'Tailgaters and phoners' most dangerous

by Trish Whelan.Drivers who tailgate other vehicles or use a handheld phone while at the wheel are the most dangerous threats on the road, according to a new survey in Britain from the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

More than half of all drivers regard each of these two activities as 'highly dangerous', according to a survey of almost 700 motorists.

Drivers who overtake on single carriageway A-roads when there is oncoming traffic, and those who cut others up, forcing them to brake, are regarded as the next most dangerous threats.

Jetta name driving back

by Brian Byrne. Volkswagen is to revive the Jetta name in Europe when the Bora replacement is launched in Germany in June.

The Jetta name continued in the US after the original was replaced with the Bora. In that market, it is the top-selling European car.

RHD versions are not likely to be available until early 2006.

Aygo and Co get 4-star ENCAP

by Brian Byrne. The Toyota Aygo, coming to Ireland in September, and its siblings Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107 — due early next year — have been awarded a 4-star rating for adult occupant safety by the Euro NCAP testing programme.

The cars, tested as the Citroen, were awarded 26 points for its adult occupant safety, three stars (36 points) for child protection and two stars (14 points) for pedestrian safety.

Racing Ford GT

by Brian Byrne. The first fully-homologated production Ford GT supercar to be officially imported by Ford Motor Company into Europe is to remain in the company's ownership and become part of its Essex-based Ford Heritage Collection of historically significant vehicles.

There it joins two original Ford GT40s, both of which have been owned by Ford since they were built in 1964 and 1969.

Ford has own Lion on tour

by Trish Whelan. Malcolm O’Kelly, Ireland’s record cap-holder, will be writing a special Lions diary for the Ford website www.ford.ie during this summer's tour to New Zealand. Above, Ford Ireland chief Eddie Murphy wishes Ireland's record cap-holder a bon voyage as he prepares to depart for New Zealand with the rest of the Lions squad.

“It’s a long time to be away and we’re going to be immersed in rugby for most of the time, so it’s good to have a distraction like the diary,” he says. “There’s going to be so much happening down there and I can’t wait for it all to start.”

100 million VWs

by Trish Whelan. The 100 millionth Volkswagen has been built. It's a Touran 1.9-litre TDI in metallic Reflex Silver paint, and Volkswagen is the first automotive manufacturer in Europe to reach this production milestone.

Beetle Production in Wolfsburg began in 1945 and up to now over 21.5 million Beetles, 23 million Golfs and 13 million Passats, as well as nine million Polos, have been built.

Last year, Volkswagen delivered 3.06 million vehicles to customers.

Audi supercar suggested

by Remi Blondet. A new Porsche-baiting supercar from Audi may be on the road within two years.

The car would be based on the Le Mans Quattro concept shown at the last Frankfurt IAA, with mechanicals from the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Lamborghini is in the same sport segment of the VW Group as Audi.

RAC calls for more road gardai

by Brian Byrne. The RAC in Ireland has reiterated its stance that a more visible garda presence on our roads would do more to improve road safety than Gatso speed cameras.

The organisation's comments come in the wake of suggestions that there is 'points-swapping' going on in the cases of a number of drivers who are close to losing their licences because of the accumulation of points.

Saying that this is 'a serious flaw' in Ireland’s penalty points system that can allow guilty drivers escape punishment for driving offences, Jerry Purcell, Head of RAC Ireland also points out that anyone caught in such a practice risks a fine of €1,500 and/or a six month jail sentence.

2WD X-Trail arriving

by Brian Byrne. Nissan Ireland is launching a 2WD version of the strong-selling X-Trail range, which up to now has only been available in 4WD with a 2WD switchable facility.

The diesel is the 136bhp 2.2-litre unit, with torque of 314Nm. It has a six-speed transmission.

The 2-litre petrol engine has 138bhp on tap.

Though no prices are yet available, it is understood that it will sell for around €2,000 less than the equivalent 4WD model.

Having the cheaper entry-level will give the Nissan a chance to hike up closer to its nearest rival, Hyundai's new Tucson, which is selling very well in 2WD format.

Modus is top small MPV

by Trish Whelan. Although sales are significantly short of the 300,000-a-year capacity of the manufacturing plant in Spain, Renault's Modus is now the best-selling small MPV in Europe.

The Renault substantially outstripped previous leader Opel Meriva in the first-quarter sales figures, at 52,789 units against the Opel's 40,250.

In Ireland, the Meriva is still ahead of Modus sales, with 555 units against 447 for the Renault in the first four months of 2005.

MX-5 production commences

by Brian Byrne. Mazda has begun production of the all-new, third-generation MX-5.

The first MX-5 off the line was a Third Generation Limited edition model — bound for North America, and painted velocity red, with a red leather interior. It had a 2-litre four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual gearbox.

The all-new MX-5 was first shown to the public in March at the 2005 Geneva Auto Show.

Passat, Polo prices announced

by Trish Whelan. Volkswagen have announced prices and specifications for their new Passat, Polo and Golf Plus models, all three of which will be launched on the Irish market next month.

Prices for the new Passat begin at €25,500 for the entry-level 1.6-litre FSI, 115bhp petrol version and €29,375  for the 1.9-litre TDi, 105bhp version.

In the case of Polo, prices begin at €15,465 for a 1.2-litre petrol 55bhp 3-door version and €19,840 for a
1.4-litre TDi, 80bhp, 3-door version.

The new Golf Plus range begins with  a 1.4-litre, 75bhp petrol version at €22,340.

Aygo with beermats and T-shirts

by Remi Blondet. Toyota has absolutely no doubt where it expects to sell its Aygo, the A-segment car due in Ireland in September.

A 'beermats and T-shirts' marketing programme will target Europe's youth in trendy bars and at music festivals.

The target audience even has a new name: the 'E' Generation, for 'emerging'.

A mobile music studio built into an Aygo for the Geneva Motor Show launch of the model will be a highlight attraction at the events.

New Vitara breaks cover

by Remi Blondet. Suzuki has launched in Japan its next generation Grand Vitara, which will replace the model first introduced in 1988.

Called the Escudo on the other side of the world, the new car was previewed as the Concept-X2 at the New York Auto Show earlier this year.

It features a unibody on a ladder-frame chassis and has a full-time four-wheel drive system with locking central differential. There's all-independent suspension around.

Engines in Japan are a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol, capable 145 PS and 193 Nm or torque; and a 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine with 184 PS and 250 Nm.

GM/Toyota fuel cells talks

by Brian Byrne. General Motors and Toyota are discussing collaboration on a fuel cell partnership which could lead to joint production on alternative systems to petrol-burning engines. 

The companies have already collaborated since 1999 on research toward alternative fuel systems.

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles could ease the environmental debate over cars and help vehicles meet stricter emissions regulations. They could also provide a counter to rising energy prices.

New big Opel confirmed

by Brian Byrne. Opel has confirmed that it will add a new high-end car that will be launched before 2010.

The new car will be launched before 2010, and will likely have some elements based on the Insignia concept car (above) shown in Frankfurt in 2003.

Opel has had no large car since it retired its Omega in 2003.

Gas-diesel project

by Remi Blondet. A new project to turn natural gas into a clean-burning diesel fuel is well under way in Qatar.

Some $20 billion has been committed to build clean gas-to-liquid diesel plants in this Gulf state, with investment from Royal Dutch/Shell Group, ChevronTexaco and Exxon Mobil.

The project based on an obscure process developed to make fuel from coal in 1920s Germany.

Deal sought for MGTF

by Brian Byrne. MG Rover may be dead, but MG might yet live, if a consortium bidding for the sporty name and its related assets get their way.

Chapman Automotive in Britain is leading negotiations on behalf of a group of investors to take over the rights to the MGTF sports car.

The unnamed investors are reported to include a carmaker not based in the UK, along with a wealthy entrepreneur and an investment fund from the US.

If successful, the MGTF would be built for a number of markets, including the US.

New SIMI president crits roads

by Brian Byrne. Noel Daly, Managing Director of O’Mara Motors Limerick, has been elected President of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry for the coming year.

Speaking at the recent SIMI AGM today he highlighted the crippling taxation burden which the Irish motorist continually bears.

“Ireland has one of the highest motor taxation regimes in Europe," he said, "garnering a huge return for the Government. Yet motorists here suffer one of worst transport infrastructure systems in Europe."

Acknowledging the progress made by the Minister for Transport in recent times with the timeliness of new road projects, he said it is important also to be conscious of how poorly our road network compares with that of other EU member states.

"The Irish motorist contributes almost €4.8billion annually to the exchequer in motor related taxation and yet investment in road infrastructure is a fraction of this.

“Irish motorists are paying substantially more for their vehicles than their European counterparts. While motorists in those countries with low level motor taxation enjoy a reliable, efficient and logical transport infrastructure, motorists here are often left feeling exasperated by the problems caused by our poor transport infrastructure. It’s now time for the Government to give motorists value for their money”

New Jeep for Europe

by Brian Byrne. Jeep is to introduce its new 7-seater Commander version of its Cherokee to Europe.

The car will be built in Graz, Austria, by Magna Steyr, where the Grand Cherokee variants for Europe are already built, alongside the Chrysler Voyager and, in June, the Chrysler 300C Touring.

The first Commanders are expected in European showrooms in early 2006.

Lexus hybrid SUV here

by Brian Byrne. The new Lexus RX 400h SUV — the world's first hybrid premium vehicle — is now for sale in Ireland at a price of €72,848.

But the allocation of 50 for the remainder of this year is already sold out, to buyers who have been attracted by the pre-publicity around the car, which is powered by a combination of a 3.3-litre petrol engine and two electric motors. The RX 400h has a CVT transmission.

The retail price includes a rebate of half the VRT, which the Government is allowing on all hybrid vehicles until the end of 2006.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive system in the RX 400h is designed for performance, with a 7.6sec 0-100km/h achievable, but it also has a payoff in terms of the environment, as does the Toyota Motor Company's groundbreaking hybrid car Prius.

Fuel consumption at 8.1 L/100km is claimed to be the lowest in the premium SUV segment, while the vehicle has a low CO2 emission of 192gr/km. Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions are close to zero.

Speaking at the Irish Press Launch last evening, Lexus Ireland MD Mark Teevan said the company is hoping for a 'significant' improvement in supply for 2006, but availibility has still not been finalised.

The bulk of the 41,000-a-year current production capacity will go to the US market.

Mark Teevan noted that the state of hybrid technology is at an early stage, and 'large' improvements are expected as it develops.

A GS hybrid is also slated for next year.

Toyota yesterday also confirmed recent speculation that a hybrid Camry is to be produced. It will go into production in 2006.

Seat convertible mooted

by Brian Byrne. Seat may build a convertible version of its new Leon, to be built at the same Autoeuropa plant in Portugal that will start building VW's new convertible in October.

Last year Seat decided not to build the Tango roadster concept, but if it built a convertible from VW's new model — with which it shares its architecture — it would be financially feasible.

The VW convertible will be positioned between the Golf and the Passat and compete with convertible versions of the BMW 3 series and Mercedes-Benz CLK.

Toyota closes on GM

by Brian Byrne. Toyota is now on a track that it could overtake GM as the world's largest carmaker within three years.

According to last year's sales figures, the Japanese company gained 600,000 extra vehicles, and is now within 1.38 million units of GM.

The largest gain for Toyota was in the USA market, which was responsible for a third of the extra sales.

Toyota passed Ford last year.

Total sales of the Big Three in 2004 were GM: 8,089,551; Toyota: 6,707,600; and Ford: 6,432,200.

However, the Ford figures don't include Mazda's 1,157,345 units, which, if included, would put it back into second position.

And if the GM Daewoo Auto & Technology 900,084 units, a 55.2% increase and whose vehicles are mostly sold under the Chevrolet brand in Europe and some other markets, were added to the GM total, it would put the leader further ahead.

New Swift arrives

by Trish Whelan. The all-new Suzuki Swift, just launched here, is one of the most significant Suzuki vehicles to emerge from the company in recent years.

It is available with a 1.3- 4 cylinder engine in 3-door and 5-door models with prices at €13,995 for the GL 3-door and €14,395 for the 5-door.

The new Swift, which also form the basis of Suzuki's new Junior World Rally Championship title contender later this year in its 1.3- version, achieves 0-100 km/h in 11 seconds, has a top speed of 175 km/h, and returns a combined fuel economy of 6.2 L/100 km (45.6mpg).

Suzuki Ireland is targeting a 1% segment share this year (with 300 units allocated), growing to a 5% share in 2006 (1500 units).

B-Class aimed at young families

by Brian Byrne.The new Mercedes B-Class, which has recently had its European Press Launch in Spain, is aimed at young family buyers in the compact MPV segment dominated by Opel's Zafira and Renault's Scenic.

Built on the same architecture as the new A-Class, but larger, the B-Class is aggressively targeting 'other brands' for its new car, with more than half of sales being of the 'conquest' variety, according to Marion Friese, M-B head of product management for A- and B-class models. 

Sales of the B class start in European markets in June.

Mercedes is pricing the B class in Germany at about €22,243. In Ireland's VRT regime, it will be considerably more.

Tata to build Xover

by Ray Bernard. Now one of the fastest-growing automotive businesses in the world, the Tata company in India says it will build and export to Europe its Xover concept vehicles shown at Geneva.

The 7-seat crossover vehicle had its exterior designed by the I.DE.A. Institute of Turin, and it will be launched in India in 2007.

It will be sold in Europe with petrol and diesel engines, though the date of launch has not yet been revealed.

Range Rover Sport arrives

by Trish Whelan. Land Rover have announced the arrival in Ireland of its new Range Rover Sport which is an additional fifth nameplate for the Land Rover brand.

Designed to complement the renowned Range Rover — which continues as the company's flagship — the Range Rover Sport is a completely new vehicle, a more compact, more agile and more performance-orientated SUV, according to Land Rover Ireland's MD David Harpur.

It is available with 2.7-litre V6 diesel and a brace of V8 petrol engines, one of which is supercharged. Prices start from €70,200.

The big seller is expected to be the diesel.

One-off Maybach for tyre display

by Remi Blondet The Maybach show car "Exelero" was unveiled to the world for the first time yesterday afternoon in the Tempodrom in Berlin.

The 700hp two-seater with a V-12 biturbo engine is a unique custom model produced for Fulda Reifenwerke, which is using the Maybach Exelero as a reference vehicle for a newly developed generation of wide tyres. The German manufacturer of luxury cars built the unique model as a modern interpretation of its legendary streamlined sports car from the 1930s, which at that time was likewise based on a powerful Maybach automobile (SW 38) and used by Fulda for tyre tests.

In initial tests on the high-speed track in Nardo (Italy), the unique vehicle reached a top speed of 351.45 km/h. Developers at Maybach designed the custom model with the participation of students from Pforzheim College. The Exelero was built by the prototype specialists at Stola in Turin (Italy). There are no plans to produce the model in series.

Former Fiat man sets up as media guru

Joe Gantly, who was responsible for all Press and Public Relations at Fiat Auto Ireland for over three decades, has now set up his own PR Company, Gantly & Associates Communications Consultancy.

Gantly worked in two major advertising agencies here, handling some of the country’s larger accounts before being asked to join Fiat Auto Ireland.

For almost 30 years he was involved in all aspects of that company’s communications programme including national and local advertising, dealer advertising and merchandising, media relations, joint promotions, sponsorships, consumer research, conference organisation in Ireland and abroad and liaison with Fiat Auto press offices in many parts of the world. In recent years he had concentrated on Public Relations.

The new consultancy can provide everything from single Press Releases to planning and coordinating a long-term PR strategy, organising all aspects of product launches, even speech writing and training if necessary.

Further information from Gantly & Associates, 199 Sarto lawn, Sutton, Dublin 13. Phone 01-8324375; 087-4158809 or e-mail jgantly@iol.ie

Renault extends LCV warranty

by Brian Byrne. Renault Ireland have just announced details of their new extended 3 year warranty for light commercial vehicles. Renault now offer 3 year/100,000 kilometres manufacturers warranty on all all Kangoo,Trafic and Master vans from 15 April 2005.

Also they will provide a 3 year AA Roadside Assistance package with this extended warranty. Service intervals are now 30,000 Kilometres for Kangoo and Trafic and the Master service intervals are extended to 40,000 kilometres.

Newbridge dealer tops Citroen service

by Trish Whelan. Newbridge Citroen dealers P G Duffy & Sons Ltd have topped the 2004 Citroën Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Pictured receiving the award are Pat Duffy, Gerard Duffy, and Pat Byrne — National Service Manager, Gallic Distributors.

BMW Approved Used Car weekend

by Trish Whelan. This Friday and Saturday, all BMW dealerships will hold an Approved Used BMW weekend.

Developed specifically for the owner's peace of mind, the BMW Approved Used Car Warranty covers the car for a minimum of 12 months. The warranty can be extended for an additional 2 years from the date of purchase.

And to show just what an Approved BMW can do, consider the story of three adventurous Irish guys, Simon Collins, Annesley Barker and Mark Lowe, who took a 56,500km trip across the world in an approved used BMW 3 Series with 158,000km on the clock.

When the opportunity arose to drive to Australia in a BMW 316i all their dreams came true. Two years and 28 countries later they returned to Dublin in the same BMW that allowed them to reach all their destinations without a problem.

Every BMW Approved Used Car has been closely examined and prepared by BMW technicians before one takes delivery.

For further information log on to I Want a BMW.

Volvo upgrades engines, interiors

by Brian Byrne. Volvo has now added two new diesel engines, even more premium features and new technological advances for the 2006 model year S60, V70, XC70, S80 and XC90 ranges.

Highlights include two new Euro IV versions of the Volvo 5 cylinder diesel engine — a 2.4D with 163bhp and the D5 with power increased to 185bhp.

The company's products also get extended service intervals, new six-speed gearboxes, and 'Volvo Inscription' new bespoke, luxury interiors for S60, V70 and XC90.

The new D5 engine is available on the Volvo XC90 and XC70, while the S60 and V70 offer both new diesel engines, the 2.4D and the D5.

Hybrid Camry coming

by Brian Byrne Toyota is expanding its range of hybrid-powered vehicles with a Camry hybrid which will arrive next year.

This will bring to four the number of hybrid models being produced by the company. They include the groundbreaking Prius saloon, the Highlander SUV in the US, and the Lexus RX430h which is being launched in Ireland next week.

The Camry's architecture is shared by the Lexus and the SUV, so adapting it shouldn't be a problem.

Jaguar considers 'crossover'

by Brian Byrne. A confirmation of speculation that Jaguar may go into the 'crossover' business was made last week at the Automotive News Congress in Barcelona.

Jaguar CEO Joe Greenwell the company may add a vehicle that's in the crossover segment. He said there was more possibility there than in SUVs. 

But he added that any such vehicle would have to fit in with Jaguar's 'premium philosophy'.

Model T Run

by Brian Byrne. A 5-day event in Cork and Kerry is bringing back perhaps the finest collection of Model T Ford cars seen in recent years, when the Irish Model T Ford Club’s International Tour marked Cork 2005, European Capital of Culture.

Some 67 cars in total are taking part in the Tour, which covers over 400 miles, starting from Ringaskiddy Ferry Port in Cork.

Each participant was presented with a special brass plaque depicting a 1914 Model T radiator and a full colour limited edition souvenir programme.

Jaguar adds 2.2 diesel

by Brian Byrne. Jaguar's X-TYPE diesel range moves up a gear for the 2006 model year with the introduction of a new 2.2 litre turbocharged engine and six-speed manual transmission.

The new 155PS engine has torque peaking on overboost at a solid 400Nm, and has been developed as part of a joint venture between Jaguar and its parent company, Ford.

It will go on sale in its first markets from September this year.

Toyota leads by lengths

by Brian Byrne. Toyota is the clear leader in passenger vehicle sales for the first four months of the year, registering 14,626 units and taking just on 14 percent of market share.

Ford follows with 12,223 cars and an 11.6 percent share, while Nissan with 8,849 and 8.4 percent, VW with 7,790 and 7.4 percent, and Renault with 7,619 and 7.2 percent fill out the top five performers.

The market itself is up 13.4 percent on the same period last year. The light commercial sector has recorded a 29 percent increase in unit sales over the same period.

Asians plan Europe surge

by Brian Byrne. Japanese and Korean carmakers are expecting to increase their penetration in Europe's car markets by over 11 percent in 2005, with a projected 3.4 million units in a flat market expected to outturn at around 15 million in total.

That would have the collective Asian input equalling the combined sales of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen group, Europe's best-performing carmaking group and France's biggest carmaker. PSA recently set aside its projections to reach 4 million vehicles annually next year.

The offensive combines the arrival of new models from Kia, Honda, Toyota and Hyundai as well as a 20 percent advantage gained in currency fluctuations against the strengthening euro.

New Kia appointment

by Trish Whelan. Kia Motors Ireland has announced the appointment of James Brooks to the position of General Manager.

He comes to Kia from Opel Ireland where he has held a number of senior management positions over the past ten years, most recently Fleet Sales Director.

He is a native of Dublin and a certified accountant.

Kia Ireland, established in January 2004 as a branch of Kia Motors UK Limited, is aiming to achieve 2% market share in 2005.

Nesbitt/O'Brien win Killarney

by Padraig Reddington. Andrew Nesbitt and James O'Brien have won the 2005 Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes.

They finished the Killarney event 50 seconds ahead of Eugene Donnelly and Paul Kiely, who in turn had a margin of 32 seconds over the third place finishers, Derek McGarrity and Dermot O'Gorman.

McGarrity's result sees him extend his lead in the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, of which the Rally of the Lakes was the third round.

Nesbitt had held the overnight lead in his Subaru Impreza WRC, but when Donnelly closed to within 29 seconds during the morning, Nesbitt hit back, completing the four subsequent stages quicker than his nearest rival. Donnelly was not aided by a back injury he picked up when his Corolla WRC landed heavily off a crest.

McGarrity's fortunes varied as the weather changed from wet to dry and back again. In the wet, his Subaru Impreza had difficulty in converting the power of the engine to traction at the wheels, but on the drier stages his pace was almost equal to that of the leaders. As the rain abated, his times improved, and he was promoted to third place when Kevin Lynch and Gordon Noble struck a wall and damaged their engine on the penultimate stage.

Eamonn Boland and Francis Regan finished fourth, followed by Austin McHale/Brian Murphy and Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell, who set the fastest time on the final stage. Bantry's Denis Cronin and Helen O'Sullivan were the top Killarney & District Motor Club members to finish, taking seventh despite picking up a puncture over the closing miles.

McGarrity now has 35 points at the head of Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship standings, Donnelly and Nesbitt are equal second with 27 points, and McHale and Boland are fourth and fifth with 26 and 25 points respectively.

Colm Murphy and Ger Loughrey won the Group N category on the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes, from Alan Ring and Paul Nagle, who were the top Kerry crew in the overall results. Terry McGonigle and Sean Harris had snatched the Group N lead earlier, but they then crashed on the very next stage and lost five minutes. Kevin and Martin Kelleher finished third in Group N and rounded out the overall top ten.

The National Rally of the Lakes (for non-homologated or Modified cars) was won by Welshman Phil Collins in his Ford Escort RS, navigated by Killarney's Diarmuid Falvey. They finished one minute and eighteen seconds ahead of Dessie Keenan and Enda Sherry, from Monaghan, in another Escort.

Raymond Conlon won the Junior Rally of the Lakes for competitors under 27 years of age, navigated by Cathal McAree. Their margin of victory was just seven seconds, from Jason O'Mahoney and Aoife McCarthy.

The Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes is organised and promoted by Killarney & District Motor Club and based at the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney.

Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2005
Provisional Results after Final Stage (Shanera):
1: Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Armagh/Kanturk), Subaru Impreza WRC S9, 2hr, 19mins, 46secs.
2: Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Maghera), Toyota Corolla WRC, 2:20:36 (+ 50 secs.)
3: Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman, (Glengormley/Athlone), Subaru Impreza WRC S10, 2:21:45 (+ 1min, 59secs)
4: Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Wexford), Subaru Impreza WRC S9, 2:22:09 (+ 2:23)
5: Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Dublin), Ford Focus WRC03, 2:23:21 (+ 3:35)
6: Tim McNulty/Eugene O' Donnell (Meath), Subaru Impreza WRC S10, 2:23:34 (+ 3:48)
7: Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Ballylickey), Subaru Impreza WRC99 S5 , 2:28:44 (+ 8:58)
8: Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Athea), Subaru Impreza WRX N10, 2:31:32 (+11:46)
9: Alan Ring/Paul Nagle (Castleisland/Killarney), Subaru Impreza WRX N10, 2:32:27 (+12:41)
10: Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher (Clonakilty), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, 2:32:50 (+13:04)

Land Rover at Punchestown

by Ray Bernard. The Goffs Land Rover Bumper generated terrific interest this year at the first day of the Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival where British trained horse 'Its A Dream' took home the first prize.

Pictured here are (left to right): winning jockey Aidan Fitzgerald; trainer Nicky Henderson; sponsors Ronan Griffin, Goffs and David Harpur, Land Rover Ireland; owners Mrs and Mr David Murdoch and Marie Harpur.

In addition, the vendor of 'Its A Dream' — Kilroe Stables — won an all-new Land Rover Discovery 3 Commercial.