Kildare driver Leah McManus has announced that she will compete in the BTRDA Rallycross Championship in 2026. She will compete in the BMW MINI S class and will drive the MOTORWORX Cooper S, which her father Thomas drove to victory in the Clubman Modified Class of the Irish Rallycross Championship last weekend.
Leah is just 18 but already has plenty of motorsport experience, having taken in two seasons of the Patch Tyre Equipment Junior MINI Challenge as well as two seasons of Irish Rallycross. She currently leads the Irish MINI Graduate Rallycross series with just two rounds left to run.
Leah’s season starts in Blyton Park on March 22nd and visits the iconic Lydden Hill circuit twice during the season, finishing up at the Kent venue on November 7th and 8th. It also takes in rounds at Pembrey in Wales and Knockhill in Scotland.
She will drive a supercharged MINI Cooper S, prepared by her family Motorworx business, not far from Mondello Park. The car will be a big step up from the Junior MINI she cut her teeth in and the Graduate MINI she currently leads the IRX series in.
Leah’s father Thomas is an ex Autocross competitor and has also achieved success in Irish Rallycross, having most recently taken two wins in the Cooper S that Leah will drive in the UK rounds.
It’s a new car and all new circuits for Leah, but she is looking forward to the challenge and keen to get as much all important seat time as possible over the course of the season.
Leah is sponsored by Motorworx, Advanced Autoparts, Ronan Quine Mechanical, Kiwi Complete Bathrooms Ltd, D&C Paveright, MS Pay, Kill Haulage, O’Shaughnessy Car Sales Naas and Quik Pick Robertstown.