru, while Ray Breen at 4 is in a newly acquired ex-Italian Subaru. David Armstrong was to start at 5 but the Border Champion has hurt his shoulder in a skiing accident and will not take the start. There are a few top men coming up from the reserves, including George Cullen (Subaru), and Stephen Carway (Escort Cosworth)

Dark horses in terms of overall honours include Jim Harrison who starts with No12 on his Escort Cosworth. Jim has Mike Gibson on the notes for the first time, and his Escort is now 'fully active'. West Cork man Denis Cronin is seeded back at 29 in his BMW and shouldn't be too far off the pace either.

Noel McCarrick, with John McCafferty co-driving, is the highest seeded GpN driver in his Subaru. The Tubbercurry Peugeot dealer faces stiff opposition. Donegal man Joe McHugh in his Escort Cosworth should push local man McCarrick hard, while defending National GpN Champion Michael Shaw in his Subaru cannot be discounted. There's a clutch of GpN Mitsubishi Lancers out as well including Sean Gallagher, who has switched to GpN, as has Cavan's Patrick Elliott. Other new driver/car combinations include Dominic Loughran in the ex Donal O'Donovan Sierra Cosworth. Dominic starts with No.8 on the Ford, and should be on the pace.  Tim McNulty is in an the ex Austin McHale Toyota, Brian McKenna has the ex Des Moore Celica, and Joe McGurk is in the former David Greer Toyota. McGurk has already debuted his Celica at the autocross in Monaghan two weeks ago and finished in the awards. That event was won by James Foley in his Honda, who is seeded back at 46. Last minute stories include young Brendan Kelly from Longford blowing the engine of his Astra on Friday night, and can't make the start. More news from service..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON