This year’s 2018 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship will once again play host to the Junior 1000 drivers.

Up and coming talent aged just 15-19 will compete again this year on the stages in the forests, which an ideal learning ground to perfect their rallying skills.

National Forest Championship Co-Ordinator Ray Fitzpatrick is very excited about the second season of the Junior 1000 which once again is sponsored by former National Forest Rally Champion - Mick O’Brien of M. O’Brien Plant Hire.

“Last year was a big one for us to get the whole series off the ground and now for 2018 the interest has risen considerably and it is shaping up to be a big year for Junior 1000. We have a great prize fund on offer with €1500 for the series winner, €1000 for second and €500 for third. Added to this, entry vouchers per round of  €200 for first, €150 for second and €100 for third are all designed to help these young driver’s progress in the sport,” says Ray.

Once again the 1000cc chargers will be on a control Kumho gravel tyre supplied by Ears Motorsport Ireland, and Ears will not only be supplying on-event service for the crews but also offering tyre prizes for each of the five rounds, making it an attractive proposition for any 15-19-year-old driver.

Reigning champion Jason Murphy is set to return in his C-Sport prepared Peugeot 107 to defend his crown, with Tipperary’s Aoife Gahan, the first female competitor in the series returning after a successful debut on last year’s Cork Forest event.