The 2004 Killarney Historic Stages Rally was launched last night at the Dromhall Hotel, where rally legend, Paddy Hopkirk, was among those who addressed a large attendance.  The event's Clerk of the Course, Tim Clifford, revealed some of his plans for this year's rally, which will take place on Sunday, December 5th.  Nine special stages are included in the proposed route, amounting to just under one hundred miles of competitive driving.The Killarney Historic Stages Rally, now in its ninth year, caters exclusively for crews who compete in cars dating from the 1960s and '70s, and aims to re-create the spectacle of rallying from that era, before the advent of four wheel drive, turbocharging and other modern technologies to the sport.  It remains the sole such rally in Ireland, and attracts competitors from throughout the country, as well as a sizeable overseas contingent.  The influx of visitors to the Killarney area for the rally provides a timely boost to the local tourist industry during the winter period.The rally has attracted some of the sport's most famous names since its inception. Scotland's Jimmy McRae took part for the first time last year, and has indicated that he will return for the 2004 event.  "We have some new drivers interested in doing the event this year, although they are not new to rallying and their names are well known to rally followers," said Tim Clifford, Clerk of the Course. This year's Killarney Historic Rally will be sponsored by the Randles Dromhall Hotel, (which also provides the venue for the Rally Headquarters), EPS Bison Environmental Products and McAuliffe Developments.  Additional support comes from Moriarty's Londis, Farranfore, O'Leary's Expert Electrical, Killarney and Killarney Crystal.Former Monte Carlo Rally winner and five times Circuit of Ireland victor, Paddy Hopkirk, made a Guest Appearance at the Launch.  He will drive a Course Car on the 2004 Killarney Historic Stages Rally on behalf of the organisers, Killarney & District Motor Club. A portion of each entry fee received for the 2004 Killarney Historic Stages Rally will be contributed to the RNLI Castletownbere, which launched its new Severn Class Lifeboat, the Annette Hutton, earlier this week.Last year's Killarney Historic Rally winners were British visitors, Steve Perez and Peter Scott, who secured victory in a Porsche 911.  The laurels in the Post-Historic category also went to the UK, Nick Whale and Kieron Patterson emerging victorious, while John Moynihan and Paul Nagle took the honours in the Classic category for the 'home' team.The rally organisers also announced that they will be running a competition in conjuction with the event, in which the first prize will be a two week holiday at The Gambia's premier resort, worth over 3,000 Euros.  Further details will be revealed in the national and local press in the coming weeks.Regulations and entry forms for the 2004 Killarney Historic Stages Rally have been issued to all previous entrants in the past couple of weeks.  Requests for further copies should be forwarded to Rachel Clifford, Event Secretary, 2004 Killarney Historic Stages Rally, Laharn, Faha, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Phone/Fax. 064 44025 (H), E-mail killarneyhistoric@oceanfree.net