Author: Graham Baalham-Curry

Graham is a photojournalist and motoring writer with over 20 varied years of coverage from manufacturer press launches to international motorsport and motoring events throughout the world. Graham is a full member of the Guild of Motoring Writers and Ulster Motor Writers Association.

The latest Mazda MX-5 continues the winning formula that has seen more than 24,000 fourth-generation MX-5s sold in the UK since its launch in 2015. A revamp across the MX-5 range last year has led to new names for various grades, but the winning formula is very much the same no matter if you opt for the traditional ‘roadster’ (better know as the convertible) or the ‘retractable fastback’ (RF) which see’s the MX-5’s appearance change greatly thanks to the motorised hard top. Having successfully competed in a motorsport prepared MkI MX-5 many years ago, I fully understand, appreciate, and get…

Read More

The 2023 SW Adair Tyres Northern Ireland Sprint Championship was celebrated at Edenmore Golf & Country Club in Magheralin on Saturday 20th January 2024. Around 120 guests filled the room, and these comprised of award winners, their family, and friends, as well as members of the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs. The meal was well received, and presentations were made between courses. The awards started with the ladies, as follows: The Heaslip Ladies Challenge Trophy was introduced around three years ago, and sponsor, Jimmy Heaslip was called upon to present the awards. Taking her maiden win was Amy Hawthorne,…

Read More

This year’s Northern Ireland Rally Championship was supported once again by McGrady Insurance, it was a familiar start to the season with a visit to the fastest racing circuit in Ireland as Kirkistown hosted the single venue stage rally event. A quick look down the entry list suggested something in the region of six potential winners and all eyes were on reigning champion, Jonny Greer, to see if he could hold off this stiff opposition to retain his title and become a four-time Northern Ireland champion. Here’s how the season unfolded… Round 1, North Armagh Motor Club, Eurocables Belfast Kirkistown…

Read More

The name McGimpsey is one that is engrained within clubman motorsport in Northern Ireland, and it looks set to remain at the top end of the time sheets for many years to come as Ryan McGimpsey becomes Northern Ireland Hillclimb Champion for the first time. The championship didn’t come easy, and heading into the penultimate round, Ryan’s brother, Ricky, had every chance to take the crown from his younger sibling after a tit for tat battle all year on some of our provinces finest closed public roads. Either way, we knew the trophy was going to end up in Newtownards…

Read More

The McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK NI Forest Rally Challenge got underway at the start of the year as over seventy crews headed into the Samsonas backed Fivemiletown Spring Rally on the 25 Februrary. Mark Donnelly and Stephen O’Hanlon took the slenderest of victories on the Omagh Motor Club event, but sixth overall was enough to secure Ryan Caldwell and Shane Byrne in their Skoda Fabia R5 maximum championship points. Paul Britton and Peter Ward bagged points for second placed championship driver in their Subaru Impreza N16. Whilst third went to Alan Smyth and Arthur Kierans in their Ford Escort MkII.…

Read More

First launched almost thirty years ago the Kia Sportage is now in its fifth generation and is designed and developed especially for the European market but it is the brand’s best-selling model globally. Built using 100% green energy at Kia’s Slovakian production facility, this latest model is built on Kia’s brand-new ‘N3’ architecture which sees it 30mm longer, 10mm wider, and 10mm higher than before with a 10mm longer wheelbase. DriveWise advanced driver assistance systems created to seamlessly support the driver during everyday driving situations and parking manoeuvres feature alongside a sleek yet muscular exterior design which comes with the…

Read More

The quiet hills above Holywood in County Down come alive each spring to the sounds and smells of racing cars and 2023 was no different as the ANICC Motorsport Supplies Hillclimb Championship got underway in April. Here’s how the season unfolded: 15th April – TSCC, Croft Ryan McGimpsey got off to a great start with a maximum points haul at the opening round in his Jedi MkI. His brother, Ricky, hot on his heels finished second, with Phil Dorman picking up third placed points. John Donnelly and Robert McGimpsey finishing the top five respectively. In the categories, Roger Gage was…

Read More

Edenmore Golf & Country Club in Magheralin was the venue for the 2023 Motorsport Supplies sponsored Northern Ireland Hillclimb Championship awards ceremony which was held on Saturday 20th January 2024. Around 120 guests filled the room, and these comprised of award winners, their family, and friends, as well as members of the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs. The meal was well received, and presentations were made between courses. As usual, there was a fair bit of banter amongst everyone which, as customary, ended with tales of late braking, worn tyres, broken diffs, and outlandish claims from those who have…

Read More

This year saw the inaugural ‘Micra Challenge’ take place in Northern Ireland and with fifteen drivers taking part across a busy season of six events hopefully the way in which it started is the way that means to go on. Affordable motorsport exists in many places. Track days in road cars, sprints and hillclimbs in motorsport prepared vehicles, and racing for those in more specialist cars are all examples of motorsport that can be costed within reach of most. Rallying is a little different though and the closest any of us will get to driving this sport is via an…

Read More

Finaghy driver Kyle White climbs the rally ladder this season with a new car after winning the British Junior Rally Championship last year. I had the chance to catch up with the 27-year-old just days before the big reveal of his new livery at the Autosport Show held at the NEC in Birmingham. Unveiling his 2016 Hyundai i20 R5 on the British Rally Championship’s stand at this prestigious show this morning, I can confirm that Kyle plans to campaign this championship once again. The season ahead will be a steep learning curve as, having never driven four-wheel-drive in competition before,…

Read More

Towards the end of last summer, I embarked on a family adventure in a vehicle that I’d have not looked twice at for the task at hand, but it proved me wrong. Very wrong, in fact. When I received the summer rota for cars in the province, and the dates that I was to drive them, the Suzuki Swace coincided with a camping trip to Wicklow. At first, I recalled being incredibly impressed with the Swace I drove a year previously, but then I remembered that what is essentially a rebranded Toyota Corolla, isn’t exactly huge. A practical estate car…

Read More

The fourth generation of the Kia Sorento has been designed and engineered to take on everything life throws at it. A powerful, progressive, and versatile SUV, the Sorento raises the game for other seven-seat family-focused SUVs. The Sorento’s exterior design – sharp lines, high-tech details, and elongated proportions – gives it a confident and mature presence. Inside, its attractive cabin features premium-quality materials, cutting-edge infotainment technologies, and a stunning design. The Sorento was the first vehicle to be based on Kia’s new-generation midsize SUV platform. Paired with a large body to maximise cargo and luggage space, the platform ensures the…

Read More