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The ultimate development opportunity for future stars of Irish Rallying, the Junior 1000 (Class 21) category has grown massively in recent years. With an opportunity for drivers from between 14-19 years of age to compete on Irish Forest Championship events, as well as Rallysprints, this is a unique chance for our next superstars to start in the sport.
The Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series (MIJRS) is an initiative to promote and assist junior competitors focused on developing their motorsport future, with the dual-surface Junior Series supported by the MI Rally Academy and acting as a pathway into National & International Competition for young drivers across a number of categories.
The importance of Junior 1000 competition in the development paths of high-level drivers was clear to see this year, with 2023 FIA Junior World Rally Champion William Creighton having started his career in a Citroen C1 just ten years before claiming his World Title.
In 2023, the series kicked off with the Killarney Forest Rally, and with a bumper entry of 15 Registered Crews signed up for the year, it was Jack Kennedy who started quickest and managed to grab the win and a maximum points haul.
Tommy Cronin would win on the Moonraker Forest Rally, while Jack Harris claimed victory on the Cork Forest Rally which secured his 3rd place finish in the series, just a single point short of the consistently quick Ross Ryan.
The tale of the season though was dominated by our 2023 Champion Tommy Moffett, with the Monaghan youngster taking the victory on the Tipperary Forest Rally, as well as a clean sweep of the Tarmac Rallysprints and finishing the year 8 points clear of the chasing pack.
For 2024, the MIJRS J1000 prize structure is as follows;
1st Overall Driver
•            Winner’s Trophy
•            Support through the MI Rally Academy up to the value of €2,500
2nd Overall Driver
•            Trophy
•            Support through the MI Rally Academy up to the value of €1,500
3rd Overall Driver
•            Trophy
•            Support through the MI Rally Academy up to the value of €1,000
Standings are calculated by getting a maximum score consisting of each competitor’s best performance in 5 out of 8 events will count, with this being calculated as being the 3 best Gravel Rally results and 2 best Rallysprint results, with a minimum 1 being a Tar/sealed surface event.
The 2024 season kicks off in Castleisland with the Killarney Forest Rally, and new for 2024 the series has added an additional two events for competitors with the Imokilly & Laois Gravel Rallysprints being included for the first time.
Date | Event | Surface |
18-Feb | Killarney Forest Rally | Gravel |
30-Mar | Imokilly Rallysprint | Gravel |
13-Apr | Carrick Forest Rally | Gravel |
16-Jun | Wexford Rallysprint | Tar |
11-Aug | Cork Forest Rally | Gravel |
24-Aug | Carrick Rallysprint | Tar |
05-Oct | Clare Forest Rally | Gravel |
19-Oct | Laois Rallysprint | Gravel |
The Series Coordinator is John Quill
+353 87 929 9590
The Series Registrar is Elaine Shinnors
+353 87 822 1067