KEVIN Barrett, co-driven by Declan Tumilty, finished a superb second overall on last Saturday's Kirkistown Stages Rally the opening round of the Northern Ireland Rally Championship. Driving a Subaru S11 world rally car the Ballyduff man was on his first visit to the County Down circuit for the six stage event, which was won by the Subaru S14 WRC of Derek Mcgarritty and co- driver James Mcgee.

"I decided to compete in today's rally as a shakedown for the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship and Top Part West Coast Rally Championship and am delighted with the result especially as it was my first time competing on the event," said Barrett.

This coming weekend will see rally action return to County Laois as Birr Motor Club host the nine stage Abbeyleix Manor Stages Rally. The rally, which is the opening round of both the Dunlop and Top Part West Coast Rally Championships, has attracted a top class entry of 130 crews in the main field along with 21 junior and five historic crews.

For top seed Ballyduff's Kevin Barrett / Sean Mullally (Subaru S11 WRC), the season ahead offers another opportunity to secure his inaugural Dunlop title. A Dunlop regular for several seasons, Barrett gained his first Dunlop event victory in the 2010 Galway Summer Rally, however, since then, the top step of the Dunlop podium has eluded him.

Seeded at number 2 is former triple champion, Monaghan's Niall Maguire (Subaru S11 WRC), who won in 1999, 2002 and 2004. Maguire is finding that unprecedented fourth title quite difficult even though he has finished runner- up on numerous occasions.

2009 Kerry Rallysprint winner Brian O'mahony / John Higgins will be competing in a Mckinstry run Subaru WRC are also set to make a bid for the national title. A former British and Irish Super 1600 champion the Carrigaline driver is seeded at number 3.

Former Billy Coleman award winner, Robert Barrable ( Skoda Fabia S2000) is seeded at number 4 and will have the highly experienced Tralee co-driver Dermot O'gorman on the notes. Last season, the young Dubliner made a great impression in Carlow and Cavan finishing runnerup to Dunlop champion, Tim Mcnulty. Barrable actually won the Sligo round of the series in 2011 and the duo will be aiming for a podium place in Abbeyleix.

Abbeydourney's Thomas Fitzmaurice / Fionn Foley (Subaru S11) are seeded at number 5 and will also be aiming for a podium finish. The duo finished ninth overall at the recent Galway International Rally on their first outing in the car and will be a major treat for the 2012 Dunlop and Top Part championship titles.

Athea's Colm Murphy / Don Montgomery (Subaru N12), Wexford's James Stafford / Amy Ryan (Darrian T90), England's Steve Simpson / Patrick Walsh (Subaru S14), Tipperary's Roy White / James O'brien ( MG ZR) and Monaghan's Shane Maguire / Martin Mcgarritty (Subaru N11) round off the top 10 seedings.

Just outside the top 10 are the 2011 Top Part West Coast Rally Champions Mike Quinn and co-driver Grainne Mcenery ( Ford Escort Mk11). The Lyreacrompane rally crew will once again be aiming to defend their title along with contesting the inaugural Dunlop National Mark 11 Champions trophy.

Some of the other Kerry driver's and co drivers competing in Abbeyleix are Tommy Mason / Damien Fleming ( Ford Escort Mk1), Pat Barry / Stephen O'connell (Ford Escort Mk11), Eddie Kennelly / Ciara O'connell (Ford Escort Mk11), Denis Collins / Tommy Commane (Ford Escort Mk1), Timmy Ahern / Connor Galvin ( Ford Escort Mk11), PJ O'dowd / John Young ( Talbot Sunbeam), Philip Mckibbin / Padraig Brick (Ford Cortina) and David Fleming / Kieran Doherty (Honda Civic).

Action gets underway 9am on Sunday morning with the first of the nine stages commencing at 10am. Competing crews will face three stages before the first service halt of the day at 11.43. Crews will than repeat the opening three stages twice more including one more service halt before the winner return to the finish ramp at 16.49.

- Seamus O'connor