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The leading entries for this Easter's Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally, which takes place on 11/12 April, have been revealed. The Ulster Automobile Club event, which is based at Dundalk's Park Inn, has received an impressive 124 entries, with many of the country's leading drivers intending to bid for the prestigious Circuit of Ireland Rally title.
The International category, which hosts round two of the TROA Irish Tarmac Championship, features an impressive array of World Rally Car and production category machinery. The rally cars belonging to top 10 seeds alone are worth a combined value of millions of pounds, and these competitors will be driving mind bogglingly fast through the closed roads in counties Down and Armagh!
 Gareth MacHale and Brian Murphy will start first on the road in their Ford Focus WRC. They head a star-studded entry list, which includes last year's winner, Eamonn Boland (Subaru), who will have Michael Joe Morrissey calling the notes on this occasion.
Derek McGarrity (Subaru), a three times winner of the event, will start at number three with James McKee calling the notes. Tim McNulty and Anthony Nestor also return in their Subaru Impreza WRC, while Eugene Donnelly and Paddy Toner complete the top five seeds.
Meanwhile, a host of competitors from Great Britain have entered the 'National A' event, which is a counting round of the Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Rally Championship.
Round one winner, Melvyn Evans (Subaru), is anxious to succeed on Irish soil as he continues his championship campaign. But he will face some stiff opposition, as David Mann (Subaru), David Kynaston (Audi), Washington James (Darrian) and Mark Jasper (MG) will all be aiming for the top spot.
And in the 'National B' category, which hosts round three of the Hankook MSA N.I. Stage Rally Championship, Banbridge rally ace Kenny McKinstry tops the entry in his Subaru Impreza WRC. Navigated by Bangor's Noel Orr, the crew will start ahead of Seamus Leonard and John McCafferty (Subaru), with Denis Biggerstaff and Damian McCann (Subaru) at number three.
"It's great to see the event in this area," McKinstry commented from his Banbridge home. "There are some brilliant stages around here and it's fantastic that The Outlet is being used as a service area."
With headquarters at Dundalk's Park Inn, the event takes kicks off on Saturday 11 April. A ceremonial start will take place in Banbridge on the Saturday morning at approximately 7.55am, before competitors tackle eight stages, interspersed by service at The Outlet.
Service moves to Carnbane Industrial Estate in Newry on Sunday 12 April, and crews will face a total of six stages in the County Armagh area, before the winner is crowned in Dundalk. Event programmes, which include a schedule and stage maps, are available to order from the event's official website at www.circuitofireland.net.
Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally top 10 (International)
1 Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC)
2 Eamonn Boland/Michael Joe Morrissey (Impreza WRC)
3 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC)
4 Tim McNulty/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC)
5 Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Fabia WRC)
6 Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC)
7 Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy (Focus WRC)
8 Kevin Barrett/Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC)
9 Paddy White/Graeme Stewart (Focus WRC)
10 Brendan Cumiskey/Conor Foley (Lancer Evo)
Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally top 6 (National A)
40 Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC)
41 David Mann/Alun Cook (Impreza WRC)
42 David Kynaston/Andy Russell (Audi A3 Quattro)
43 Washington James/Dai Roberts (Darrian T90 GTR)
44 Mark Jasper/Don Whyatt (Metro 6R4)
45 David Hardie/John McCulloch (Impreza)
Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally top 6 (National B)
60 Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC)
61 Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC)
62 Denis Biggerstaff/Damian McCann (Impreza WRC)
64 Mark Courtney/Mick Courtney (Celica ST205)
65 Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Impreza WRC)
67 Raymond Johnston/TBA (Lancer Evo)
Further information can be found online at www.circuitofireland.net.
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