Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan make trip to County Down next weekend for the penultimate round of the Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Championship 2009, the FM Contracts Down Rally.

Donagh and Kevin are regulars on the Down Rally since 2005 with one none finish and two 2nd place’s overall to their name. Last year they didn’t go due to Donagh having the flu.

This year another top result is needed but it will be tough with other Group N championship contenders Neil McCance and Raymond Johnston attending the rally as well as Damien Tourish and Raymond Mason also competing on the rally.

To have any chance of lifting the Sunoco Fuels Group N Championship Donagh and Kevin need to pull out all the stops next weekend and try and get maximum points which would really help in the points standings.

At present the Group N championship is pretty close with Donagh on 58 points, Raymond Johnston on 56 points and Neil McCance on 50 points with 30 points up for grabs on the final two rounds and also marshalling points too.

The event will consist of eight challenging stages like Rostrevor, Tollymore, Drumkeeragh and new for 2009 the Castlewellan Stage with forty competitive stage miles to attack. Centralised service is in the Castlewellan Forest Park which they will visit every two stages. The finish is planned for around 5pm in the Lower Square, Castlewellan with the prize giving in the Kings Inn.

Thanks again to the 2009 sponsors, KN Network Services, Donnelly Bros. Dungannon, Prime Tyres and Swan Plant Hire and for there continued support, Shell Racing Fuels, Pirelli Tyres and Vehicle Services Motorsport.

Visit www.vsmsport.com to read the latest news on the championship campaign