The former Irish Tarmac champion and three-time Circuit of Ireland winner has been out of action for nearly 10 months following a huge accident on the Isle of Man last August. His left arm and shoulder were broken and the recovery has been long and painful, involving several operations and intensive physiotherapy.

But a further operation six weeks ago has, he says, made a big difference.

"There has been a dramatic improve since the last operation at Easter and for the first time since last August I have use of my arm again," he says.

"It still has some way to go and I have a lot more physiotherapy to look forward too but at last we are making progress.

"The target, of course, is the Donegal International in the middle of next month but I need to find out if I can drive a rally car again. I won't go to Donegal unless I know the arm is right and I can be competitive.

"I have a new S12 Subaru sitting at Prodrive just waiting for a run out and my co-driver Dairmuid Falvey suggested the Circuit of Munster would be a good test so I've put the entry in. And I'm very hopeful I'll be on the start line.

"I've started flying my helicopter again in the past week after passing the medical examination - and you get a very thorough going over before they let you back in the air, I can tell you.

"So I'm literally flying again!"

The Munster rally and the following few weeks, however, will decide whether he is fit enough to face a three-day international in Donegal.

"I will have to see the consultant a few days before Donegal and he will decide whether I drive or not. But I'm really hopeful - things have come on a lot in the past few weeks."

McGarrity, however, will be missing when his Irish Tarmac championship rivals move to Scotland this weekend for the Jim Clark Rally.

But with access to his helicopter again he'll likely be hovering around watching the action - not quite the same as last year when he won the event just weeks before his Manx accident.

Meanwhile, Ulster's youngest Tarmac championship competitor, 18-year-old Darren Gass, is switching cars for the Scottish round of the series. He'll be lining out in a C2 Citroen, the kind of car Kris Meeke drove with such success in the Junior World championship.

"I have driven the car for just 10 miles on the roads near my house but hopefully I'll get a chance to test a little more before the start on Friday," said the Armagh teenager. "The problem is that the springs are French tarmac specification and we'll probably only get the right ones just before the rally.

"But everything about the C2 is 100 per cent better than the Ford Fiesta I've been driving; the gear change, the ratios, the engine, everything.

" Even the guys from Crozier Motorsport who are running the car for me like it already - apparently the front bumper is held on with three screws so you can access the parts behind like the power steering pump quickly."