NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
The 2026 NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship reaches its climax at the MRF Tyres Cork 20 International Rally this weekend, with Josh Moffett and Eddie Doherty going head-to-head in the title showdown.
Based in Macroom and utilising classic Cork 20 stages, Moffett and Andy Hayes head the seeded entry in their Toyota Yaris Rally2, holding a 13-point advantage over Doherty and Tom Murphy heading into the decider. A top-three finish will be enough to crown Moffett champion regardless of what Doherty does, while the Kilkenny crew remain in the hunt, but will need a maximum score and hope Moffett finishes fourth or lower.
David Kelly and Shane Buckley are seeded third and will hope to cap off a strong campaign which featured a Circuit of Ireland victory back in Spring.
Matt Edwards returns to Irish competition after over a year away, the Welshman lining up fourth in his Volkswagen Polo R5. Edwards’ pedigree on Irish stages makes him an exciting prospect despite his time away from the series.
Eamonn Kelly swaps his BMW M3 for his Toyota Yaris Rally2, returning to Rally2 machinery fresh from Historic victory at the Ulster Rally while Desi Henry makes his first Cork 20 start since 2010.
There will be some father-and-son duelling in Cork with Matthew Boyle taking on his father Declan inside the top ten seeds. Both Boyles will pilot a Skoda Fabia Rally2.
Wexford Stages Rally winner Daniel Cronin arrives full of confidence, and he starts ninth in another Toyota.
Sam Touzel sits fifth in the championship on 49.5 points and starts seventh on the road, the Jersey driver looking to cap an impressive debut ITRC season with a strong result on the Cork 20 stages.
ERC3 frontrunner Casey Jay Coleman could spring a surprise having shown strong pace aboard a Skoda Fabia Rally2 at Wexford.
McEvoy Motorsport & Flat 2 The Hat Modified ITRC
Donegal’s Daniel McKenna leads the Modified charge as top seed among the two-wheel-drive contenders, his Ford Escort starting 18th on the road ahead of a quality Class 14 field. Patrick McHugh and Kenneth Cullinane add further pace in their Darrian T90s, both seeded inside the top 20.
Mac Walsh’s championship charge continues in Class 13 while Cian Walsh, Colin Byrne, and Padraig Egan complete a strong Class 14 contingent of Ford Escorts.
Further Class 13 entrants include Robbie Allen, Anthony Cullinane, and Allen Treacy, who will look to make their mark on the famous Cork stages.
Wales Motorsport Historic ITRC
The Historic ITRC title race remains finely balanced with Ronan Campbell holding a slender five-point lead over both Ray Breen and Jason McSweeney, who are tied on points heading into the decider.
Campbell and Denny Greaney start 49th on the road in their Ford Escort RS1800, while Cork locals McSweeney and Liam Brennan line up 33rd in their magnificent Ford Escort WRC. Breen and Damien Morrissey’s Subaru Legacy, seeded 34th, has proven a consistent threat throughout the campaign and will be gunning for the Historic title.
Adrian Evans and Trevor Wilson’s BMW M3s add further quality to a Historic field that promises a fitting conclusion to a closely fought championship battle.
Paul Browne Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Junior ITRC
Aaron and Caolan Reid arrive at Cork 20 with a commanding 17-point lead over Darragh Walsh and Gary Lombard, needing only a solid points finish to seal the Junior ITRC title.
Walsh and Lombard, seeded third, will need a big result and misfortune for Reid if they are to keep their title hopes alive on home Cork soil.
Graham and Trevor Roche head the Junior entry as top seeds, while Kyle Browne and Shane Maguire complete the top five in a Honda Civic-dominated 11-car field.
Kerry Motorsport News 