Promoting the mental health message looks set to move up a gear over the coming year after Ballycastle driver Ben McFall agreed to become an ambassador for a new initiative.
Set to be officially launched at Easter’s Circuit of Ireland Rally, ‘Steering Positive Minds’ is the brainchild of Ben’s father Gerard, mother Ann-Marie and close family and friends.
Northern Ireland has one of the highest suicide rates of any Western European country and it has taken the lives of some of those who have ties to the local motorsport community.
Ben – the defending Northern Ireland Junior Rally champion – will carry the colours of the not-for-profit organisation on his Ford Fiesta Rally4 at events the length and breadth of Ireland during 2025.
Although volunteer numbers are currently small, the hope is that Steering Positive Minds will soon have a presence at major four-wheel events at rallies, auto tests, circuit races and kart meetings.
A complimentary service, those seeking help will have a safe space to chat to fully trained professionals and access advice and activities to boost self-care and positive well-being.
“I have grown up very aware of mental ill health and its impact – there is a stigma around talking about mental health, particularly among men and boys. The statistics locally are alarming, with suicide being the main killer of people under 35 years of age,” said McFall.
“At each rally, family, friends, colleagues and partner agencies will be on hand to promote opportunities for positive mental health and well-being. It is a great initiative and I am very pleased, in my role as an ambassador, I can get people talking about this taboo subject.
“The future vision is to have a network of volunteer-trained mental health champions and ambassadors in every local racing discipline to raise awareness of mental health support within the motorsport fraternity and also signposting people to the available support is important.
“As a community, our sport can accelerate this initiative and make a huge societal impact in 2025 and beyond to improve the lives of our community – and potentially save lives.”
For his second full season in rallying, the 19-year-old former karting champion is making the switch from a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX to a Ford Fiesta Rally4. He plans to start events on both sides of the Irish border and also tackle the dual surface Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series.
McFall appears to have gelled quickly with the M-Sport-developed car, recording class victories at the Rallysport Association’s Christmas Cracker and Maiden City Motor Club’s Turkey Run Rally.
Both these successes were enjoyed alongside his co-driving team-mate Damien McAuley around the former airfield at Shackleton on the outskirts of Ballykelly.
“2024 was my first year rallying – I had just expected it to be a year of learning the car and getting familiar with a navigator,” added McFall.
“But when I won my class at my first event, I knew I was not too far off the pace.
“The year progressed with a class win on every Tarmac event and helped me to go on and lift the Northern Ireland Junior title in my rookie year.
“This has given me the confidence and determination to challenge myself further in 2025.
“I’ve changed to a left-hand-drive car and I am quickly getting accustomed to it.”