After a long summer break and plenty of opportunities for competitors and crews to refresh, the 2026 Trailer Parts & Spares Irish Forest Rally Championship returns for its third round this weekend, the hugely popular Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally.

Heading into the event, the race for the 2026 title remains wide open, and with the unfortunate cancellation of the Carrick-on-Suir Forest Rally in June, the top three in the standings arrive separated by just a single point.

Leading the way is Cookstown star Mark Donnelly, joined by Martin Brady in a VW Polo GTi R5 the pair took victory on the season opening Yeats Ridge Forest Rally.

Based in Sligo, the all-new event was a huge success and it kicked off the season in style. Donnelly & Brady took a narrow win from Keelan Grogan & Ayrton Sherlock, but with that pair not being registered for points, it allowed the hugely experienced pair of Jordan Hone & Paul Hone to take a debut podium in their newly acquired Skoda Fabia R5.

Second place again a few weeks later on the Moonraker Forest Rally leaves the Hone's sitting just a single point off the Championship lead, but they lie level with the Round 2 winner, and two-time Forest Champions, Josh Moffett & Andy Hayes.

After a lengthy time away from the series, Moffett & Hayes have come back with a bang this year in their Hyundai i20 R5. The win in Dungarvan, coupled with a fourth place in Sligo after a costly early spin, see the pair also just a point off the lead heading to Cork.

In the 2WD ranks, it’s definitely been a case of a rise of the young guns in FWD machinery, with the leading pair both competing in Ford Fiesta Rally4's. Donegal’s Jack Harris, joined by a man very familiar to the Cork terrain in navigator Aaron O'Regan, lead the standing by a single point.

They are chased closely by Ben McFall, the Bushmills youngster continuing to impress early in his career. A pair of victories in the Junior British Championship as well as a pair of Forest Championship podiums leave him just a point off Harris, as well as in contention in the MI Junior Rally Series (MIJRS) hunt.

As announced recently, the Irish Forest Rally Championship are thrilled to announce Trailer Parts & Spares as Title Sponsors for the series, beginning immediately, with an incredible commitment of a three-year partnership agreed between both parties made on the back of the success the series has had in recent years attracting larger entries, introducing new events and growing the next generation of Irish Rally talent.  

The true next generation of talent are those competing in Junior 1000, and after the opening pair of events its Daniel Ormond & Mairead Duane who hold a sizeable lead after two high-attrition events for the young drivers.

Opening round winner James Wray did not finish on the Moonraker, allowing Dean Bonner & Brendan Furlong to climb to second, ahead of Darragh McEnroe & Peter Ward.

After Cork, the action heads North with a pair of September classics, the Lakeland Stages (Enniskillen) on the 7th and The Bushwhacker (Omagh) on the 19th. The brand-new Laois Forest Rally is on October 4th, before things end with the Dogleap Forest Rally (Limavady) on October 17th.

The Trailer Parts & Spares Irish Forest Rally Championship caters for competitors from 14 years of age who are starting their career in the Junior 1000 classes, but such is the variety within the series that class winners in recent years have ranged in age right up to those knocking on the door of 80, and everywhere in between. With no recce, centralised servicing and compact routes, the series and its events cater for everyone in an incredibly competitor friendly manner. 

Want to keep up to date with the Trailer Parts & Spares Irish Forest Rally Championship? Check out the Championship Website at www.IRLForestRally.com, the online Sportity Noticeboard at IrishForestChamp, or check out the Championship on Facebook & Instagram.