15/05/06 - This Saturday sees the Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship burst into life with the KBB Doors Tour of the Sperrins Rally, round three of the hotly contested series!

Based at Walsh's Hotel in Maghera, competitors will tackle 45 miles of closed road stages. Formerly an all forestry affair, Magherafelt and District Motor Club decided to make the switch to tarmac this year. Interest among competitors has been high and no less than 120 crews will arrive at the Maghera start ramp.

Kevin Lynch (Dungiven) is the number one seed but after selling both of his Subaru rally cars, the championship leader won't make the start this Saturday. Instead, Maghera's Eugene Donnelly will lead the field away in his Skoda Fabia WRC. Co-driven by Paddy Toner, the current Irish Tarmac Champion couldn't resist the temptation to return to the Northern Ireland series, a championship which he won in 2003.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Donnelly said. "It's my home rally and home motor club, plus I don't think there has ever been a home winner of the event, so that's another thing too! I'm going to test the Fabia WRC on Thursday so all being well, I'll take it out for a run."

Cookstown's Glenn Allen will be hot on Donnelly's heels and with the absence of Kevin Lynch, a substantial points haul could see the Corolla WRC pilot move to the head of the championship standings. Sean Devine (Strabane) and Raymond Johnston (Enniskillen) will provide stiff competition in their Subaru World Rally Cars while Kieran Shaw is set to bring his Mitsubishi Lancer WRC.

Stephen Moore will have his newly acquired Ford Focus WRC on tarmac for the first time while recent Ballypatrick Stages Rally winner, George Robinson, returns to the fray with his Ford Escort WRC.

The Production category battle will be just as fierce with Johnny McKenna, Richard Hogg, James Cullen and Martin Elliott topping the Group N seeds. The Superdrive sponsored two wheel drive field is headed by Draperstown rally preparation expert, Camillus Bradley, in his Ford Escort Mark 2. Seamus McCusker, Alistair Cochrane, Rodney White and Greg McCormack will all provide plenty of entertaining sideways action throughout the day!

Cool FM DJ, Sonia Mac, will also make her competitive debut in a Nissan Micra while a number of overseas entries have also been received. Calum and Iain Duffy are making the trip from the motorsport mad Isle of Mull and fellow Scottish resident, Allan Mackay, returns to action with his Anglia. Yorkshire's David Smith brings his Mark 2 Escort to the event and Cambridgeshire's William Smith will rally his Mini 1600 VTEC.

The action starts this Saturday when competitors leave Walsh's Hotel in Maghera at 10am before tackling eight stages. The rally will come to a conclusion at approximately 5pm, when crews will return to hotel for the champagne finish.

Programmes with detailed maps of the best vantage points, driver profiles and entry details, as well as ‘Aunty Lag’ to keep you amused between the stages, are on sale at Walsh's Hotel and the following locations:

Straw Service Station
O’Kanes, Hillhead
Star Service Station, Magherafelt
Laverty’s, Glen Road, Maghera
Glenshane Tourist Services
Centra, Coleraine Road, Maghera

Further information available from www.tourofthesperrins.com.

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