Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast

🎤Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast. 2026 Season, episode 40🎤

 

This week’s episode pays tribute to legendary rallying figure Terry Harryman, who sadly passed away this week, as we chat with Ian Beasant about his remarkable career and legacy.

 

Fresh from his Bushwhacker Rally victory, co-driver Andy Hayes joins us to discuss his win alongside Josh Moffett and looks ahead to this weekend's Cork 20 Rally.

 

Staying with the Bushwhacker theme, Richard O’Lone and Stephen Conn join us to talk about Richard’s first gravel rally and the challenges of switching from tarmac.

 

Looking ahead, we catch up with Kevin O’Riordan, Clerk of the Course for the Cork 20 Rally, the final round of this year’s Irish Tarmac Championship.

Chapters

Start 00:00:00

Ian Beasant talks about Terry Harryman 00:02:02

Andy Hayes on the Bushwhacker Rally win 00:19:45

Richard O'Lone & Stephen Conn 00:37:55

Cork 20 COC Kevin O'Riordan 01:03:56

End 01:19:31

 

🎤 Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast, 2026 Season, Episode 39 🎤

 

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Meirion Evans to discuss his 2026 season so far, including his performance on Rali Ceredigion and his progress in the British Rally Championship.

We also chat with Aoife Raftery about her busy year competing in both the American Rally Association Championship and the British Rally Championship, looking back at her experiences and achievements on both sides of the Atlantic.

Jack Breenan joins us after his impressive fourth-place finish in a Rally3 car at Wexford, as we look back on his season to date.

Finally, we look ahead to the Bushwhacker Rally with Clerk of the Course Lewis Boyd and Deputy Clerk of the Course Ronnie McAleer, who give us the inside track on what competitors and spectators can expect from this year’s event.

Chapters

Meirion Evans 00:03:50

Aoife Raftery 00:23:10

Jack Brennan 00:40:04

Lewis Boyd & Ronnie McAleer 00:47:40

End 01:05:50

🎤Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast, 2026 Season, episode 38.🎤

 

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Paddy McToal, the two-wheel-drive victor on the Lakeland Stages Rally, and Declan Casey, the second-place co-driver in the two-wheel-drive category, as they reflect on their performances in Fermanagh and look ahead to upcoming forestry rounds.

 

We’re also joined by Andy Hayes, who talks us through his Lakeland Stages Rally and brings us up to speed on the upcoming Wexford Stages Rally, including preparations, the entry, and how the event is shaping up.

 

Finally, we look back at the recent Rali Ceredigion, which hosted joint rounds of the European Rally Championship and British Rally Championship. Casey Jay Coleman, Kalum Graffin, and Kyle McBride join us to discuss their experiences on the challenging Welsh stages and the battles throughout the event.

 

Chapters

Start 00:00:00

Lakeland Chat with Paddy McToal & Declan Casey 00:04:30

Andy Hayes talks about Lakeland & previews Wexford 00:28:30

Casey Jay, Kalum & Kyle discuss Rali Ceredigion 00:48:04

End 01:12:53

🎤Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast, 2026 Season, episode 37🎤

 

On this week’s episode, Frank Kelly joins us to chat about his recent exploits on Polish Rally Legend, and to look ahead to the upcoming Escort Rally Special in Belgium and the RSC Rallye Wildetaube in Germany.

 

We’re also joined by New Zealand rallying father-daughter duo Anthony and Zoe Jones, who share stories from their rallying adventures, including their memorable trip to Ireland for June’s Donegal International Rally.

 

Looking ahead, Enniskillen Motor Club Clerk of the Course Simon Macrory gives us the lowdown on this weekend’s Lakeland Forestry Rally, discussing what competitors and spectators can expect. We also sit down with the club’s Safety Officer, Francie Fox, for an insight into the vital role of event safety, from planning and preparation to ensuring everything runs safely on rally day.

Chapters

Start 00:00:00

Frank Kelly 00:03:15

Zoe & Anthony Jones 00:23:48

Simon Macrory 00:41:22

Francie Fox 00:50:10

End 01:06:57

🎤Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast, 2026 Season episode 36🎤

 

Marty McCormack & Barney Mitchell share their impressions of the latest round of the European Historic Rally Championship: the Lathi Historic Rally. We also discuss all the latest developments in the Mats Performance BMW M3.

 

In this episode, we also talk to Ben McFall, Mark McGeehan, Oran England, and Darragh Mullen about the battles they have had this season and what they're looking forward to at Rali Ceredigion.

 

Chapters

Start 00:00:00

Marty & Barney 00:01:45

Ben, Mark, Oran & Darragh on their seasons thus far 00:30:50

End 01:03:29

🎤Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast, 2026 Season, episode 35 🎤

 

On this episode we catch up with rally driver Kalum Graffin to discuss his FIA European Rally Championship season so far. Kalum reflects on his performances and the challenges of competing at ERC level, as well as securing an impressive third overall in the Fiesta Rally3 Trophy competition.

We also turn our attention to the upcoming Down Rally, organised by Rathfriland Motor Club. We’re joined by Assistant Clerk of the Course Barry Savage, who gives us an insight into the preparations behind the event, what competitors and spectators can expect, and the work that goes into putting the rally together.

Chapters

Start 00:00:00

Kalum Graffin on his ERC Campaign 00:02:45

Down Rally Preview with Barry Savage 00:22:39

End 00:44:01

🎤Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast. 2026 Season, episode 34🎤 

On this episode, we catch up with Ulster Rally Historic winners Eamonn Kelly and then co-driver Rory Kennedy as they each reflect on their successful weekend in Co Antrim and the excitement of driving the fabulous Mats M3 of some of the greatest stages in the country. 

We also chat with Andy Hayes, who navigated Josh Moffett to an extraordinary three victories in just one week — on the Monaghan Rally, Ulster Rally and Jim Walsh Cork Rally. Across the seven days, the pair tackled both tarmac and gravel, switched cars and claimed wins on rounds of the National Rally Championship, Irish Tarmac Championship and Irish Forestry Championship. It’s a remarkable achievement and one we’re asking: has it ever been done before? 
Tune in for the stories, the challenges and the inside track on another week in Irish rallying.

Chapters
Start 00:00:00
Eamonn Kelly 00:03:20
Rory Kennedy 00:19:25
Andy Hayes 00:40:00
End 01:16:32

🎤Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast, 2026 Season, episode 33🎤

In this episode, we bring you the reaction from an action-packed Monaghan Stages Rally, fresh from the finish line with overall winner Josh Moffett and runner-up Sam Moffett reflect on a thrilling battle as they share their thoughts on the "Monaghan Grand-Prix".

We also dive into the fiercely contested two-wheel-drive category, hearing from winner, Gary McPhillips, second-placed crew Dessie Keenan and Jason "Wee Pete" McKenna, plus third-placed co-driver Ronan O'Neill and also Chris O'Callaghan, who was in the hunt for a podium finish.

To round things off, we look ahead to this weekend's highly anticipated Ulster Rally as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Grace and Mark King join us to preview the landmark event, discussing the stages, and what fans and competitors can expect as event joins the FIA European Historic Rally Championship.

Chapters

Start 00:00:00

Josh Moffett 00:03:20

Sam Moffett 00:06:08

Monaghan 2wd Competitors 00:09:55

Ulster Rally Preview with Grace & Mark King 00:48:55

End 01:15:53

🎤Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast, 2026 Season, episode 32🎤

 

On this episode, we catch up with Jon Armstrong to discuss his World Rally Championship campaign with M-Sport, reflecting on the highs, challenges, and what it's like competing at the very top level of the sport.

We also hear from Jonny Greer after securing an incredible sixth Northern Ireland Rally Championship title, looking back on another successful season and what the achievement means to him.

Hugh Hunter and Andy Marchbank join us to share their experiences from Rallye Lecale, discussing the event, the competition, and how their rally unfolded.

Finally, we turn our attention to the upcoming Monaghan Rally as Sean McCaffrey previews one of the highlights of the Irish rally calendar, discussing the stages, the expected competition, and what fans can look forward to.

Chapters

Start 00:00:00

Jon Armstrong on his season to date 00:02:45

Jonny Greer - 6 times Northern Ireland Rally Championship, 00:41:45

Hugh Hunter & Andy Marchbank on Rallye Lecale 01:03:05

Sean McCaffrey - Monaghan Rally Preview 01:29:18

End 01:55:47

🎤Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast, 2026 Season, episode 32🎤

 

In this episode, we’re joined by three-time British Rally Champion Matt Edwards to discuss the current state of Rally2 machinery and its future as the incoming top-tier category in the FIA World Rally Championship. Matt shares his insight into the performance, appeal and challenges of Rally2 cars.

 

We also catch up with Gavin Campbell, Clerk of the Course, and Brian Crawford, Deputy Clerk of the Course, for a preview of this weekend’s BADMC Rallye Lecale. As a brand-new event taking place on 25 July and based in Downpatrick, they take us behind the scenes to explain what competitors and fans can expect, the work involved in launching a new rally, and why Rallye Lecale promises to be an exciting addition to the Northern Irish motorsport calendar.

 

Chapters

Start 00:00:00

Matt Edwards 00:03:45

Rallye Lecale preview with Gavin Campbell & Brian Crawford 00:47:20

End 01:20:54