Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Kalle Rovanpera and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen during the SS10 special Moya-Galdar of the Rally Islas Canarias

Rovanpera dominating in Canary Islands, McErlean 10th

Toyota's double world champion Kalle Rovanpera continued his domination of the Canary Islands rally with 12 stage wins from 13 so far to take a 45.2 second lead into the final day on Sunday, while Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy are 10th overall.

Motorsport • 26 Apr

The Irish duo have competed in three events so far

McErlean hopeful of high finish in Rally Islas Canarias

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean will take another step in his World Rally Championship (WRC) career this weekend as he heads to Rally Islas Canarias which marks his first full asphalt outing in the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1.

Motorsport • 23 Apr

Josh McErlean steers his Ford Puma Rally1 with Irish co-driver Eoin Treacy

Evans cements Kenya lead, topsy-turvy day for McErlean

Toyota's championship leader Elfyn Evans will go into the final day of Safari Rally Kenya with a nearly two-minute advantage over Hyundai's Ott Tanak as teammate Kalle Rovanpera's challenge faded on a chaotic Saturday which saw Ireland's Josh McErlean slip back to 13th overall.

Motorsport • 22 Mar

Josh McErlean steers his Ford Puma Rally1 with co-driver Eoin Treacy

McErlean seventh after tough day at Safari Rally Kenya

Toyota's Elfyn Evans led team-mate Kalle Rovanpera in a Safari Rally Kenya one-two on the first full day of action on Friday, while Derryman Josh McErlean got home in seventh for the M-Sport Ford team.

Motorsport • 21 Mar

Josh McErlean and his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1. Photo: M-Sport

Derry's McErlean handed WRC spot with M-Sport Ford

Josh McErlean's burgeoning rally career will take another significant step forward in 2025 after he secured a spot on the M-Sport Ford World Rally Championship (WRC) team.

Motorsport • 19 Dec 24

Henning Solberg driving his Ford Focus in Fermanagh when the WRC came to Ireland in 2009

Ireland misses out on chance to host World Rally events

Motorsport Ireland has announced that Ireland is no longer being considered to host a round of the FIA World Rally Championship in 2025.

Motorsport • 16 Apr 24

Aiden Harper during the Motorsport Ireland press conference at the Royal Irish Automobile Club in Dublin

New WRC changes underpinned feasibility of rotating bid

Motorsport Ireland president Aiden Harper says changes to the requirements to host a potential Irish round of the World Rally Championship now make it feasible for a trio of venues to anchor the event on a rotating basis.

Motorsport • 10 Jan 24

Mikko Hirvonen, driving a Ford Focus WRC, passes Parkes Castle during Stage 17 through Lough Gill, County Leitrim during Rally Ireland in 2009

Rally bid includes trio of venues but relies on Govt

Motorsport Ireland has opted to include all three proposed host locations in their bid to bring the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) back to Ireland for the years 2025-27.

Motorsport • 09 Jan 24

President of Motorsport Ireland Aiden Harper

Venue for Ireland's WRC bid to be selected this week

Motorsport Ireland president Aiden Harper says the three venues in the running to host an Irish round of the World Rally Championship in 2025 will be whittled down this week.

Motorsport • 02 Jan 24

William Creighton, left, and his co-driver Liam Regan at Dublin Airport on their return home after the Junior world title win

Creighton plots path to top tier after Junior WRC title

Co Down's William Creighton spoke to RTÉ Sport's Raf Diallo about becoming the second Irishman to win the Junior World Rally Championship title, his admiration for the late Craig Breen and how he plans to tackle 2024 and beyond in the hope of eventually reaching the WRC.

Motorsport • 16 Dec 23

William Creighton and co-driver Liam Regan enjoyed 34 stage wins across the season which proved crucial in the points standings

Ireland's Creighton crowned Junior World Rally champion

William Creighton has been crowned FIA Junior WRC champion, becoming the first Irish driver to win the title since the late Craig Breen achieved the feat in 2011.

Motorsport • 10 Sep 23

Craig Breen stands by his Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Craig Breen second ahead of Rally Sweden finale

Craig Breen relinquished the overall lead but remains poised in second ahead of Sunday's final day of action at Rally Sweden.

Motorsport • 11 Feb 23

Breen seems certain to stay in the WRC with a return to Hyundai on the cards

Craig Breen and M-Sport part ways

The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team are ending their contractual agreement with Waterford's Craig Breen a year early following an amicable decision between the parties.

Motorsport • 17 Nov 22

Paul Nagle of Ireland in the Ford Puma Rally 1 in May's Rally de Portugal

'Time to hang up the helmet' - Co-driver Nagle retiring

Paul Nagle has announced his decision to retire as a rally co-driver after the World Rally Championship round in Catalonia at the end of the month.

Motorsport • 05 Oct 22

Craig Breen and Paul Nagle in action on the final day near Kenya's capital Nairobi

Breen sixth in Kenya as Rovanpera wins to extend lead

Craig Breen finished sixth at the Safari Rally Kenya as Finland's Kalle Rovanpera lead a Toyota sweep of the top four places to stretch his world championship lead to 65 points.

Motorsport • 26 Jun 22

Craig Breen and co-driver Paul Nagle in action in Sardinia

Craig Breen second ahead of final day in Sardinia

Craig Breen is second at Rally Italia Sardegna ahead of Sunday's final day of action in the World Rally Championship event.

Motorsport • 04 Jun 22

Craig Breen was able to celebrate a podium finish last time out.

Breen relishing curious case of snowy Sweden challenge

Craig Breen says he's not feeling the pressure ahead of Rally Sweden where an opportunity has opened up to improve on the podium finish he achieved in the 2022 World Rally Championship opening round.

Motorsport • 24 Feb 22

Craig Breen enjoyed a fine start to the WRC season

Breen seals podium finish, Loeb becomes oldest winner

Craig Breen and co-driver Paul Nagle claimed third place at the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally as France's Sebastien Loeb became, at 47, the oldest driver to win a round of the world championship.

Motorsport • 23 Jan 22

Craig Breen: "I just can't wait to get started"

Dawn of a new era as Breen chases his WRC dream

A new era for Craig Breen and his Killarney Co-driver Paul Nagle begins this weekend at the season-opening Monte Carlo rally, where the Waterford driver kicks off his quest to become a World Rally Championship champion.

Motorsport • 20 Jan 22

"I think it's all I've been searching for all my life," said Breen.

Craig Breen aiming high as WRC season closes in fast

Craig Breen and co-driver Paul Nagle are aiming high as the 2022 World Rally Championship closes in fast.

Motorsport • 28 Dec 21

Sebastien Ogier continues his dominance in the sport

Ogier wraps up WRC title as Toyota claim team honour

Sebastien Ogier won his eighth world rally championship in nine years while the Frenchman's Toyota team clinched the manufacturers' title.

Motorsport • 21 Nov 21

Spectators watch as the Hyundai of Irish driver Craig Breen and his Irish co-driver Paul Nagle soar through the air in Finland

Breen earns third spot at Rally Finland

Ireland's Craig Breen has moved up to sixth in the World Rally Championship standings after an impressive third-placed finish at Rally Finland.

Motorsport • 03 Oct 21

Craig Breen has slipped to fourth in the Arctic Rally Finland

Breen slips to fourth in Finland after frustrating day

Ireland's Craig Breen and Paul Nagle lie in 4th place after a frustrating Day 2 in their Hyundai i20 in the Arctic Rally Finland, the second round of the World Rally Championship.

Motorsport • 27 Feb 21

Ireland's driver Craig Breen and his co-driver Ireland's Paul Nagle steer their Hyundai i20

Breen and Nagle sit second in Arctic Rally Finland

Ireland's Craig Breen and Paul Nagle have made a good start to the Arctic Rally Finland, the second round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) and after opening two stages in the winter snow event, the Irish crew lie in second place.

Motorsport • 26 Feb 21

Breen disappointed more can't be done for ITRC

Waterford's Craig Breen has expressed his disappointment at the cancellation of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (ITRC) for the second year running, ahead of his return to the World Rally Championship (WRC) in Finland this weekend.

Motorsport • 25 Feb 21