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Articles by leonulty All
Bigger ST grids and more excitement as Graham does the double!
The Fiesta ST class, backed by West Dublin based Alloy Repair Centre may not have the huge grids of the smaller Zetec class, but the arrival of a number of new drivers have swelled the 2.0 hatchbacks numbers to around the 20 mark, making it bigger than most other classes out there. Charlie McKillen bought the ex Roy White car over the winter and has been setting the pace in the early part of the season.
ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE NEW LEXUS TZ
A recent announcement from Lexus is the new TZ, a vehicle which is very much designed around the concept of the Driving Lounge, a seamless blending of a relaxing cabin with dynamic performance that delivers an elevated travelling experience for everyone. The Driving Lounge concept creates a space and ambience that promote relaxation, enjoyment and conversation, enhanced by a wide, opening panoramic roof that extends above all three rows of seats.
McErlean returns to WRC battle at Acropolis Rally Greece
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver Josh McErlean returns to FIA World Rally Championship action this week [25-28 June], as the Irishman tackles the legendary Acropolis Rally Greece. Fresh from taking second overall and fulfilling a lifelong ambition by competing on the Donegal International Rally, McErlean now switches his attention back to the demands of Rally1 competition and one of the most unforgiving events on the WRC calendar.
Roe Heads to New York for Next IMSA Endurance Race
In addition to his INDY NXT campaign with Chip Ganassi Racing, James Roe returns to IMSA competition this weekend for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Roe will co-drive the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside Scott Andrews and Lin Hodenius, looking to build on the team’s strong fourth-place finish at Sebring in March. “Ready to get back to some sports car action this weekend,” said Roe.
Siltex Fiestas fill the Mondello Park grid as Fishbourne and McGovern share the glory!
The Siltex Safety Fiesta Zetec Championship has consistently been the strongest race class in the country for the last five years. The 80bhp cars are cheap to buy and easy to maintain. Thanks to an extremely good technical team, the cars are pretty evenly matched and are regularly subject to intense eligibility scrutiny checks. The class has attracted a lot of newcomers to Motorport and the Rookie Cup, for drivers in their first two years, is well supported and incredibly competitive too.
ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE NEW CUPRA RAVAL
The CUPRA Raval boasts a striking design and a strong driver focused approach to define its identity, proving that electric mobility can deliver emotion, performance and character in equal measure. The newcomer is built on the new MEB+ platform and measuring just four metres in length, it combines compact urban proportions with precise driving dynamics and sporty handling.
Miles of Smiles for 2026 Ulster Rally Regroup Announcement
The excitement is already building for the 2026 Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, with organisers bringing a taste of rallying action to Castle Tower School in Ballymena as the Northern Ireland Motor Club showpiece event officially announces Castle Tower School as the Regroup location for this year’s rally.
Brandon McCaughan Shows Impressive Pace On Le Mans Debut
Prototype racing rising star Brandon McCaughan relished the opportunity to compete on the world-famous Circuit de la Sarte at Le Mans for the first time on Sunday (07 June), even if the latest round of the Ligier European Series sadly didn’t deliver the result he’d hoped for. The third round of the season saw him take to the hallowed tarmac the weekend prior to the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE NEW BMW 7 SERIES
I have enjoyed a number of press launches and adventures with the BMW 7 Series; from driving a fully armoured version where the main concern was braking, as due to its heavy weight, braking distances were a prime consideration – to driving from the finish of the Le Mans 24 Hours race to the coast to catch Le Shuttle back to the UK mainland.
ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS ON THE POTENT OPEL MOKKA GSE
My first real encounter with the Opel Brand came by Frank O’Rourke and Bob Montgomery; they were drivers in the race side of Dealer Opel Team Ireland and they enjoyed much success on the Irish circuits, Mondello Park, Kirkistown and Phoenix Park; in the Park I recall them being joined by Belfast business man George Windrum in his big Commodore and it was an impressive sight as it sped through the leafy circuit. Of course there was also the rally side of the team.
ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS ON THE AFFORDABLE MG4 URBAN EV
I have observed recently the number of small very affordable EVs to come to the market, the bulk of which seem to be arriving from the Chinese manufacturers; of course there are Europeans such as Citroen aiming to make ownership of an all-electric vehicle much cheaper. The criticism that comes my way is that up to now purchasing an EV is simply out of the budget of many. One Chinese carmaker, MG, is certainly aiming to make EV motoring appeal to a wider audience with their new MG4 Urban.
ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE NEW JEEP AVENGER
For almost 85 years, Jeep has been a global leader in SUVs, delivering legendary off-road capability, advanced technology and exceptional versatility for those who seek fun and adventure with their vehicle. The Jeep brand offers a diverse line- up of vehicles powered by a variety of powertrains and the latest to join the line-up is the new Avenger.
Dan Harper Battles To Fourth Place Finish in 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours
BMW M Motorsport works driver Dan Harper narrowly missed out on a podium finish after brilliant comeback drive to fourth position in the 2026 ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (14-17 May). After being spun back to 43rd position just five corners in to the race, Harper and his team-mates Max Hesse, Sheldon Van Der Linde and Dries Vanthoor produced a spirited performance to charge their way through the field and almost secure a podium finish with defending champions ROWE Racing.
Harris dominates Carlow as Academy crews prepare for ERC
Jack Harris and Aaron O’Regan dominated Class 2 on the Carlow Stages Rally with a commanding 39.2-second victory, claiming top points in the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series (MIJRS) after a masterful drive in tricky conditions. The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew delivered five fastest times, including a stunning 16.4-second margin on the penultimate stage, to seal their Class 2 win.
McGovern and Fishbourne Share Wins as Packed Zetec Grids Entertain
As ever, the Siltex Safety Fiesta Zetec grid was the biggest in the TengTools ICCR Paddock at the opening meeting of the 2026 season. Incredibly, with a host of newcomers, it had soared up over the 30 mark and, but for a few fallers during the week prior to the meeting, would have been dangerously to the National Circuit’s permitted maximum numbers. Having won the title convincingly in 2025, Sean McGovern signed up for the Civic Cup in the UK for this season.
ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS DRIVES THE SUZUKI VITARA ULTRA ALLGRIP-E
Suzuki may have come late to the world of EV motoring; however their e-Vitara is one which will please many; an affordable and well-appointed SUV which is both confident on and off road. I recently had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Ultra ALLGRIP-e; which employs a 61kWh battery and offers reasonable performance, rest to 100kph (62 mph) in 7.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 150kph (93mph); this I feel will suit the needs of most.
Leah Kane: Rising Star of Irish Hillclimbs
Leah Kane, a 17-year-old racing driver from Curragha, Co. Meath, was born into the world of motorsport. Having grown up standing on the ditches at rallies, her passion for the sport was sparked at a young age. Her Dad, Alan Kane, began his own career at 16, debuting in the Monaghan Stages Rally. To this day, he still drives the Ford Escort MkII he purchased back in 1995. After years of competing in rallies across Ireland, Alan transitioned into hillclimbs, encouraged by the late Simon McKinley.
Massive Alloy Repair Centre Fiesta ST Grid Entertains at Mondello Park
Under strong Mondello Park sunshine, Murray Motorsport’s Charlie McKillen led out the biggest Fiesta ST grid in at least five years at the opening ICCR meeting of 2026 . There were a horde of newcomers, many hailing from Donegal under the Kelly Motorsport banner, joining the class regulars. Tim McQuaid was alongside from the “Ballybunion Bullet” Adam O’Mahony who had the impressive Michael Graham for company on row two.
Carole Nash Historic Festival to celebrate 50 years of the VW Golf GTI
This weekend sees Mondello Park host their annual Carole Nash Historic Festival and amongst the many attractions will be a host of the iconic Golf GTI models. To celebrate an incredible 50 years since the first 1.6 Mk1 GTIs rolled off the production lines, Volkswagen have produced a 50 Edition to celebrate the anniversary.
Five on the trot for impressive Devine at the Lakes!
Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan claimed their fifth consecutive Assess Ireland International Rally of the Lakes victory after a thrilling two-day battle with Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy, winning by just 13.2 seconds. The reigning champions’ dominant performance on the world-class Kerry stages allowed them to reclaim the championship lead after their Circuit of Ireland setback, posting seven fastest times across the weekend’s 14 stages to cement their status as the masters of Killarney.
Superb French Rallycross Championship victory at Lessay for Ireland’s Tohill
Current British and Irish Rallycross Championship leader Derek Tohill claimed an emotional and historic victory in the opening round of the French Rallycross Championship at Lessay [May 3]. After a year of learning events in the French RX series in 2025, running with the DA Racing team, PFCRX driver Tohill embarked on the season-opener at Lessay fresh off the back of double victory in the opening rounds of the British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill last month.
ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS REPORTS ON THE NEW PORSCHE 911 GT3 S/C
The 911 has been around since 1984, one of the backbones of Porsche and now a first with the introduction of a 911 GT3 with a fully automatic convertible roof. This member of the Porsche line-up combines the lightweight design of the 911 S/T with the naturally aspirated four litre flat-six ‘boxer’ engine of the GT3, producing a pleasing 510 PS (375 kW) and 450 Nm of torque.
ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS ON THE CITROEN e-C3
The year after the end of the First World War Automobiles Citroën was founded and from the start these French cars had very much a character all of their own and that has largely remained to today.. In the mid-1930s the company established its reputation for innovative technology producing the worlds first front wheel drive car to be mass-produced and also front-and four-wheel independent suspension.
ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS DRIVES THE NISSAN ARIYA NISMO
NISMO is the motorsport division of Nissan which was founded some four decades ago, formed as a result of a merger of two departments and in 1988 the first dedicated race car appeared, the iconic Skyline R32. Another early production was the Saurus, it was for a one make series. The R32 which had the GT-R badge saw the development and production of five hundred evolution editions purely for road use.
25 Champion Kearney makes perfect start to Formula Sheane title defence
The long winter break was finally over for the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane drivers as they headed to Mondello Park for the first two rounds of the 2026 season. The sun was out along with new colour schemes and also a new female driver, the first in Formula Sheane for many years. Mondello Park have now taken over the series and it is led by Leo Nulty who has a big promotional push planned with lots of new interest already in the class by several newcomers.
Tohill does the double at Lydden Hill BRX Opener
Reigning British Rallycross Champion Derek Tohill and the PFCRX team began the defence of the 2025 title with the opening double-header of the season at Lydden Hill, and dominated [April 5-6]. The weekend opened with the 2025 Night of Champions, where the PFCRX Peugeot 208 WRX was displayed carrying the coveted ‘GB1’ number and Tohill collected his second British Rallycross Championship trophy.
Brandon McCaughan Sees Leading Pace Go Unrewarded In Barcelona
Prototype racing rising star Brandon McCaughan produced exceptional pace in the opening round of the 2026 Ligier European Series in Barcelona, but saw a couple of unfortunate penalties deny him a trip to the podium this past weekend (10-11 April).
ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS DRIVES THE NEW KIA STONIC
The Kia Stonic has been around since its Frankfurt debut some nine years ago, a crossover in the B segment of the market and its name is derived from the word speedy. I find that would be buyers might overlook the Stonic, which they might just regret and okay with a number of new EVs arriving in the market from Kia, the media interest is largely focussed in that direction.
Kelly claims maiden ITRC victory after dramatic Circuit of Ireland
David Kelly and Shane Buckley secured their first Circuit of Ireland and Irish Tarmac Rally Championship victory after a dramatic final day saw them hold off Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes by just half a second. The Donegal crew balanced speed and caution perfectly through Storm David’s wet conditions to seal a remarkable victory on the Dungannon-based event, claiming their first ITRC win after fourth-place finishes in both Galway and West Cork.
ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ GLS
The new Mercedes-Benz GLS for many will see it as the class of its sector, an SUV which powerfully continues a tradition of quality and a vehicle which is intuitive to operate, prestigious in appearance and first-class in every detail.
ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE NEW HYUNDAI IONIQ 6 N
When Hyundai launched their performance packed IONIQ 5 N it became an immediate success and now the latest fast lane contender the IONIQ 6 N has been engineered for maximum driving thrills, offering a unique personality that sets it apart from its hatchback counterpart.
ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE NEW BMW i3
The 3 Series has been around since 1975 and it is fair to state that it has been very much the backbone of BMW and there have been a number of generations. I count myself as something of a BMW fan and down the years I have owned five of the 3 Series and have attended quite a number of press launches relating to this model and to be honest I have lost count of the number of test drives.
ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS REPORTS ON THE DACIA STRIKER
Dacia hits the mark when it comes to value for money, around since 1968; however it really took off when it was relaunched in 2004 across Europe and key to its success in company with attractive pricing has been reliable cars. Today Dacia is on sale in 44 countries and more than 10 million have been sold since Renault came on the scene. Now in order to strengthen its place in the busy C sector of the market, enter the Striker.
RPM TRIO REGROUP FOR LAST SHOW
Pammie’, ‘Plum’, and ‘Garfield’, sound like characters in a children’s TV show, and characters they certainly are, but their show was RPM the popular motorsports programme that ran on UTV and many other channels for twenty-three years.
James Roe Ready for Three-Race Stretch
As the 2026 US racing calendar ramps up, Ireland’s James Roe is preparing for an intense stretch with three major events on consecutive weekends across two premier series. The run begins with INDYCAR’s debut at the Grand Prix of Arlington, then continues with IMSA’s legendary endurance challenge at Sebring, and concludes at the technical INDYCAR road course of Barber Motorsports Park.
Leah McManus to Tackle BTRDA Rallycross Series
Kildare driver Leah McManus has announced that she will compete in the BTRDA Rallycross Championship in 2026. She will compete in the BMW MINI S class and will drive the MOTORWORX Cooper S, which her father Thomas drove to victory in the Clubman Modified Class of the Irish Rallycross Championship last weekend. Leah is just 18 but already has plenty of motorsport experience, having taken in two seasons of the Patch Tyre Equipment Junior MINI Challenge as well as two seasons of Irish Rallycross.
ON THE ROAD - IAN LYNAS DRIVES THE NEW KIA K4
Over the past few months Kia has launched a significant number of EVs and there are still more to come, including the eagerly awaited EV2. However for those who perhaps have yet to decide to take the EV route and choose to remain with conventional power, the South Korean company has just launched the K4 and I have had the opportunity to take the wheel; it is petrol powered which Kia describe as a family hatchback which I must add has quite a sporty look.
Nicole Graduates to European GT Racing with Porsche Opportunity
On International Womens Day, Ireland’s top female race driver Nicole Drought has announced a major step up in her career. For 2026, she will represent Ireland in the Iberian Supercar Series. Having taken two Championships and three lap records in the UK over the last two seasons, the Tipperary lady steps onto the International stage as she teams up with the Portuguese Art of Speed Team for the combined Spanish and Portuguese GT Championship.
ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS ON THE STUNNING NEW AUDI RS5
Stunning performance is at the heart of the new RS5 from Audi, a plug in hybrid with a mighty 639PS at the command of the right foot and a vehicle with a maximum speed of 285kph (177mph). This is the world’s first Quattro with Dynamic Torque Control in the rear axle which brings handling to a new level.
BRC Champion Creighton joins Stellantis Motorsport for ERC assault
William Creighton will tackle the 2026 European Rally Championship with Tagai Racing Technology, representing Stellantis Motorsport in the seven-round series. The reigning British Rally Champion will contest a full ERC campaign for the first time, alongside co-driver Liam Regan, the pair now entering their 13th year together. Their quest for ERC success begins on April’s Andalusia Rally.
ON THE ROAD - IAN LYNAS DRIVES THE FORD EXPLORER EV
The Explorer is a well-used name by Ford, first used in the US; however in early 2023, Ford announced the arrival of an Explorer for Europe, this time a compact all electric SUV. Built on the same MEB platform as the ID. 4 from VW, the Explorer is the result of an ongoing partnership between the two brands, which has included sharing commercial vehicles. Production is in the Cologne plant in Germany, which had previously manufactured the Fiesta.
Motormouth’s Mutterings - Grassroots Motorsport. Sporting Trials
“Grassroots” according to its definition, refers to the ordinary people at the basic level of a society or organisation, rather than its leaders, signifying bottom-up movements or support from the common public for ideas, politics, or social change, originating from the fundamental base like plant roots. When it comes to Motorsport, we all tend to have tunnel vision. Most of the time, we concentrate on the discipline we compete in, barely noticing the others.
Armstrong grabs first WRC points after strong Rally Sweden
Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne bounced back from an early scare to secure an impressive eighth overall on Rally Sweden – scoring four FIA World Rally Championship points on their second Rally1 start. As in Monte-Carlo, the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy duo showed promising pace throughout the weekend, finishing just 19.6 seconds behind 2024 World Rally Champion Thierry Neuville.
McErlean gets WRC season back on track with a solid Sweden result
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean reignited his 2026 FIA World Rally Championship campaign with a hard-earned ninth place at Rally Sweden, securing his first points of the season and leaving behind the disappointment of a non-finish at Rallye Monte Carlo.
ON THE ROAD - IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE NEW RENAULT TWINGO E-TECH
When the Renault Twingo arrived on the scene it was one of many city cars; today that sector of the market in Europe accounts for a mere five percent of sales. The original Twingo was widely welcomed, it had character and was a fun car to have, now comes news of a new model, of course no surprise it is an EV.
McErlean eager to rebuild as WRC Rally Sweden beckons
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean arrives at Rally Sweden this weekend [12-15 February] focused on leaving a punishing Rallye Monte-Carlo behind and kick-starting his 2026 FIA World Rally Championship campaign. Following one of the most extreme Monte-Carlo events in decades, McErlean has been quick to reset and refocus after a difficult start to the season in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1.
Grimes Again! Motorsport Ireland National Autotest Championship Round 2 Report.
Round 2 of the IrishAutotesting.com Motorsport Ireland National Autotest Championship took place last Sunday in Roxborough, County Roscommon and was kindly hosted by Midland Motor Club. Many competitors from Round 1 returned to continue their fight for the Lightweight, Roadgoing and Challenge Championships.
ON THE ROAD - FIAT IRELAND ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP OF RTÉ’S WINTER OLYMPIC COVERAGE FOR MILANO CORTINA 2026
Fiat Ireland has announced its role as the official sponsor of RTÉ’s Winter Olympic coverage on RTÉ Player for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, taking place from 6 to 22 February 2026. The partnership will give the brand prominent visibility with Irish audiences during one of the year’s biggest global sporting events. RTÉ Player will serve as Ireland’s home of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
ON THE ROAD - IAN LYNAS DRIVES THE HONDA CIVIC e: HEV
My first experience of the Honda Civic came courtesy of Harold McGarrity, the Fermanagh man had a dealership in Belfast and he was widely known in motor racing circles as he raced a Chevron in Formula Atlantic at all of the Irish circuits.
Kelsey Kirby Aiming for Siltex Safety Podiums in 2026
Kelsey Kirby in a relative newcomer to Motor Racing but in the last two seasons has firmly established herself as a genuine front runner in what is arguably the most competitive race championship on the TengTools ICCR bill- the Siltex Safety Fiesta Zetec Championship. Now aged 28, Kelsey didn’t visit Mondello Park until June 2021, when she says she found out exactly what she was supposed to do, and immediately set about getting on track.
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