Engines at the ready for Toshiba Rally
The overall title may have been decided, but the battle is still very much on as the M.E.Crowe Northern Ireland Rally Championship heads into the forests of Co Antrim for the grand finale - the Toshiba Rally.
Ten classic forestry stages await the 98 entries on Saturday
Derek McGarrity, already confirmed as this years Champion starts at No 1.
Officially he's entered in a Ford Focus - an indication of future plans perhaps - but in fact he is more likely to rely on a Subaru Impreza for this final appearance of 2002.
Robbie McGurk, fresh from his successful run in Co Tyrone is certainly Impreza-mounted at No 2, while another Subaru for Robert Woodside is down to start at No 3, although the latest news is that he will give this one a miss.
Eugene Donnelly, now locked in a battle with Stephen Whitford for the runner-up position in the Championship is at No 4 with his Celica ahead of the Escorts of Trevor Moore, Glenn Allen and Dominic McNeill.
Kevin O'Kane's Subaru and George Robinson's Escort come next while tarmac specialist Eamonn Boland completes the top 10 with his 'new shape' Impreza WRC, making a welcome return to the Toshiba.
Whitford's Evo 6 starts ahead of Denis Biggerstaff in the evergreen Metro 6R4 with Raymond Mason's GpN Impreza next.
Toshiba Managing Director Alan Thompson will start his Mitsubishi Evo 5 at No 48.
Rally Headquarters are at the Tullyglass House Hotel in Ballymena where the first car will leave the start ramp at 9.30am, returning late in the afternoon after a day in the testing North Antrim forests.
Service will be based at Glenariff Forest Park.
