Harris and O'Regan score thrilling Bushwhacker class win
The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy’s Jack Harris and Aaron O’Regan showcased a fantastic display of rallying to claim a 0.8-second Rally4 victory on the Bushwhacker Rally.
The young Ford Fiesta Rally4 crew has proved to be a strong force on gravel in their maiden year aboard Rally4 machinery and entered the two-day event hoping for a first loose-surface victory in this year’s Irish Forest Rally Championship.
Harris started with intent on Friday night, setting stage one’s fastest time by 5.7 seconds on the first of four stages in darkness. Cian Caldwell moved into the lead on stage two, but a further two stage wins for Harris and O’Regan gave them a 3.5-second advantage as the action closed in the early hours of Saturday morning.
20-year-old Harris continued his intense battle with Caldwell’s Peugeot 208 Rally4 over Saturday’s six stages, with three fastest times eventually proving enough to claim a memorable class five victory on the Bushwhacker’s 50th anniversary.
“It meant a lot for Aaron and I to be on the top step of the podium again, after such a tough few months,” reflected the Donegal driver.
“It was our first time competing on nighttime stages for two years. It was an unreal buzz competing at night with spectators and seeing the crowds gather in Castlederg for the regroup.
“After four stages on Friday night, we had a slender 3.5-second lead over Cian in the class, so heading into Saturday, the plan was to keep doing our own thing, trying to maintain the lead.
“We went into the last loop with a 2.1-second gap over Cian, and thankfully, we managed to hold onto the lead to seal the win with 0.8 seconds to spare.
“A big thanks to the team for the top job in service all weekend, and Aaron for the top job on the pacenotes. Also, to the Mi Rally Academy for all their support over the past few months, and to my sponsors, it wouldn’t be possible without them.”
WRC Navigators Eoin Treacy & Aaron Johnston
MI Rally Academy co-driver Eoin Treacy swapped his usual Ford Puma Rally1 to join fellow World Rally Championship navigator Aaron Johnston on the Bushwhacker Rally. Treacy assisted Johnston on the Toyota man’s switch from the co-driver’s to the driver’s seat for his local forest rally.
The WRC duo showed impressive speed aboard their Toyota Starlet, sitting as high as third in class eight before retiring with a mechanical issue on stage seven.
"We had a very enjoyable weekend," said Treacy. "The atmosphere around was brilliant and the crowds in Castlederg for the regroup Friday was great to see.
"It was Aaron’s first rally so we took a steady approach in the night stages to settle in and it went well.
"We struggled with a steamed up widescreen on Saturday's first stage which cost us some time. The next stage was better and we were improving but unfortunately on Lough Bradan a driveshaft failed coming out of a chicane about half a mile from the finish."
