Murphy won last year's Moonraker and the Carrgaline driver was the Valvoline Forest Champion in 2011.
Competition in the Moonraker will be intense on Sunday with Mick O'Brien (Focus WRC) seeded at two. The London-based Cork native was runner up on round one in West Limerick after a day-long lead.
The winner in West Limerick Philip Morrow (Evo9) is seeded at three. The Lisburn man blasted through the last stage to catapult from third to first. A former Evo UK Champion, he will be more closely marked this time.
Perhaps Enda Mc Nulty (Impreza) can do it. Seeded at four, the Tyrone man will be in great form after his marvellous win in Fivemiletown last Saturday. Another former winner is Pat O' Connell (Evo9).The Cashel man won this event three years ago on his way to the 2010 Forest Forest Championship.
The power of the WRC cars of Martin Cairns (Impreza) and John Reid (Corolla) will keep the top quintet honest while the Moffett brothers (Evo9's) and Liam Regan Peugeot make up the top ten. Missing from the entry list is Vincent Mc Aree. The Monaghan man was fourth in West Limerick (14secs off the lead), but he recently damaged his ankle while playing soccer.
The 2WD segment also promises to be a hum dinger. The Escorts of Michael Conlon, James Coleman, Paul Fitzgerald and Jimmy Deane will be flat out (and sideways) trying to deny the Starlet RWD of Shane Mc Girr. The Tyrone man was best 2WD in West Limerick and Fivemiletown-where he was also a great third overall.
The Honda Civic of Dean Raftery will be favourite in the junior class, but Daniel Cronin will be quick in a similar car. The little Citroen C2R2's of Kevin O' Connor and David Carney will also challenge for honours in this prestigious class. The full Moonraker entry is available on www.rally.ie and www.irishforestrally.com.
The Moonraker is hosted by the Munster MC and the COC Jim Murphy has laid on a challenging 62km course that traverses six stages in total. There are three stage locations (Scart Coolatoor and Newtown) and the road mileage is low with centralised servicing in Cappaquin. The Rally is based in Lismore as usual, with the first car leaving the town at 0900 and the winner is expected on the finish ramp at 1645.
The Moonraker is also Round 1 of Triton Showers South East Stages Rally Championship 2013 and a Counting Round of the Munster Car Club Championship 2013.
TOP SEEDS FOR MOONRAKER RALLY
1 Owen Murphy/James O'Brien, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2 Mick O'Brien/Greg Shinnors, Ford Focus WRC
3 Philip Morrow/Simon Morrow, Mitsubishi Lance Evo IX
4 Enda McNulty/Paul Sheridan, Subaru Impreza
5 Pat O'Connell/Mark Wiley, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
6 Martin Cairns TBA Subaru, Impreza S12B
7 John Reid/Enda Shiels, Toyota Corolla
8 Josh Moffett/Jason McKenna, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
9 Liam Regan/Damien Duffin, Peugeot 206
10 Sam Moffett/David Moynihan, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
