The championship fires into life in the northwest on February 15th with the Sligo-based Yeats Ridge Forest Rally, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely competitive and action-packed season.
Renowned for its demanding gravel stages and unpredictable February conditions, the Sligo opener is always a stern early test of both pace and precision. Crews will be eager to lay down an early marker in the title race, knowing that strong points at the opening round can prove decisive come season’s end.
From there, the series heads south to Dungarvan on April 18th for the ever-popular Moonraker Forest Rally. A staple of the forest calendar, Moonraker’s flowing stages and technical sections demand total commitment from drivers and co-drivers alike.
By mid-April, championship battles will already be taking shape, and Dungarvan’s classic tests could prove pivotal in building early-season momentum.
Late June brings one of the highlights of the year, as Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club host the two-day Willie Loughman Forest Rally on June 27th and 28th.
The expanded format adds an extra layer of strategy and endurance to proceedings, challenging crews to balance outright speed with mechanical sympathy across a full weekend of competition. A two-day forest rally is always a tantalising prospect, and this event has all the ingredients to shake up the standings as the championship reaches its midpoint.
The summer schedule continues on August 9th with the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, roaring into Kanturk. Traditionally one of the most competitive rounds of the season, the Cork event regularly attracts top-tier entries and delivers thrilling battles on some of Munster’s finest forest roads. With valuable points on offer and little margin for error, crews will need to be at their sharpest.
The second half of the calendar features a trio of Northern Irish events — a unique and defining element of the series that truly captures the shared passion for forest rallying on both sides of the border. The cross-border nature of the championship adds variety in terrain, organisation, and atmosphere, while underlining the strength and unity of the sport across the island.
On September 5th, competitors head to Enniskillen for the Lakeland Stages. Fast, flowing and often deceptively challenging, the Lakeland Stages can dramatically influence the championship picture as the run-in begins.
Just two weeks later, on September 19th, the spotlight turns to Omagh for the Bushwhacker Rally, which returns to a single-day format. Compact, intense and demanding, Bushwhacker has a reputation for producing dramatic moments and late twists.
October 4th sees Laois join the calendar for the first time, adding a fresh challenge to the mix and giving competitors a new set of stages to master. With unfamiliar terrain and limited prior knowledge, adaptability and strong recce preparation will be key.
The curtain then falls on the season with a dramatic finale at the Dogleap Forest Rally in Limavady on October 17th. As championship battles reach their climax, Dogleap’s demanding tests promise a fitting stage for title deciders.
