The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will arrive at Mondello Park for the Halfords International Race Weekend with it's strongest line-up of the season so far. The annual highlight of the Irish Motorsport calendar takes place this weekend, July 23rd and 24th, at the Kildare track.

Record crowds have been turning out all over the UK for what has been a memorable season so far and with the quality entry strengthened for the three Irish races, Mondello Park should be no exception. Topping the entries will be the championship leading 'Team Halfords' Honda Integra's of Matt Neal and Dan Eaves with the works Vauxhalls and Seats in close attendance.

The Team Halfords Honda Integra DC5's have been the class of the field so far this season, regularly beating the might of the works Vauxhall and Seat teams. Neal currently leads the series from team mate Eaves with Vauxhall's Yvan Muller and Seat's Jason Plato the only others in contention in third and fourth places. The top four have all been winners this season along with Muller's Vauxhall team mate Colin Turkington and Arena Motorsport's Tom Chilton in a Honda Civic.

Neal has so far won five races to team mate Eaves four, Vauxhall's Yvan Muller is next up with three wins, an unusually low score for the ex champion who has been in the title hunt for each of the last five seasons. The ever spectacular and controversial Jason Plato has one win to his credit for Seat and will be expected to add to that tally, at Mondello where the Seat's have traditionally gone well. Turkington took his first win of the season last weekend at Croft and was the highest points scorer over the three races signalling a return to form for the young Ulsterman.

Along with Turkington home fans will have another member of the Vauxhall team to cheer for as Dubliner Gavin Smith lines up with VX racing for his first full season in the BTCC. Smith will be hoping that home advantage plays into his hands as he looks to kick-start his season. Experienced gained racing in the Fiat Uno and Formula Opel classes at Mondello should assist Smith as he tries to achieve his first podium finish of the season.

The BTCC weekend starts with an appearance by Team Halfords drivers Matt Neal and Dan Eaves at Halfords Blanchardstown store on Friday July 22nd at 12:00. The top two in the championship will bring along one of their beautifully prepared Honda Integra DC5's to the store and will be available to sign autographs and pose for pictures with visitors to the store and all are BTCC fans are welcome. As a celebration of their sponsorship of the Mondello Park International Race Weekend, Halford's are offering a complimentary BTCC ticket to customers who spend €39.99 or more at any of their stores between now and the 23rd of July (subject to availability).

The BTCC races will be joined at Mondello by an impressive line-up of support races. Top of the list will be the Porsche Carrera Cup GB where Irish star Damien Faulkner is currently second in the championship following a second and third at last weekend's croft double header. Mondello will see three Porsche Cup races on it's schedule for the first time as an additional race will be run on Saturday replacing the race cancelled at Oulton Park earlier in the year. This plays right into the hands of Faulkner as his main rival for the title Richard Westbrook did not take the start at Oulton and therefore cannot compete in Saturday's race. Faulkner will more than likely go into Sunday's races as the championship leader.

Formula BMW brings some of the worlds youngest International racers to Ireland for the second year running with drivers as young as fifteen competing in this prestigious Internationally recognised junior category. Also on the programme will be the best of Irish racing with the Dunlop supported Supercar and Punto Abarth series combining for two races and two outings for the Formula Sheane single seaters, one of which takes place on Saturday.

As in previous years one of the most popular parts of the weekend will be the Pit Walkabout where the public can meet the BTCC stars and get close to the cars in the pit garages. For fans of modified cars and the growing sport of drifting, a drift demonstration by the HKS / Rampage Drift Car will take place after the pit walkabout and this will be followed by more excitement with an aerobatic display by Irelands top stunt pilot Eddie Goggins.

Tickets for the Halfords International Race Weekend are currently available at discounted prices from www.ticketlord.ie.

For event information contact Mondello Park www.mondellopark.ie.