After the highs of 2003, the 2004 023 Tiles Southern 4 Championship isalready looking to be a cracker. Run over five rounds with the best 4 tocount, the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally is once again the opening round ofthe championship.For 2004, 023 TILES, Bandon and Cork continue as title sponsor, and theRaven's Rock rally joins the championship for the first time.
Dunmanway based Liam McCarthy won the 2003 Championship by the slightestmargin - level on Points with Maurice Gass, McCarthy had an extra 1 pointscore. Both are returning to the championship, Gass with a new Hyundai WorldRally Car, and along with a host of other drivers are all looking to takethe 2004 title.
Third last year and a former winner of the Championship Denis Cronin hasupgraded to four wheel drive and must again be about the favourites for theChampionship. 2000 Champion Johnny O'Sullivan will also be making a comebackthis weekend, with fellow Killarney driver Donie O'Sullivan bringing a FocusWRC to the championship.
The 1600 Award became one of the most sought after trophies on last year's023 Tiles Southern 4 championship. Open to cars in classes 1,2,5,6,9,10 &11, Liam Cooper and Denis Delaney took the award in their Mark II Escort andare also planning to defend their title. The Cork crew will face stiffopposition from local driver "Small" Tim O'Donovan, Domonic Naughton fromLimerick is a Class 6 Saxo Kit Car, and Cavan driver John Tully in his newMontune Engined Mark II.
New for 2004 will be a Group N award, with drivers should as KieranO'Callaghan, Willie Fannin, Championship Sponser James O'Sullivan, MarkNangle, the Civic Type-R of Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary, and last year'sclass 6 winner Alan Ring are all expected to compete for this award.
Last year saw Liam Sheehan lost his Historic title to Mike Doody. Both havegiven their intention to compete again this year, and as always down to wireis the way the historic championship is expected to go.
Last year's winning co-driver Dermot O'Gorman will have Michael Barrabledriving him on the opening round. If O'Gorman can continue his form of lastyear, he might prove very hard to beat for the co-drivers title in the 2004023 Tiles Southern 4 Championship.
Championship RoundsRound 1 - March 13/14 - West Cork RallyRound 2 - May 1/2 - Rally of the LakesRound 3 - June 27 - Raven's Rock RallyRound 4 - October 2/3 - Cork 20 RallyRound 5 - October 24 - Fastnet Rally
