RALLY NEWS NO.1 Punchestown paddock..Saturday 09.30

Happily all the top stars, including visitors Richard Burns, Freddy Loix and two times world champion Miki Biasion, have checked in for action here this morning at Punchestown. Despite the fact that it just the nicest morning here, warm sunshine and blue skies, it is foggy up the country which means that Gene Meegan can't get his helicopter up - the idea was that he was giving Richard Burns a lift here. No problem though, Richard is here. His Impreza WRC for today is, we believe, his Acropolis car. Richard runs at 1, Freddy Loix in the Mitsubishi is at 2 and Miki Biasion in the Fiat Punto 3.

Patrick Snijers is seeded @ 4 in the latest prodrive GpN Subaru. The Belgian tested the car at Bishopscourt on Thursday and although he has little group N experience the former European Champion soon had the car dancing and was well pleased with it. Then at 5 we have current Tarmac Champion Andrew Nesbitt, determined to repeat his win here at the inaugural Punchestown, and completely unfazed by the calibre of machinery around him. Austin McHale is at 6, the 5 times Tarmac Champion well fired up for today, especially as his back in his Corolla WRC and not the Celica that he used here last time. Austin has done terrific improvements to the track here, so if anyone knows the course he will! Frank Meagher is at 7 in his Ford Focus, James Cullen at 8 in the gold Kenny McKinstry Impreza WRC. James has the Minister for Sport, Tourism & Recreation, James McDaid, co driving. Daniel Doherty is at 9 and Derek McGarrity at 10.

To update the programme entry list, Max McKillen is at 11 in the Asquith Autosport Saxo, Eamonn Boland is a non starter which means Denis Biggerstaff is at 12. Roy White, with UTV's Pamela Ballantine co driving, is at 14. Kieran Shaw is a non starter. Patrick Elliott is at 15. Peter McCullagh slots in at 16 in his Escort Cosworth WRC. Peadar Hurson is at 17, Killarney's Johnny O'Sullivan at 18. Tommy Graham is non starting. Gene Meegan is at 19. Michael Barrable is at 20 in his Celica. Hugh Dunne is at 21, Forestry Champion Niall Driver is No.22 and Ollie O'Donovan 23. Eddie Kinirons slots in at 24, then it is Adrian McElvaney at 25. Kevin Barrett is No.26, his brother Franics is non starting. Brendan Kelly has withdrawn out of respect for the sudden death of his co-driver Rory Kennedy's father Jim. Tom Holton is at 29 and Tony Bardy, who could be a real dark horse here today is at 30 in the ex works Nissan GTi-R.

The entry today is complemented by a fabulous array of rally cross cars headed by Dermot Carnegie, of which more later. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy what looks to be a favulous day's motorsport here at Punchestown, masterminded of course by Rally Director Ronan Morgan....

More news after first stage...BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON