Following the rally hiatus this season, Donegal Motor Club has laid on this Milford Inn Stages Rally to give the North West's drivers at least one blast over the special stages this year. The demand from the local drivers, and indeed those further afield, is amply demonstrated by the size of the reserve list on top of the 130 crews who are getting a run.

National Champion Paul Harris is scheduled to be first on the road in his Subaru, with Carryduff's David Greer next up in his newly acquired Corolla World Rally Car. Greer has only had a few miles in his new Toyota, but reports it an amazingly straightforward machine to drive. Letterkenny man Harris must still however be clear favourite. He may have had only one outing this year, when he won Clonmel, but he is dynamite anytime, especially on his home patch. Having said that, the High Glen stage which will be used today is a different place in December than for the International in June, even despite the promise of clear weather today.

Behind the leading two, drivers such as Ivan Stewart and Joe McHugh should be well on the pace. Ivan had a bit of a panic earlier in the week when his Escort Cosworth's cam belt broke, but all appears well now. There is sure to be great interest as well in GpN, as well as the various classes. Trevor Cathers is seeded right up with the top drivers in his GpN Mitsubishi, and indeed the Tyrone man will surely be the GpN benchmark today. Having said that, former British and Tarmac GpN Champion Cathers will get it far from easy. Andrew Stewart, John Cairns, Noel McCarrick, Raymond Johnston, they are all recognised GpN 'quick men'.

Dark horses in the GpN race could be Cathal Rogers and Rory Kennedy. Rogers seems to be able to jump into anything and set the times, especially here in Donegal. Kennedy may have made his reputation as the most successful co-driver in Ireland, but he can drive a bit as well. In Brendan Kelly's Lancer he shouldn't be far away today.