For anyone involved in motorsport on the Emerald Isle the name McFall is one that has been on the time sheets for decades and it’s one that looks set to remain there for many years to come.
Just before going to print, I headed to Straid Concrete in Bushmills to catch up with the McFall’s to get a glimpse of what they have achieved as a motorsport family, and it’s nothing short of mind-blowing.
52 year old Gerard McFall started Rallying in a Peugeot 309 GTI in 1995, focusing on the Northern Ireland Rally Championship as well as the Mid Antrim Motor Club championship, which included lanes events.
It wasn’t long until Gerard progressed into a Ford Sierra Cosworth, starting his first Donegal international rally in 1997, an event which he has competed a total of nine times. Natural progression saw him move to a home built Escort Cosworth Group A car, before a deal was done on an ex-Blomqvist Group A Escort Cosworth.
Eighteen years ago, Gerard moved into a Mitsubishi Evo 9 and continued his partnership beside long-time co-driver, Brendan (Boyler) Boyle. Claiming second overall in the Group N Northern Ireland Rally Championship being his highest accolade.
Throughout the years, Gerard shared the cars with his brother, Colm who also focused mainly on the Northern Ireland Rally Championship as well as some Irish Tarmac Championship events throughout the years.
Gerard’s wife, Ann Marie, who has co-driven for her husband at least once over the years, welcomed their first born, Ellie-Anna to the world in 2002. Followed by their first son, Ben in 2005. And then ‘the youngest brother’, BobbyJoe in 2007.
With the motorsport bug, by this point, well and truly engrained, it’s one that could now be passed down the generations.
Having had over two decades of fun in the driver seat, Gerard hung up the racing suit in 2017 and focused his time and energy on letting the boys have a crack at karting. Little did the McFall’s know at the time, but success was almost imminent, and just a year later Ellie-Anna also set about stepping onto the rostrum.
The now 22 year old girl-racer, who works with adults with learning difficulties within the Northern Health Trust, reflects on her motorsport journey. “I have been involved in motorsport for six years.” States Ellie-Anna McFall.
“I started in Karting in the Junior Rotax category at the age of 16, and this opened up an opportunity to enter the FIA Girls on Track initiative in 2018. I was selected as one of three girls from one hundred and thirty entrants at Silverstone to represent the United Kingdom for Motorsport UK in the finals in Le Mans.
“It was a European Initiative. I then attended the Motorsport UK Academy DISE programme (Enhanced Diploma in Sporting Excellence ) for two years in Loughborough, England. This gave me opportunities to race in England in rounds of the British Karting championship, as well as in France, Northern Ireland, and Southern Ireland to gain experience in Senior Rotax karting.
“Due to work commitments, my kart racing is not as frequent these days, but I continue to race in Senior Rotax karting in Northern Ireland and Ireland with the T Sport Racing Team. Another key achievement was taking a race win in a Senior Rotax race at Tullyallen, Cork.”
When it comes to 19 year old Ben, who’s a builder and lorry driver, he has the most experience across a few disciplines. “I have been in motorsport for seven years.” Explains Ben McFall
“I started my Motorsport career in karting at the age of 12, where I raced Mini Max for three years. And in my final year, I raced alongside my younger brother.
“I then moved onto racing in Senior Max, where I raced alongside my older sister, Ellie-Anna in the North and South of Ireland. While racing in Senior Max I travelled to Warden Law where I competed in a round of the British Kart Championship.
“After racing Senior Max for two years, I then transitioned into a Ginetta race car which I campaigned in the Genetta Junior Championship at Kirkistown and Mondello racetracks. After racing Ginetta’s for two years, I made my transition into rallying.
“At the age of 18 I test drove my father’s Mitsubishi Evo 9. Within my first year of rallying, I competed in the Rally Sport Association at several different tracks until I built my confidence within the car, then in 2024 I made the jump and competed in my first road rally. Following which, I then competed in five rounds of The Northern Irish Tarmac Championship. I then moved on to competing in the Northern Irish Forest Rally Championship.”
Finishing third overall in his first year of karting, Ben took the championship win the following two seasons. Senior karting brought multiple podiums, but a new found love for tin-top circuit racing with the Ginetta’s saw Ben continue his winning ways.
Picking up best newcomer in his first season Alongside second overall in the championship, he finished third overall the following year. Adding several hundred kilogrammes and a bundle of extra power, a switch to the family Mitsubishi Evo 9 came as naturally as trusting pacenotes.
After multiple class wins, Ben secured the overall win of the RSA winter series in 23/24.
From here it was onto Motorsport UK stage rallying, where Ben proved a force to be reckoned with by not only claiming the NI Junior Rally Championship, but also 4th overall amidst a sea of Rally 2 competitors.
A change of wheels, tyres, and suspension then saw young McFall tackle the three event Northern Ireland Rally Championship Gravel Challenge where he adapted to the loose surface immediately, securing a class win within the series.
With the Mitsubishi now sold, expect to see Ben campaign the 2025 Irish tarmac Rally Championship aboard the new-to-him Ford Fiesta Rally 4 pictured. With exciting plans ahead which will certainly make an impact.
Then there is the youngest brother, 17 year old BobbyJoe, who’s not only flying high in the sky in his spare time, but also on track where he has amassed a vast amount of silverware in his short career.
Starting out in 2017, the then 10 year old became, in his first season, Honda Cadet Northern Ireland Champion, and runner-up in the Ulster Championship. Moving into the Mini Rotax the following season, BobbyJoe rounded off the rostrum at the end of the season.
In 2021, after a move to Junior Rotax, BobbyJoe was runner-up in both the NI Championship and the Ulster Championship. Becoming Junior Rotax NI Champion the following year, he was once again runner-up in the Ulster Championship.
For the 2023 season, BobbyJoe won Mondello Park’s Scholarship Mini for the year after fending off over two hundred applicants to beat around thirty drivers on the day of the assessments for the prize which was free use of their car, as well as free race entries and testing for the year.
It wasn’t as simple as driving fast, to get the prize. There was an intense day at Mondello which included an interview with a sports psychologist gaining background info and PR ability. Then it was onto a simulator to endure practice, qualifying, and a race against five other drivers at a time.
Every aspect of the scholarship was marked on a points scoring system, and it was BobbyJoe who marked highest to secure his first season in a tin-top.
And what a season it was!
From twelve races, young McFall won eight of them, racking up extra points along the way with several pole positions and fastest laps. It really was a dream year in which BobbyJoe took a commanding championship by 35 points after drops scores were sorted.
Proving himself at Ireland’s fastest racing circuit, BobbyJoe started from last on the grid at Kirkistown after transponder issues, and won not once, but twice. A sabbatical from motorsport next season will allow BobbyJoe to pursue a career as a commercial pilot with the Atlantic Flight Training Academy in Cork.
Alongside Straid Concrete, the McFall’s motorsport accolades would not be possible without support from McCarroll Plant Hire, Stephen Tosh at KartSport, R & D McFadden Garage, and help on event from family and friends.
