After a break of a number of months, the 2025 Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series returns this weekend as ten crews head to Bantry to take on the Fastnet Rally, the penultimate stop on what has been an incredible season of MIJRS action.
Heading into the event, the fourth and final Tarmac battle of the mixed-surface season, the title and prize positions are still up for grabs in both Class 2 and 2A, with a host of young stars still in contention for some of the most impressive prize packages on offer in Irish Rallying.
The fate of the 2025 Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series Class 2 Title may be decided this weekend, as Cian Caldwell can round off an incredible season by scooping a second MIJRS title of his career on the Fastnet Rally.
Having taken maximum points on four of the five rounds he’s competed on this year, simply getting to the finish of this weekend’s event will secure the title for the Meath ace.
With the Skibbereen and District Car Club event though being known as a tricky event in often testing and slippy conditions, there will be pressure on from the chasing pack to bring the fight to the final round in Donegal.
The main charge will likely be from current second placed Ben McFall who has impressed massively in his debut season, with an obvious high point being victory in Cork on the last round, while third placed Oran England will aim to get another strong point scoring finish in his new Peugeot 208 Rally4.
The penultimate round of the Class 2A battle is less likely to see a champion crowned as the fight is expected to go down to the wire on the final round of the season, but a huge step can be taken by those chasing glory as the season nears its conclusion.
Heading into the event, Championship leader Jack Kennedy will be aiming to take a massive step towards securing the title, the most experienced member of the crews heading to the event has already won twice on Tarmac this season by taking the win in Longford and Kerry.
Tommy Furlong has impressed massively since making the leap from J1000 this year, and has set some impressive times on the sealed surface events he has competed on this year and is rightly still in the mix as we get towards the business end of the season.
Ross Ryan was a winner on the last Tarmac round of the 2025 MIJRS, the Ravens Rock back in July, but a costly mistake in Cork Forest leaves the very exciting prospect of having to take maximum points on the final two rounds of the season, this weekend in Bantry and the season ending Donegal Forest Rally on November 8th, to have a shot at the title.
