Rising Donegal teenage rally star James McShea will make his international debut this weekend – in the United States of America.
McShea, who has just turned 17, makes the trip to America alongside navigator Liam Callaghan to compete on the Show-Me Rally, and will compete with the support of the Craig Breen Foundation.
Based in Potosi, Missouri, the ten-stage gravel event will see the Letterkenny star tackle 97km of high-speed loose surface action against a strong field of local drivers.
McShea said: “It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity for me, even just getting used to the preparation required to travel to events, learn new stages and compete in a completely new environment. Its’s a challenge I am relishing and really looking forward to it.”
Having secured the Junior 1000 title of the Irish Forest Rally Championship in 2025, McShea made the step up to Class 2A and competed in a Peugeot 208 R2 across the season.
With the support of the Craig Breen Foundation, McShea began his year with two days spent at the legendary John Haugland Winter Rally School in Norway where he honed his driving talent under the guidance of the world-renowned tutor on a frozen lake.
From the frozen snow banks of Norway, McShea’s season saw him claim a season opening victory on the Sligo based Yeats Ridge Forest Rally, while a trio of further wins on tarmac and gravel saw him secure the 2026 Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series Class 2A title at the first attempt.
The MIJRS victory saw McShea nominated for the 2026 Billy Coleman Award, a remarkable opportunity to compete for a Funding and Support package sponsored by Motorsport Ireland and Sports Ireland to recognise the outstanding young rally driver of the year.
