THE four local drivers among the top 10 seeds for the Cork '20' Rally – Daniel Cronin, David Guest, Owen Murphy and Cal McCarthy – all have different hopes for the weekend.

'We will try and build on Wexford (third overall),' said Daniel. 'I feel much more confident and if we could slip in a top three finish it would be good. We need to come out of the blocks quickly with a good pace. We did some of the stages two years ago in some format or another, but I wouldn't know them that well. 

‘Saturday's stages are technical, a lot of driving in them and easy to pick up a puncture. Sunday stages are fast. The Boyles are a bit up the road (in terms of pace) but if we can get a bit closer and bring it down a little bit more, it's two days, so you never know.'

David said he didn't expect to get such a high seeding (seven), as he hasn't been out since the Raven's Rock and has been extremely busy with. 'But I want to support the Munster Car Club,' he said.

'While I'm looking forward to the rally, I have no expectations whatsoever,' David added. 'It will be nice to get out for a two-day rally and if all goes well then we will compete in the Fastnet. Stephen Quin will continue to co-drive. A lot of the territory will be familiar enough, albeit the stages are the other way around.'

Cal said the Wexford Rally was of great assistance in terms of preparation. 'We were rusty at the start of the Wexford Rally but the two days there will be a big help in terms of seat time and all of that.'

And what is he hoping for this weekend? 'A good top 10 finish and hopefully the top Cork crew, but that won't be easy. The top end is strong but you never know with the two days. I finished fifth in 2014 so to repeat that would be good. The top three drivers have a lot of rallying under their belt this year. Just like it was in Wexford, it's good that we can recce all the stages in the one day.'

Owen, who is preparing for his first outing since the West Cork, said: 'I think the new suspension that we had in Clonakilty should be a big help. Certainly on the second day in Clonakilty things began to work very well and we weren't a million miles off the pace. But look, it will be tough given the lack of seat time, but I would be hoping for a top five finish.'