Murphy and O'Brien to miss start of Valvoline this weekend

Owen Murphy / James O'Brien, the current Valvoline National Forestry Champions, won't be at the start ramp this weekend in Donegal for the first round of the 2012 Valvoline National Forest Championship.

All had been going well and preparations were at an advanced stage when Owen hurt his back.

He has been seeing a chiropractor since and it's a case of one day good and the next day in a lot of discomfort. His chiropractor has said that he wouldn't last the day in the car. Owen said "I went to get into the car the other night and had a lot of trouble getting back out. I am really sick about this but stuff happens and my chiropractor is confident that with a little time, it will sort itself out.

He will be back for Round Two in Carrick-on-Suir.

Hankook are back on board as main sponsor for another season and Owen and James are confident of some good results later in the year. (Photo: Ger Leahy Photography).

Forest Juniors set for Billy Coleman award

Junior Rallying in Ireland got a major boost with the announcement that op two junior drivers in the 2011 Valvoline National Forest Championship will be eligible for the Billy Coleman award, writes Austin Shinnors, PRO Petro Systems National Forest Championship.

The six round series commences with the Tipperary MC Mitchelstown Rally on 13 February and the final round will be hosted by the Down MC on 22 October.

Junior crews will compete in class 9 and will run first on the road and traverse all the special stages of each rally.

Junior drivers must be under 26 years of age, compete in a car of 1,650 ccs (or less) and hold a Motorsport Ireland licence. Previous winners of the prestigious Billy Coleman Award include household names like Craig Breen, Keith Cronin, Owen Murphy and Gareth McHale.

2011 Volvoline National Forest Championship Rounds - 13 February Tipperary LCC Sean Conlon; 6 March Carrick-on-Suir MC Wm Loughman; 10 April Munster CC Moonraker; 23 July Donegal MC Forestry Rally; 13 August Cork MC Jim Walsh; 22 October Rathfriland MC Down Rally.

Down to the wire in Mournes

Next Saturday's Down rally is the final round of the Petro Systems National Forest Rally Championship, writes Austin Shinnors. The season's finale will the North and South go down to the wire in the Mournes. Pat O'Connell and John Reid go head to head to decide the outcome of a very exciting championship. Hosted by the Rathfriland MC, the 2010 Down rally makes history as it marks the first ever visit of the National Forest Championship to the Northern Ireland Championship in its 20 year history.