Tipperary to host huge rally championship finale this weekend

The rescheduled Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally hosts the final round of the Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship this Sunday.

Based out of the Talbot Hotel in Clonmel, with the service park situated at Powerstown Park Racecourse, the Tipperary Light Car and Motorcycle Club event wraps up the 2026 campaign following its move from July to the October Bank Holiday.

Although his name does not appear on the published entry list, newly crowned champion Josh Moffett could make a late entry in his Toyota Yaris Rally2.

Such a move would be aimed at securing the overall National Rally Championship co-drivers' title for Keith Moriarty.

Leading the field off the start line at number one is Donegal's Kevin Eves and Chris Melly in their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.

Eves came close to securing a maiden overall national win on home turf at the Donegal Harvest Rally two weeks ago, only for a late puncture to cost him top spot on the final loop of stages.

Seeded at number two is fellow Donegal driver Eamonn Kelly alongside co-driver Niall Burns in a Toyota GR Yaris.

Kelly showed strong pace at the recent Cork 20 International Rally and will be chasing a first national overall victory.

Wexford Rally winners Daniel Cronin and Padraig O'Donovan in their Toyota Yaris Rally2, eager to match their September winning form.

Behind them, a trio of drivers chase their first national podium of the year, led by Darragh Cairns and Mark Preston at number four in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.

Cal McCarthy follows at five in a Citroen C3 Rally2, with Tom Holton Jnr and Stephen Joyce lined up at six in a Ford Fiesta Rally2.

Former national champion and local favourite Roy White adds further quality to the top order in his MG ZR.

Kerry pair Conor Murphy and Sean Collins lead the modified field at number eight in their Ford Escort Mk2, with Cavan's Rodney Wilton and Conor McMahon right behind in a similar machine.

Jack Newman brings his rear-wheel-drive Darrian T90 GTR to Clonmel at number 11 following its Wexford debut, while Meath's Michael Cahill teams up with Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy co-driver Killian McArdle at number 12 in an Escort.

Class 5 features several drivers gaining valuable seat time in new cars.

James McCarville and Martin Brady take number 14 in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 for their second outing in the car.

It is the same for Stephen Greaney and Jonathan Folan at number 17.

Brian Bolger and James McEneaney start at 15 in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 after a strong top-ten result in Wexford, while former national champion Tim McNulty returns at number 16 in a Fabia RS Rally2.

Further down the order, Scottish crew Gordon Morrison and Ashleigh Will start at number 18 in a Ford Escort Mk2, aiming to become the first overseas winners of the Ford Escort Challenge within the National Championship.

At number 19, Donegal's Barry McLaughlin and Barry McBride target the Class 13 title in their Ford Escort Mk1.

While the overall Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship driver's title may already be settled, two massive battles will be decided at next weekend’s rescheduled Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally.

Huge incentives are on the line in both Class 2 and Class 2A.

In national terms, winning either class guarantees an automatic nomination for the prestigious Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Driver of the Year Award for age-eligible drivers.

Crucially, because a Billy Coleman nomination does not carry over to a runner-up, taking the class title outright is the only way to secure that place.

Class 2 sees joint leaders Oran England and Danny Brady locked on 46 points each.

England has already secured a Billy Coleman Award nomination earlier in the season, but the class title and the parallel Stellantis Cup competition remain to be settled.

Brady holds a strong lead in the Stellantis Cup, where an all-expenses-paid rally outing in Hungary awaits the winner.

If England is to snatch the Stellantis prize from Brady, he must win the class and hope at least one other Stellantis crew finishes between them.

For Brady, the situation is delicate. If he finishes second in Class 2 behind England, he could still win the Stellantis Cup, but he would lose out on the Class 2 National Championship title and its associated Billy Coleman nomination.

With England already nominated, a second-place finish for Brady would mean the Class 2 nomination lapses entirely.

Class 2A is equally tight, with just four points separating the top four competitors heading into the final round.

David Travers leads the standings on 33 points, just one point ahead of Gemma Hallinan on 32.

Hallinan is aiming to become the first female driver to earn a Billy Coleman nomination in many years.

The title fight is far from a two-car affair. Tied on 29 points behind the lead duo are Barry McGann, Oisin McShane, and James McShea.

McGann is ineligible for the Billy Coleman Award due to age regulations, meaning if he wins the Class 2A title, he would deny both Travers and Hallinan a nomination.

McShane also remains in strong contention for the class crown, while McShea has already earned a Billy Coleman nomination via the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series, though neither has submitted a Stonethrowers entry.