02/06/08 - The Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship kicks back into action this Saturday with round five of the action packed series, the Modern Tyre Service Mourne Rally!

Based at Modern Tyres in Carnbane Industrial Estate, Newry, this year's event features 12 stages, with four runs over Camlough, Slieve Gullion and Cooley Mountain. And among those tackling the stages include a plethora of four wheel drive and two wheel drive machinery!

Newry and District Motor Club have again attracted an array of high quality machinery to their event, with reigning Northern Ireland champions and last year's Mourne Rally winners, Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly, due to lead the field away in their Toyota Corolla WRC.

Sean Devine is next on the start list with his Subaru Impreza WRC, closely followed by Connor McCloskey. These two men currently share the lead in this year's championship, so the Mourne event could prove pivotal.

Warrenpoint driver Peadar Hurson also returns to the fray fresh from his victory at the KBB Tour of the Sperrins Rally. With Damien Garvey on the notes, he will be aiming to make it two victories on the trot.

Armagh's Sean McArdle also returns to action with his Toyota Corolla WRC, while Raymond Johnston will be hoping for better luck with his Impreza. Former N.I. champion, Sean Haveron, completes a top nine of world rally cars, with Neil McCance completing the top 10 in his Group N Mitsubishi Lancer.

Comber's McCance led the Sunoco Fuels category last year until a solid tree stump put an end to his rally, so his aim is to keep out of trouble this time. Such is the high quality entry of two wheel drive exponents, you need to look outside the top 20 seeds to see who McCance will be battling for Group N spoils. Those among the mix include Brendan Cumiskey, Eoin McErlean and Gary Rodgers.

If it stays dry, competitors in the Superdrive two wheel drive category could spring a surprise on the four wheel drive crews. Seeded at number 10, Gary McPhillips and Mark Tierney head the crews but stiff opposition will come from the likes of Brian Armstrong, Manus Kelly and Seamus Hegarty.

The rally is due to start this Saturday morning (7 June) at approximately 10am and after competitors finish all 12 stages, they will arrive at the Carrickdale Hotel, just outside Newry, where prizegiving will take place. More details, including a map of the stages and full entry list, can be found online at www.nadmc.eu.