Robert's Rally Buzz - March 2026

ABERDEEN FOR WRC?

Apparently Rally GB is set to return to the World Rally Championship. MSUK and the Scottish government are pushing for a gravel event based in Aberdeen. Not since Wales Rally GB in 2019 has there been a round of the WRC in the British Isles. With Elfyn Evans leading this year’s championship (yet again) interest is high for a return to the top tier of rallying in GB. The choice of Aberdeen is some what controversial. The northerly City can experience extreme weather conditions, very very cold in winter and recently Aberdeen has been described as “the dullest City in Britain” with very little sunshine. Despite this the stages in the area are in good condition and it will be interesting to see how the bid develops. It is possible that Rally GB could return as early as next year.

Meanwhile, it would appear that Motorsport Ireland are ramping up THEIR efforts to secure funding for a sealed-surface Rally Ireland return to the WRC. Talks had stalled as government backing was not forthcoming for submission of an event into the 2027 calendar. However, there is a renewed push from MI bosses to engage with the government and to clear the way for a return in the near future. If successful, the earliest Rally Ireland could realistically return to the WRC would be in 2028 or 2029, twenty years since the last time.

To have ONE round of the World Rally Championship back in the British Isles would be fantastic, to have TWO would be amazing!

CREIGHTON & REGAN FOR ERC

Northern Ireland pairing William Creighton and Liam Regan are set to compete in the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship. The current British Rally Champions have landed a lucrative deal with Stellantis Motorsport for a full season - starting in a Citroen C3 Rally2 before moving into the all-new Lancia Ypsilon Rally2! The duo will contest the seven-round series (5 asphalt 2 gravel) starting in April with the Andalusia Rally. This is fantastic opportunity for the Moira/Belfast pair who will continue to be supported by the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and by Michelin.

WRC LATEST

On Rally Sweden last month, Toyota Yaris’s dominated the snow event taking the top four places. Elfyn Evans won for the third time and leads the WRC heading for round three, the Safari Rally, which runs from 12-15 March In Kenya. Hyundai were outclassed, their three i20’s finishing fifth, sixth and seventh. Let’s hope they can offer some sort of challenge to Toyota, otherwise the 2026 WRC is in danger of becoming a one-make-only series!

In the all-Northern Ireland battle at M-Sport Ford, Jon Armstrong was outstanding on his first Rally1 outing in Sweden, bringing his Puma home in eight place. In spite of loosing time with a snow-bank encounter on the very first stage, Armstrong was faster than Thierry Neuville on two of the final day’s Sunday stages. The more experienced M-Sport driver, Josh McErlean, was ninth overall after suffering two punctures on Friday, the first full day, and then incurring more problems with his Puma Rally1 on the Saturday. WRC Round 3 Safari Rally Kenya takes place from 12-15 March. How will Jon & Josh get on?

FIRST LOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

Samsonas Rally Fivemiletown kicked off the stage rally season here in NI last month. On the last day of winter, Saturday 28 February, a surprisingly low entry of 43 cars started round one of the 2026 Brown & Brown MSUK Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge. The rally, run as the final round of the 2025 challenge back in November, attracting 71 starters. Organised by Omagh MC, there were 10 gravel tests in the usual forests close to the Co.Tyrone town of Fivemiletown. Conditions were wet and slippery very. It had rained almost every day during January and February.

The rally was won by 2024 winners, Strabane man Niall McGonigle and co-driver Caolan McKenna from Ballinamallard in their VW Polo GTI R5. They finished well ahead of two of the latest spec Skoda Fabia RS Rally2’s driven Vivian Hamill and David Condell respectively. Local man Shane McGirr was the top two-wheel finisher in sixth place with his unique Lada Riva. There were 36 finishers. I know BMMC/BRMC was well represented covering rescue and stage marshalling, unfortunately I couldn’t make this one. The Forest Challenge now takes a break until round two, the Lakeland Stages in September.

RALLY DIARY

Sat. 7th March
RACE & RALLY STAGES @ BISHOPSCOURT

• Round 1 of the 2026 Brown & Brown MSUK Northern Ireland Rally Championship.

Organisers are Ballynahinch & District MC. Sign-on via rallyscore.net or at the venue; Bishopscourt Race Circuit in Co.Down from 7.30 - 8am. The rally starts at 9am. We are providing timekeepers and stage marshals.

Fri. 3rd-Sat 4th April.
CIRCUIT OF IRELAND RALLY

• Round 3 of the 2026 NAPA Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
• Round 2 of the 2026 Brown & Brown MSUK Northern Ireland Rally Championship

Organised by the UAC and sponsored by McKinney Competitions, the COI returns to Dungannon for the third year in succession. Leg 1 on Good Friday consists of four stages (2 run twice). Leg 2 comprises of a further eight tests (2 run three times and 1 run twice) on the Saturday. The ITRC competitors will contest all 12 stages while the NI Championship competitors will join them for the eight Saturday stages.

Full details of the 2026 McKinney Competitions Circuit of Ireland Rally can be found on the Sportity app..Passcode: COI2026.

2025 Marshal of the Year

David Hodgkinson wins the British Rally Marshals Club Marshal of the Year Award 2025 (The Jimmy McRae Award)

The British Rally Marshals Club (BRMC) are proud to announce that the winner of the 2025 Marshal of the Year Award (The Jimmy McRae Award) is David Hodgkinson.

David became a member of BRMC on visiting our stand at Autosport International some 10 years ago and has supported the club ever since. A regular on BRMC stages, he can usually be found around stage time controls working enthusiastically whatever the situation. Always willing to help and assist.

The Jimmy McRae Award is presented each January and recognises a current BRMC member who has best represented the club throughout the preceding year. It is not intended simply to reward attendance, but to mark someone who has made a real difference.

So, if you know a BRMC club member who stands out, who really makes a difference? Why not nominate them to become the next recipient of the Jimmy McRae Award. You can do this at any time by completing the on-line nomination form, HERE. Just remember they must be a current BRMC member.