It is hard to believe that it is four years since the Triton Showers-backed Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship last visited Clare.

Between the pandemic and the new event rotation system, the last time the Liam Cleary Autoworld Clare Rally ran was in September 2019.

But it has been well worth the wait as organisers Clare Motor Club have attracted a stellar entry that has both strength and depth.

The Triton Showers National Rally Championship enters the home straight this weekend and all of the title protagonists will be in Ennis for the penultimate round of the eight-round championship.

Leading the fray after six rounds are defending champions, Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty.

The Hyundai i20 Rally2 crew have a 20-point advantage over Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan from Muckross.

However, the Derry/Kerry crew has won the last two rounds in Sligo and Meath and when dropped scores come into play, they have started one less round than Moffett and Moriarty which suggests, mathematically, the advantage is maybe with the Volkswagen Polo Gti crew.

But anything can happen in rallying and it looks certain that the championship will go to the wire at the Fastnet Rally in late October.