MJ Morrissey - 2024 Masters Cup Co-Drivers Champion
The 2024 FIA World Rally Championship concluded with the Forum8 Rally Japan, where the season’s final rally saw Thierry Neuville and Martin Wydaeghe crowned World Champions for the first time, marking a significant achievement in their rally careers.
On the Irish front, Co. Tyrone’s Aaron Johnston, paired with driver Takamoto Katsuta, had a standout performance, finishing 4th overall in Japan. Their strong showing was pivotal in securing Toyota’s fourth consecutive Manufacturers Championship title, a remarkable feat that demonstrated the strength of the team throughout the season. Johnston and Katsuta’s consistency and speed were key to Toyota’s success.
Meanwhile, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy’s Josh McErlean and James Fulton were also in action, driving their Toksport Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. The pair were impressively fast throughout the weekend, setting top-three stage times and looking set for a podium finish. However, a setback occurred early in the rally when McErlean hit a tree stump in a cut during Saturday’s opening stage. This caused significant damage to the front-right suspension of their car, ultimately forcing them out of podium contention. Despite the disappointment, McErlean and Fulton’s performance across the weekend proved they were in excellent form, and their potential was evident as they continue to develop as a team in WRC2.
Another important story in Japan was that of Eamonn Boland and MJ Morrissey, the Wexford/Waterford pairing who were competing in the FIA WRC Masters Cup. The competition, open to drivers and co-drivers, is for those born on or before January 1st, 1974. The Drivers title had already been decided in favour of German driver Armin Kremer, who secured the title with a category win at the EKO Acropolis Rally earlier in the year, but the co-drivers’ championship was still to be decided heading into the final round.
With just one rally remaining, Morrissey was 15 points behind the championship leader, Flavio Zanella. Heading into Japan, the situation was tense, as only two registered co-drivers were participating in the event. For Morrissey, simply finishing the rally would be enough to clinch the title. The pressure was on, but Boland and Morrissey kept their cool and delivered a flawless performance in the final round. Despite facing a sizable time penalty imposed by the stewards, they remained focused and completed the rally just outside the top 25. This solid finish was enough to earn Morrissey 18 points for a second-place category finish, which was ultimately enough to win the co-drivers’ championship by a narrow margin of just three points.
Looking back on the season, the journey to the championship was not without its challenges. Boland and Morrissey started their campaign with the iconic WRC Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo, where they achieved a solid 24th overall finish. More importantly, they secured 2nd place in the Masters Cup Driver standings and 1st place in the Co-Driver standings after Monte-Carlo, showing early promise. Their next rally, the WRC Croatia Rally, proved to be a setback when an unfortunate accident on SS6 ended their event early, putting them out of contention for that round.
MJ once took the category win at the Central European Rally, meaning the dream of becoming a World Champion could very much be realized in Japan.
The 2nd place finish in Japan, with a calm and collected performance under pressure, was a testament to the crews determination and teamwork. Boland and Morrissey’s ability to manage the pressure of a title fight and deliver when it mattered most made the victory in the Masters Cup Co-Drivers category a well-earned achievement, culminating a year full of highs and lows.
For Morrissey, the championship victory not only marked the conclusion of a successful season but also represented the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. The Masters Cup title was a milestone in his career and further cemented his place among the sport's most experienced and legendary Co-Drivers.
