RALLYNEWS NO.1 GORTEEN HOUSE HOTEL SAT 10.30AM

Last year's Dogleap stages rally winner heads the 100 strong field away from the Limavady start ramp this morning. Biggerstaff and co driver Damien McCann are in fine form though Denis was telling us earlier that he has only just got his Metro 6R4 back on the road after his Punchestown Rally Masters dramas, but has declared himself well pleased with the car in particular his latest speck engine which is on loan from Eurocables owner Shane Branniff. Kevin O'Kane starts at 2, the Omagh man definitely in with a fighting chance here today in his Impreza while Trevor Moore goes over the start ramp at 3. Moore a former winner here on the Dogleap Rally, is in a bullish mood about his chances of another victory here, Trevor feeling the need to prove himself after rolling out of last year's event on the early stages.

Lark In The Park winner and local hero Richard Hogg wheels out his ex Neil Simpson Lancer Evo6 at 4. He and co driver Mark Hanna feel that a repeat of their 1997 victory here will be a tall order, Richard looking forward to a good scrap in GpN with the likes of Raymond Mason at 10, Raymond Johnston at 21, and Rory Kennedy back at 34. These drivers should all be knocking on the top 10 today.

Other drivers of interest include Brendan O'Hagan at 5 with John Donnelly and Joe McAleese seeded at 6 after their fine result here last year. Once again it is good to see some of the Southern Driver Championship Competitors making the trip north of the border today. Noel Driver making the trip from Dublin with his Escort Cosworth starts at 8 while John Murphy has made the long trip from Limerick and he starts at 11.

Some changes to the entry list include Jim Crozier co driving for Finton McGrady at 15, while Francis Regan steps into the breach with Brian McCloskey at 17. Non starters include Brendan Crealey at 29, now Paul Morrow in his WRD 205. 38 is now J Wilson / C Wilson, 42 is now G Shaw / C Henderson, 62 is now G Wilson / S Barron, 67 is now A Casey / S Casey, 81 is now J Delvin / J Scott, 82 is now P Thompson / S Moffett.

If you are going out into the woods today, please obey all marshalls instructions and bear in mind the current foot and mouth epidemic is still a major issue, so be respectful of farmland and animals etc - in other words use your common sence.

More News Later .... Michael Patterson and Zoe Todd