Kennedy is Champion as McFall shines in Donegal
Ben McFall soars to MIJRS victory on tricky Donegal Forest Rally. Pic by Cian Donnellan
It was a thrilling end to the 2025 Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series as the final podium spots amongst the class battles were decided on an exciting Donegal Forest Rally, the eight and final round of the 2025 Calendar.
With an incredibly prize package on offer to the victors, the fight to gain the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy supported funding for 2026 saw the series come to a dramatic conclusion, with the five stage Donegal Town based event bringing drama right from the very start.
Here is how things went through the classes;
Class 2A
The winner takes all battle between Jack Kennedy and Ross Ryan for the 2025 MIJRS Class 2A title looked set to be heating up nicely, but the punishing Loughfad stage on the edge of Lough Derg had a sting in the tale for the fate of the series.
Ross Ryan would strike first, setting a fastest stage time on the opener before the second stage of the event was red flagged for all competitors. In Service, Ryan was happy with the feeling in the car, and had eyes on what was needed to get to the finish, but that would prove to be in vain as a heavy landing on the second running of the Loughfad stage saw a driveshaft break, leaving a hugely disappointed Ryan, his Ford Fiesta R2T and his title ambitions lying on the side of the road.
Although reporting an issue with a rear damper in Service, Donegal Forest Rally will be a huge positive end to the season for Tommy Furlong as he raced to his first MIJRS victory of his career and in doing so claims a fine second place in the standings in what, like Ross Ryan, was a debut season in a 2A car having graduated from Junior 1000.
With Ross stopped on Stage 3 and with an advantage in the standings to Furlong heading to the final round after an incredibly consistent season, Jack Kennedy was able to enjoy the final few stages of the event knowing that the 2025 MIJRS Class 2A title was his, and in the process he secures a Shortlist nomination for the Billy Coleman Award, a potentially lifechanging opportunity for the Wexford youngster to progress his Rally Career.
J1000
Similar to Class 2A, the Loughfad stage, this time in its first running, would prove decisive as the fate of the 2025 MIJRS Junior 1000 was decided as soon as a small mistake from Kyle Drury saw him stuck in the Donegal scenery and his hopes of taking the crown dashed. Although undamaged and able to drive back to Service, the title race was over and so he decided to retire from the event.
With massive drama right across the J1000 field with numerous cars off the road or dealing with mechanical or tyre issues on the Donegal stages, it would be a glorious day for the Wray family as James would claim his very first MIJRS victory, while twin brother Matthew would join him on the podium with a great drive to third place.
Splitting the Wray twins, and in the process also claiming the 2025 MIJRS J1000 title was James McShea. In a remarkable debut season that saw victories in Mondello Park, Tipperary & Mayo as well as second place finishes in Cork and Donegal, it was joy for all involved at the Donegal Town finish ramp as the result also saw James claim the Irish Forest Rally Championship J1000 title and receive the Craig Breen Foundation prize package for 2026.
Class 2
It would be an incredibly day for Ben McFall as he showed remarkable pace on the Donegal Forest Rally to not only finish the season with a win to secure second place in the MIJRS standings, but he would also finish the event as the second overall 2WD and just outside the top-10 Overall!
At the mid-day service, held after only a single stage with the loss of Stage 2, the advantage on the times sheets lay with Oran England as he set off quickly in his newly acquired Peugeot 208 Rally4 to go fastest on the opener, but McFall reeled in England in his Ford Fiesta Rally4 on stage 3 and then began to open the advantage.
Jack Byrne, who arrived at the event in the podium position following a remarkable debut season in MIJRS, would have a disastrous opening stage when a puncture required a stop to change a wheel, but he really impressed in the afternoon and set really strong stage times that see him rewarded with a third place finish in the 2025 MIJRS Class 2 standings. It would be a short day for Jack Harris as he retired on the opening stage following an accident.