The former Irish Tarmac champion and triple Circuit of Ireland winner plans to start his first rally in more than a year following a massive accident on the 2006 Rally Isle of Man.

The intention is to play himself back in gently on the Irish national status Galway Summer Rally with a view to returning to international level on the Cork '20' Rally in October and then, hopefully, the World championship Rally Ireland in November.

"It has been a long road but I'm feeling a whole lot better now," said the Mossley man who was on hand at the Lurgan Park Rally overseeing one of his Subarus being driven by British champion Mark Higgins.

It was on Manxman Higgins' home round of the British and Irish tarmac championship in July last year that McGarrity crashed his Subaru S10. He suffered serious arm and shoulder injuries which required a series of operations.

An attempted comeback in June, in time for the Donegal International, was ruled out by doctors but now he says he is ready to go.

He's back flying his helicopter again and has been testing some of the rally cars in his DMG stable, including the S11 Subaru that was driven by Higgins.

"The arm has improved dramatically in the past couple of months and I've past the medical to resume flying," he said.

"I've been out in the rally cars too and although I'm still building up the strength in my left arm it is getting better all the time.

"I'll go to Galway next week and give it a whirl just to get the feel of things again and then think about the rest of the season.

"The target is to be fit and ready to do Rally Ireland in November so I would like to go to the Cork '20' to really test myself before that."

Meanwhile, McGarrity is waiting to hear if all the pieces have fallen into place to allow Kris Meeke to take over the Pirelli Subaru S11 usually driven by Higgins for the PWT Ulster International at the end of the month.

Higgins must revert to a production car in order to score points in the British championship on this event which is part of both series.

It means that Eugene Donnelly could put himself virtually beyond reach at the top of the Tarmac championship with only the Cork round remaining.

But if he can be beaten it could keep Higgins in the title chase ? and former Junior World championship star Meeke, who beat Donnelly to win the Rally of the Lakes earlier in the season, is thought to be the driver most likely.

"We're still working on a budget," said McGarrity. "But I'm hopeful its going to happen."