6 April 2002: Tipperary Raceway plays host to the National Hot Rod Irish Grand Prix next weekend (April 13/14) and there will be no shortage of drivers from Ireland's home grown talent and the UK bidding for title honours, including European Champion, Mark Willis, who came, saw and conquered at his first visit to Rosegreen last October.

Corsa driver Willis, who has been around the ovals for many years but only last year joined the National Hot Rods, took two second places in the heats before sweeping to victory in the European Final. He will be joined in Tipperary by former Rosegreen winner, Shane Brereton (VW Corrado), winner of the World Series round at Ringwood on Good Friday.

The Irish Grand Prix was not run in 2001 due to the Foot & Mouth restrictions but in 2000 the trophy went to Pat Canavan, who is currently the most in-form Irishman in his Canavan Car Sales Peugeot. By far the most ‘mentally-fit’ of the Irish drivers, the Mallow man has won nine races in the last two months in his fantastic Peugeot 206 look-a-like, which has recently been re-panelled.

Ballyduff's Tom Casey, in his Denis Kinane/John Moloney Motors Ford Focus, will be aiming to add the Irish Grand Prix title to the Celtic Thunder trophy he won last July, while Rathdowney's Neville Stanley - current leader of the Irish World Championship qualifying points - will be looking for his first major Irish title. The Stanley Tractor Dismantlers Ford Focus driver was a major contender in the National Championship at Hednesford last year, finishing a very close second to Britain's Carl Boardley.

Chris Haird (Ford Focus) comes to Tipperary fresh from a resounding victory in the World Series round at the Birmingham Wheels oval last month and he will be joined by Adam Scott (Vauxhall Corsa), who took the World Series final honours at Ipswich on Easter Monday. Also featuring in the UK results was Mike Oliver, both he and Scott having enjoyed the Irish hospitality at Tipperary last October. Other confirmed British drivers include Mike Smith (Renault Clio) and Irish regular, Colin Gomm (Mitsubishi Colt).

There will be no shortage of Irish drivers eager to show the Brits the way around Rosegreen and none more so than local man, Clonmel’s John English, winner of two heats at Tipperary on Easter Monday in his Corsa. Mike Riordan (Fermoy) in his Mitsubishi Colt, and Charlie Daly (Ballyduff) in his Fiesta can never be discounted either. Promising newcomers, Joey Butler (Dublin), also a heat winner on Easter Monday in his Peugeot 205, and Limerick’s Malcolm Clein, in the Munster Metal Peugeot 205, will have their first taste of UK competition next weekend and are expected to show well.

As usual, Tipperary Raceway runs a full support race programme with the popular 1600 Hot Rod class, the Lightning Rods and Stock Rods. Saturday evening racing starts at 19.30, with Sunday's afternoon race meeting getting underway at13.30.

©2002irishcar.com