Preview - Round 1 - 2025 Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship
Posted: March 21, 2025 3:28 PM
A new season is always exciting. Nerves abound in the build up to opening day, the first time to tackle a stage in anger. New cars are ready, shiny liveries awaiting their first peppering of gravel and a bumper calendar of events designed to provide the ultimate test to drivers and navigators alike. This weekend the wraps come off the 2025 Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship, and the excitement is at fever pitch.
Heading to Arklow, the 2025 Irish loose-surface series kicks off with a brand new event with the Carlow Forest Rally, with it bringing the series back to the East of the country for the first time in over a decade and ensuring that this year’s calendar will truly bring competitors to all four corners of the Island.
The Irish Forest Rally Championship team are delighted to announce that Sligo Pallets have extended their title sponsorship of the series through to 2027, adding three years to their previous two-year commitment as title sponsors.
Originally due to begin in February, the season opening Donegal Forest Rally was forced to postpone due to the significant damage caused by Storm Eowyn, but the club are working closely with Motorsport Ireland & the Championship team to find an alternative date.
With a bumper 125 car entry received, the season is set to truly kick off in style with six stages and just shy of 65km of high-speed gravel action in store across the Wicklow Mountains. It will be due South for crews on April 12th when Dungarvan hosts the Moonraker Forest Rally which returns in 2025, as does the Sean Conlon Tipperary Forest Rally which moves to Mitchelstown on May 11th.
When the Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship team opened a discussion with clubs in mid-2024, it was hugely exciting to see newcomers stepping forward to run events and Carlow Car Club are joined as newcomers by Mayo Motor Club who bring the series West with Ballina playing host on May 31st before we break for the summer and allow the incredible Coilte lands we have the privilege of using to flourish.
Come August 10th , its set to be a final mad dash to the finish line and towards the conclusion of some incredible battles as Cork’s Jim Walsh Forest Rally blasts through the Ballyhoura Mountains, before the action shifts north to Enniskillen for the Lakeland Stages on September 6th and the finale at the Bushwhacker in Omagh on September 19th & 20th, seeing the return of night stages to the legendary event.
For Derek Mackarel & Eamonn Creedon, 2024 was a dream come true of the pair claimed the Driver & Navigator titles after a hard-fought battle all season, the title for Creedon coming down to the final event of the season. Looking to the year ahead, the perennial underdogs now become the hunted champions, and they are sure to be the first crew people look to mark themselves against once the stage times start rolling in.
As well as talking to clubs, the Championship team also listened to competitors. During 2024, they conducted a survey of competitors to get their view on certain aspects of the series and to get feedback on changes that could be made, and we are happy to announce that themes that emerged from this process are directly reflected in the 2025 Championship Regulations.
The biggest change is the introduction of a separate 2WD Championship that will run in conjunction with the Overall Championship, which will see a Top 3 2WD podium celebrated at the Championship Prizegiving in November, with additional publicity throughout the year on this new 2WD Series. This does not exclude competitors from the overall Championship standings which they will also remain a part of.
New also for 2025 is the Class Point Scoring system, with a much clearer advantage now on offer for the victor who will claim 20 points, with 17 for second, 15 for third and so on. This gives a much bigger incentive to competitors to push for class victories and reward performance on events.
The busiest class in 2025 will remain Junior 1000, the ultimate proving ground for young talent has blossomed into 30+ car entries on events as drivers from 14-17 years of age get to compete on full gravel rallies under the guidance of experienced navigators who also handle the road section responsibilities. The J1000 series is supported once more this year by the Craig Breen Foundation, continuing the legacy of the support Craig initiated in 2023 and to date has given thousands of Euro in support to budding Rally stars.
Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin among late entries
Posted: March 21, 2025 3:21 PM
Late Entries:
41 Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Citroen C3 Rally 2) [5]
43 Daniel O'Brien/Patrick Walsh (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
252 Robert Leech/Dean Conway (Vauxhall Astra)13
Seeded Entry List
Posted: March 17, 2025 6:20 AM
1 Derek Mackarel/Eamonn Creedon (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
2 David Condell/Michael Coady (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
3 Gareth Mimnagh/J Barry McCarney (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
4 Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) [5]
5 Vivian Hamill/Gary Nolan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
6 Andrew Purcell/Liam Brennan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
7 Pat Oconnell/Mark Wiley (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
8 Paul McCann/Mark Murphy (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
9 Ian Dickson/John McCafferty (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
10 Niall Devine/Liam McIntyre (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
11 James Boland/John McCay (Ford Fiesta Rally3) [4]
12 James McCarville/ TBA (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
14 Darragh Cairns/Mark Preston (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
15 Stephen Dickson/Dermot McCafferty (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
16 Gerard Lucey/JJ Cremin (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
17 Martin O'Brien/James Cotter (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
18 Ashley Dickson/ TBA (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
19 Pete McCullagh/Liam Callaghan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
20 Aaron Martley/Ciara Griffin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [20]
21 Brendan Stone/ TBA (Subaru Impreza WRX STI) [20]
22 Joseph Burke/Martin Brady (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
23 Lukasz Czapnik/Piotr Szadkowski (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
24 Jenna McCann/John McCabe (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
25 James Bradley/Shane O'Dowd (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
26 Shane Murray/Gary Hade (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
27 Donal Damien Quinn/Karl Smyth (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
28 Pauric Sheridan/Sean Brunton (Ford Fiesta) [20]
29 Owen Mallon/Keith Hall (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
30 Sean Sharkey/Martin Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
31 David Fitzsimons/Aaron Sharkey (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3) [15]
32 Barry Murphy/Conal Doherty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
33 John Carroll/Ray Fitzpatrick (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [15]
34 Richie Curran/Gerry English (Ford Fiesta) [20]
35 Sean Marsh/Owen Gallagher (Subaru Impreza WRX STI) [20]
36 Gerry Ronan/Sean Mitchell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
37 Larry Doyle/ TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5) [15]
39 Connor O'Brien/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally3) [20]
40 Jordan Hone/Paul Hone (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
201 Shane McGirr/Denver Raffery (Lada VFTS) [14]
202 Hugh McQuaid/Declan Casey (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
203 Sam Stewart/Alan Johnston (Ford Escort) [13]
204 Cian Caldwell/Ben Thompson (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [2]
205 Jack Brennan/Eoghan Doherty (Peugeot 208 Rally 4) [2]
206 Gary Smith/Lorcan Moore (BMW E30) [13]
207 Damien Tourish/Domhnall McAlaney (Ford Escort) [13]
208 Jason Roche/Jason Porter (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
209 David Long/ TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
210 Raymond Doyle/Ryan Girvan (Ford Escort) [13]
211 Aoife Raftery/Liam Egan (Peugeot 208 Rally 4) [2]
212 Kalum Graffin/Mark McGeehan (Peugeot 208 Rally4) []
213 Alan Commins/Joseph O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
214 Paul O'Connell/Brian Quinlan (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
215 Seamus Burke/Gary McElhinney (Ford Escort Mk2) [19]
216 Conor Ryan/Conor Hade (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [2]
217 John Ward/Shane Maguire (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [2]
218 Paul Doyle/Ciarán Dermody (BMW Compact) [12]
219 Tom Kenneally/Kevin Power (BMW Compact) [14]
220 Brian Little/Josh Monaghan (Ford Escort G3) [12]
221 Sean Benskin/Angiee Michniewicz (Ford Escort) [12]
222 Barry Mahon/Ultan McGowan (Ford Fiesta R2) [2A]
223 Ronan James/Tadgh Delaney (Ford Fiesta) []
224 Aaron Doyle/ TBA (Honda Civic) []
225 Patrick Herity/Lorcan Conlon (Toyota Corolla Twincam) [11R]
226 Walter Burke/Bobby Cooper (Ford Escort) [12]
227 Oran Nulty/Hugh O'Donnell (Citroen C2R2 Max) [2A]
228 Colin O'Toole/Mark Reilly (Ford Fiesta R2) [2A]
229 Steven McCabe/ TBA (Ford Fiesta ST) [2A]
230 Graham Kelly/Pauline Kelly (Citroen C2) [11F]
231 Eugene Ward/Patrick Heaney (Ford Fiesta) [11F]
232 Ciaran McCullagh/Cormac Noonan (Ford Fiesta R2) [2A]
233 Aidan Kilkenny/Rafferty Francis (Ford Fiesta) [2]
234 Darren Purcell/Browne Eamonn (Peugeot 106 Cup Car) [2A]
235 Patricia Denning/Joe Downey (Opel Corsa) [11F]
236 Ned Doherty/Andrew Farmer (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
237 Michael Cuddihy/Kevin Barry (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
238 Colin McDowell/Geraldine McBride (Austin Mini) [17]
239 Eamon O'Connell/Paul Bruton (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
240 Mark Faulkner/Tony McGovern (Vauxhall Nova GSI) [11F]
241 Paul Cullen/Brian Rowan (Opel Corsa) [10]
243 Gerard Tuite/Brian Sharkey (Peugeot 205 RWD) [10]
244 Damien Brophy/Gerard Buckley (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
245 James Sinnott/Peter Brennan (Opel Corsa) [10]
246 Steven Mackey/Sean Bates (Ford Escort) [10]
247 Gavin Bird/Nathan Moloney (Peugeot 205 GTi) [10]
248 John McDermott/Stefan Comerford (VW Lupo) [9]
249 Francis Kelly/Charlotte Egan (Peugeot 206 Cup Car) [9]
250 Gerard Walshe/Jack Osullivan (Ford Fiesta) [9]
251 Jack Casey/Ciara Duggan (VW UP) [9]
301 Oisin McShane/Fabian McShane (VW UP) [21]
302 Danny Brady/Darren O'Brien (VW UP) [21]
303 James McShea/Grace O'Brien (VW UP) [21]
304 Ryan Caldwell/Darren Caldwell (Skoda Citigo) [21]
305 David Travers/Andy Purser (VW UP) [21]
306 Matthew Wray/Joe McNulty (VW UP) [21]
307 James Spillane/Maurice McElligott (Seat Mii) [21]
308 Kyle Drury/Karl Egan (VW UP) [21]
309 James Wray/Peter Ward (VW UP) [21]
310 Charlie Browne/Justin McCauley (VW UP) [21]
311 Conor Fogarty/Eoghan Fogarty (Peugeot 107) [21]
312 David Slattery/Ger Somers (Hyundai i10) [21]
313 Rhys McElhinney/John Smithwick (Skoda Citigo) [21]
314 Jack McDermott/Paddy Robinson (Skoda Citigo) [21]
315 Ger Hartigan/Denny Greaney (TBA) [21]
316 Sam Gorman/Patrick Gorman (Nissan Micra) [21]
317 Daniel Ormond/Mairead Duane (VW UP) [21]
318 Darragh McEnroe/Anthony McDonald (VW UP) [21]
319 Frank Adam Wharton/ TBA (Toyota Aygo) [21]
320 Finn Gardiner/Alistair Wyllie (Peugeot 107) [21]
321 Adam Ronan/Simon Love (VW UP) [21]
322 Gemma Hallinan/Des Sherlock (VW UP) [21]
323 Dean Bonner/James McGlinchy (Citroen C1) [21]
324 Gareth McGettrick/Brian O'Donnel (Nissan Micra) [21]
325 Daithi Marsh/Adrian Marsh (Nissan Micra) [21]
326 T J Dunne/John Burke (Toyota Aygo) [21]
327 Holly Dunnion/ TBA (Peugeot 107) [21]
328 Katelyn Furlong/Brendan Furlong (Peugeot 107) [21]
329 Sean McMackin/Rory McCann (Peugeot 107) [21]
On Line Entry / Regulations
Posted: February 15, 2025 10:15 AM
On line Entry
Regulations available on Sportity
Sportity
Posted: February 6, 2025 8:27 AM
Rally Launch - (Sat) 15 Feb
Posted: February 1, 2025 6:07 AM
Press Release 1
Posted: February 1, 2025 6:07 AM
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