The triple Circuit of Ireland winner from Mossley makes his first appearance in a rally car in some 13 months when he lines for the national-status Galway Summer Rally this weekend. But he has "no great aspirations" of winning or even putting in a challenging performance.

It was in July 2006 that McGarrity crashed heavily as he battled with Eugene Donnelly for the leading position in the Rally Isle of Man. He suffered serious arm and shoulder injuries which have required many operations in the intervening period.

But now the former Tarmac champion feels he is ready to return and has targeted Sunday's Galway event for his comeback.

" I had hoped to be back a couple of months ago but was advised not to by the doctors," he explained. "But now I'm able to fly my helicopter again and I've been driving some of the rally cars around the yard and down the lanes here.

"I haven't driven any of them seriously or at any great speed so Sunday will be the first real test. I have no great aspirations of winning the rally or even looking to set fast stage times. I just want to have a quiet Sunday drive."

But things should be very familiar to him in Galway for although the rally is a round of the Irish national championship, and sees Aaron MacHale trying to strengthen his already considerable grip on the title, the line-up includes several drivers more associated with Ireland's international Tarmac series.

Besides McGarrity, Eamonn Boland will be using the event to get acquainted with his new S12 Subaru ahead of the Ulster International the following weekend and Tim McNulty is scheduled to take part.

Kevin Lynch is also in the entry list but the NI champion has pulled out citing pressure of business.

McGarrity, meanwhile, has settled for a Subaru S9.