Fresh from clinching a sixth Northern Ireland Rally Championship drivers’ title alongside Niall Burns last month, Jonny Greer is targeting more success in his Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris Rally2. Next up for the thirty-seven-year-old is the Golden Anniversary edition of the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally – an event Greer grew up watching before going on to establish himself as one of the headline names on the closed-road classic. Ahead of Thursday’s opening ceremony in Ballymena, Greer took time out of his busy schedule to reflect on his memories of the Northern Ireland Motor Club showpiece, pick out his favourite stages in north and mid-Antrim, and discuss the many challenges that await crews across Friday and Saturday.
Q) What does the Ulster Rally mean to you personally?
A) The Ulster Rally is a great event – arguably a pinnacle event in Northern Ireland – with a lot of history behind it. My earliest memories of the Ulster go back to the late nineties, around the end of the Group A era and going into the F2 era when kit cars were at their peak. I remember going there when those cars were competing. Being there at the very start with the guys and seeing all the work that went into it was a really early memory that has always stayed with me. Personally, I’ve had a lot of success on the Ulster Rally over the years, with plenty of podium finishes.
Q) Looking back over all the Ulster Rallies you have competed on, is there one particular moment, stage or result that stands out above the rest?
A) One of my standout memories was in 2016 when I finished on the podium alongside Elfyn Evans and Alastair Fisher – that was something I was really proud of. The conditions were incredibly difficult, with a lot of mud – it was just a very, very challenging rally. To be able to compete with those guys and be close to them on time on quite a few stages was great. Another highlight was 2023, when we were running the Citroen C3. That was another fantastic result for us as we finished third overall. To be able to share the podium with the likes of Adrian Fourmaux [Hyundai Motorsport WRC driver] and Callum Devine [two-time Irish Tarmac Champion] was special.
Q) This is the 50th running of the Ulster Rally. How significant is it for you to be part of such a landmark edition of the event?
A) This is a landmark year for the event, and it’s nice to be involved because it’s so special. I haven’t been there for a couple of years now, but it is great to be going back – it is always an event that drivers, co-drivers and spectators look forward to.
Q) What do you make of this year’s route, and what do you think the stages will demand from a Rally2 car and its crew?
A) The route is the very reason why I have entered – stages like Glendun, Torr Head and Cairncastle is what motivated me to do the rally. I think it is good that we are going up to north Antrim, because the Ulster Rally is renowned for offering a fresh challenge every couple of years, so it will be interesting to see what this year’s event is like.
Q) Are there any particular stages this year that you think could prove especially challenging, and what is it about them that makes them difficult?
A) Going by previous experience, I know the stages are going to be great. It will be the first time I’ve driven them in a Rally2 car, so I can’t wait to see what they have to offer from that perspective. The Toyota has been fantastic, and we have done a lot of work with it. The stages can be very demanding; when it gets wet there’s a lot of mud dragged onto the roads from farm traffic, making the conditions extremely slippery. That’s definitely one of the biggest challenges, depending on the weather.
Q) If you weren’t competing and were going to spectate the Ulster Rally instead, which stage would you make a beeline for, and where would you go to watch it?
A) As for my favourite stage, I’m not entirely sure because I haven’t competed on some of them for a long time. Torr Head is a fantastic stage and is probably one of the best in the country. I would probably say Torr Head would be my favourite, though.
Q) Who do you see as the key drivers to watch this year, and are there any particular battles you’re expecting to develop across the rally?
A) There are plenty of drivers to watch out for this weekend. The field is very competitive and, after what happened at Rallye Lecale last month, everyone will be looking to get back out and push hard. It’s difficult to pick out individual names because the top ten could all be in the fight and will be hard to live with. We will just have to try our best to live with them and see what happens.
Q) You have just secured your sixth Northern Ireland Rally Championship title. Does number six feel different from the first, and what does that achievement mean to you?
A) This season has been a bit of a relief after last year. We put a huge amount of effort into developing the Toyota Yaris and getting it to work the way I wanted. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s satisfying to see it paying off. Winning the championship earlier this year was a really special moment.
Q) Having wrapped up the NI title, does that allow you to approach the Ulster Rally differently, and what are your ambitions for the event itself?
A) Because we wrapped the Northern Ireland Rally Championship up with a round to go, we were able to look at the Ulster Rally differently. We didn’t want to commit to it until the title was wrapped up, because if things hadn’t gone well, it could have affected our championship challenge. Once the title was secured, it meant we could go there, enjoy ourselves, have a good time and see where we end up. I think it’ll be fun to experience the rally without the pressure of a championship battle hanging over us. We can relax and just enjoy the event.
Q) With the Ulster Rally celebrating its 50th anniversary, what do you hope the event can deliver for competitors, spectators and Northern Ireland’s rallying community?
A) For me, it’s the stages that make the Ulster Rally so special – they are incredibly challenging and that’s what makes it such a great event. The move to Ballymena is a good one as well; it is right in the middle of some classic stages, so that makes accessing these much easier for competitors and spectators. The fans always create a great atmosphere and, if everything goes well, it’ll continue to be one of the best rallies around for years to come.
The Modern Tyres Ulster Rally gets underway with an Opening Ceremony at the Ballymena Showgrounds on Thursday evening with two days of action-packed stages to follow on Friday and Saturday. The Rally is free to attend and rally souvenirs and programmes can be purchased at www.ulsterrally.com/home/programme
