Garry Jennings is hoping his lack of rallying time this season will not hinder his attempt to win the Circuit of Ireland rally as he continues the defence of his Irish Tarmac Rally Championship this weekend.

Ireland’s most iconic rally gets underway on Easter Friday, and this year the event has attracted impressive entry thanks to its European rally championship status. Some of Europe’s top drivers will be competing at the head of the field for championship points, but most of the local crews including Jennings will be focused on their separate national section of the rally.

Jennings lies second in the championship after the first round in Galway. On the season opener the Kesh driver was locked in a battle with Declan Boyle before Jennings briefly left the road and handed the win to the Donegal man. The in-form Boyle is likely to be his main challenger again this weekend, but the pair will also have to be aware of four other contenders in World Rally Cars. Three multiple winners of the Tarmac Championship, Eugene Donnelly, Derek McGarrity and Kenny McKinstry, will all be hoping to roll back the years and taste victory again, and Donagh Kelly in his Ford Fiesta is also likely to challenge.

Garry has not been behind the wheel of his Subaru WRC since that event in February, while championship leader Boyle has gone on to record victories on the opening two rounds of the National Rally Championship. “I have not done any rallies apart from Galway and the rest of the boys are all rallied out so we will have to wait and see,” Garry said. “We will do the event and just see what happens but it’s too early in the year to panic yet. Hopefully we won’t be far away at the end.” Further down the field Johnny Leonard will be looking to get his Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship challenge underway after failing to pick up any points on the first round at Bishopscourt.

He will be out in his Mitsubishi Evo and will be looking to emulate his success of last season when he finished third overall in the championship. Fabian McAleer will also be out in his Escort, while in the International section William Mavitty will be mixing it with Europe’s top drivers in his Mitsubishi.

The rally starts on Friday in Belfast and will tackle 18 stages and 230 kilometres of competitive driving over two days. The winner will be crowned back in Belfast on Saturday evening.