Bishopscourt all geared up for rally

Reigning Brown & Brown champions Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran will kick off proceedings in car one at the Race & Rally Bishopscourt Stages on Saturday, writes William Neill.

The Donegal-based Volkswagen Polo R5 team won the 2025 edition of the event by almost 16 seconds to start ahead of Sam Moffett and Piaras O’Callaghan in a Hyundai Rally2 i20.

Five-time Northern Ireland champion Jonathan Greer (car three) returns in a Toyota Yaris Rally2 with Niall Burns, keen on a result following a stage two crash last year.

Bishopscourt regulars Stuart Biggerstaff and Anthony Nestor arrive with experience at the single-venue rally in a Ford Fiesta R5 but lack seat time with the Down Rally back in July the Kinallen man’s last outing. 

The most successful NI champion, with eight title wins, Derek McGarrity has long been a supporter of the Ballynahinch and District Motor Club event with many car options over the years - the latest a Skoda Fabia R5.

Father and son team Derek and Mark McGeehan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) finished seventh last year ahead of Peadar Hurson and Damien Connolly (Volkswagen Polo) and so will start in the same order.

Marty Toner has joined the R5 brigade with the popular Ford Fiesta choice - Bishopscourt will be the debut, starting as car eight ahead of Steve Wood.

Jaye Nevin and Eoghan Moore are the lead two-wheel-drive entry in a Peugeot 205 with Adrian Grant, Joe Hegarty and James Kennedy all featuring.

Eight stages, tackled by almost 80 cars, are scheduled at Bishopscourt Race Circuit from 9am until around 4.30pm. Admission is priced at £10 per adult with accompanied under 16-year-olds free. Car parking is also free and organisers have asked pets, bikes and drones are left at home.

To keep up-to-date with both the rally and championships follow the Brown & Brown Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship on Facebook.

Entry list (full list will be available via www.rallyscore.net)

1 Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curran (Volkswagen Polo R5)

2 Sam Moffett/Piaras O’Callaghan (Hyundai Rally2 i20)

3 Jonathan Greer/Niall Burns (Toyota Yaris Rally2)

4 Stuart Biggerstaff/Anthony Nestor (Ford Fiesta R5)

5 Derek McGarrity/Damien Garvey (Skoda Fabia RS)

6 Derek McGeehan/Mark McGeehan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)

7 Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Volkswagen Polo)

8 Marty Toner/David Wright (Ford Fiesta R5)

9 Steve Wood/TBC (Citroen C3 Rally2)

10 Paul Britton/Peter Ward (Ford Fiesta R5)