11/08/2026
🥇 Double Podium at Cork Forest 2026 🥉
Our long trip south was worth it at the weekend for the 2026 Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally which always has been kind to us in the past
Starting at car 6 was Gareth Mimnagh & J Barry McCarney in the CM Trust Fiesta Rally2, their day started very strong slotting into the top 3 in the morning loop, unfortunately they dropped some time in the middle of the day getting stuck in a chicane and the car stalling, they got to the end salvaging 6th overall - Well done
Car 7 Was Niall McCullagh & Conor Mohan in the INSport Skoda RS Hire Car, they started with a pop off issue on the first three stages, got it changed in service and pushed on the rest of the day to set a fastest time on the last stage securing 3rd overall - Well done again
Gary Reidy & Mikey Breen started at car 14 and after a clean first stage they picked up a double puncture on stage 2, only carrying one spare they had to be recovered and then decided to save the car for the Lakeland Stages in a few weeks - Hard Luck
Onto the “Real Rally”
The J1000 Race
The Wray Brothers had a big week turning 17 on the Friday before the rally and also passing their theory tests on the same day 🎉
Then they started very strong on the rally James taking first blood on the opener with Matthew hot on his heals in second
Then Matthew took the lead on stage two to lead into service after stage 3
Unfortunately on stage 5 James wheel studs had enough and sheered on the front left wheel and they had to retire mid stage and ruin his hopes of a win and a championship dash
Matthew & Rory kept the head even after not getting credited with a nominal time after stopping with another car mid stage, they pushed on going fastest on the last stage by 10 seconds and winning by almost 20 seconds, great mature drive 💪💪
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Thanks again to the whole team making all this happen week in and out
Škoda Motorsport
M-Sport
Pirelli
Motorsport Ireland
MIRallyAcademy
