With Eamonn Boland having made the annual Septemberfest that is the Crosbie Cedars Hotel Wexford Rally his own for the previous four years, comes an added challenge for the Wexfordman, in the form of a strong field set to traverse the highlands highways and by-ways of North Wexford and South Carlow for almost twelve hours on Sunday.

Clerk of the Course John Byrne has devised a tricky course for the 60 or so teams involved in the contest, with three runs of the opening stage in Askamore, plus two runs each of stages taking in Gibbet Hill, Kiltrannish Hill and Mount Leinster.

Kenny McKinstry is among a large contingent expected to make a rare, but welcome, visit Slaneyside for what should be an intriguing contest.

McKinstry will be partnered in his Subaru by Sean Mullally, with the dynamic duo expected to face stern opposition from Boland, fresh from his sensational 23rd spot in the Network Q Rally of Great Britain.

One team well worth following for the weekend is that of Dominic McNeill and Francis Regan, for the pair will find themselves encased for the weekend inside a Ford Escort that formerly belonged to one E Boland Esq.

David James and Ron Guha also have a point to prove, having crashed near the finish line at last year's Lighthouse Single Stage Rally in Fethard.

Though the seeding for the event has not yet been finalised, rally aficianados are eagerly awaiting what is being anticipated to be one of the best entries in years for a forestry rally.

Among those confirmed so far is:

• Kenny McKinstry / Sean Mullally(Subaru)
• Eamon Boland / Damien Morrissey(Subaru)
• Niall McShea (Celica)
• Derek McGarrity
• Dermot Kelly / Greg Shinnors(Escort Cosworth)
• Hugh Dunne (Subaru)
• Kevin O Kane / Stephen Griffith(Subaru)
• Niall Driver / Francis Corrigan (Mitsubishi Evo VI)
• David James / Ron Guha (Escort)
• Dominic McNeill / Francis Regan (Escort)
• Noel Driver / Joe Shinnors (Escort Cosworth)
• John Donnelly / Greg McCarthy (Escort Cosworth)
• John McCarthy / Dan McGuire (Escort)