Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge

The busy gravel rally calendar continues this Saturday with the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge heading to the Premier Car Parts Dogleap Rally, writes William Neill.

Leaders, and round four sponsors, Jordan and Paul Hone are ten points up on fellow Ford Fiesta team Stephen Dickson and Ben Teggart. The former will be keen to stamp their authority at what is a home event.

Ashley Dickson, father of Stephen, is currently fourth (behind Derek Mackarel who currently sits on equal points with Stephen but, at time of press, is yet to confirm an entry for the penultimate round).

Omagh’s Niall McCullagh and Strabane’s Niall Devine are both claiming points in the top ten and will race against the likes of current Brown & Brown NI champion Aaron McLaughlin and 2023 junior British champion Kyle White.

Two-wheel-drive front runners Donall Sweeney and Sam Stewart are split by only three points going into the six stage rally running from a Ballykelly base. The Toyota Corolla versus Ford Escort Mk2 battle will see competition from the likes of Ballinderry’s Adrian Grant, BMW 1M driver Oran Donnelly and husband and wife team James and Heather Kennedy. 

A switch up sees Alan Smyth jump from two-wheel-drive into a Rally2-spec Ford Fiesta following strong performances in the older Escort Mk2. Historic category variety includes four-time NI champion Jonathan Greer with a Ford Sierra Cosworth - a rare sight in the forests with Jimmy Mills, following the category championship win in the also Brown & Brown-backed Northern Ireland series, providing the competition.

Action starts with a 3.9-mile Loughermore test at 10.30am, before a short but no less intense 2-mile section sets crews up for eight miles of Cam Forest. The repeat loop gets underway after 1pm with the first, of around 70 cars, at the finish for 3.30pm.

Registration for competitor points available via www.rallyscore.net and for all the rally news visit the Brown & Brown Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship Facebook page.