Rally Islas Canarias, which last week was confirmed as a new addition to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge calendar, is set to attract a strong entry when it runs for a 34th time from 29 April-1 May.

In addition to a host of local drivers and those who will travel from the Spanish mainland, Peugeot UK has confirmed it will send a 207 Super 2000 for its defending IRC champions Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle, while Irishmen Daniel Barry and Martin Brady are planning to take part in the same Mitsubishi Lancer they used on Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo in January.

Skoda Motorsport has also confirmed that it will contest the fourth round of the IRC series with regular pilots Jan Kopecky and Juho Hanninen, who heads the IRC drivers' table by five points.

Kopecky said: "I prefer to drive on asphalt so I am looking forward to doing this rally. I think it can be very good for me."

Several IRC 2WD Cup crews have also expressed an interest in competing on the famous asphalt rally, which is based on the island of Gran Canaria.  

Pozzo clinches Subaru Individual Award 

Gabriel Pozzo has become the latest recipient of the Subaru Individual Award following his fine run to fourth overall on Rally Argentina last weekend.

Pozzo had got the better of fellow Argentine Federico Villagra, in a Ford Fiesta S2000, for fifth place before he inherited fourth when Kris Meeke retired on the penultimate stage.

The result also marked Pozzo's second-straight victory in this season's Argentine championship, which was running alongside the main IRC event.

"It has been a really good rally, and a good fight for the whole event with Federico," said Pozzo, 29. "I am very happy for me with this result but also for my team. It's really great."

Pozzo joins Swiss Olivier Burri and Uruguayan Juan San Martin as a Subaru Individual Award recipient. Burri took the prize for his performance on Rally Automobile Monte-Carlo in January, while San Martin earned the accolade on Rally Internacional de Curitiba at the start of March.

The Subaru Individual Award will be presented on each of the 12 IRC rounds this year to the highest-placed Subaru finisher and demonstrates the support that Subaru will extend to its customer drivers in the IRC in 2010.

Meeke supports Colin McRae Vision charity 

Defending Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Kris Meeke has described taking part in a presentation on behalf of the Colin McRae Vision charity prior to the start of Rally Argentina as a huge honour and a very emotional experience.

Meeke, a former protégé of the rally legend, who was killed in a helicopter accident in 2007 along with his young son Johnny and two family friends, is an ambassador of the charity, which was established to raise funds for initiatives and good causes helping young people around the world.

The presentation of a cheque for 74,000 Argentine Pesos (about 14,100 Euros) was made on the eve of Rally Argentina to the municipal hospital in Carlos Paz, where the rally was based. The money will be used to buy a new X-ray machine for the town.

Meeke said: "I played a very small part in the presentation. It's actually hats off to Colin's widow Alison and all the other people involved. They just wanted to give something back to the people who made Colin the man he was, his fans. It was a very touching and emotional night and an honour to be involved."

Colin McRae Vision charity officials are planning to support similar worthwhile causes and initiatives at other rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season.   
 

Breen to use M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 on Circuit of Ireland  
 

Craig Breen, a rising star of Irish rallying, will enter the Circuit of Ireland IRC Supporter Event in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 and could be an outside bet for overall victory.

Although Breen will have to overcome the threat posed by several World Rally Cars on the asphalt event, the 20-year-old has produced several strong performances in the Fiesta, another example of which was used by Mikko Hirvonen to win the opening round of this year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge, Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo, in January.

Breen said: "We're well prepared for the Circuit of Ireland and with some luck we can achieve another good result."

The Circuit of Ireland IRC Supporter Event is based in the town of Newry in Northern Ireland and runs from 3-4 April.