First Irish junior rally gets underway

Young Irish rally drivers can showcase their talents when the first ever Irish Junior Rally Championship gets underway tomorrow.

The first round of an eight round campaign forms part of the Mitchelstown based Tipperary Forest Rally, which is the opening round of the Irish Forest Rally Championship.

The class winners of the Junior series along with two wildcards will go forward for consideration for the Billy Coleman Award.

For one of tomorrow’s participants, Sarah Moynihan, it’s a case of home from home.

The 22-year-old Mallow rally ace is a forester by profession, however, she will have little time to judge the quality of the tress as she battles with the other young drivers.

Sarah will be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky, this is her third time competing in the forests and she has yet to record a straight finish.

Last year, she showed great pace – finishing third in Class 6 of the National Rally Championship, both the winner and second placed drivers piloted more powerful cars – Renault Clio Super 1600’s.

Commenting on the new championship, she said, “I think it is a superb idea, especially the way that all the classes are split. With four rallies on tarmac surface and four in the forests, it is a good way to judge the overall skill of drivers. I’m a little nervous at present, but hopefully, when the first stage begins, that will disappear.”

Some of the other young drivers competing in the eight-stage rally are Jason Ryan (Honda Civic), Colin O'Toole (Corsa), Peter Wilson (Honda Civic), Shane Maguire (Peugeot 205), Mark Sheehan (Peugeot 206), Michael McKennedy (Toyota Corolla), Damien McCarthy (Honda Civic) and Ian Stanley (Honda Civic).

The young guns will precede the more experienced drivers and will run in reverse order. The rally gets underway at 8.30am tomorrow