The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew of Craig Rahill and Conor Smith secured their first Junior WRC podium on the Croatia Rally while County Tyrone co-driver Aaron Johnston made it back-to-back WRC victories alongside Takamoto Katsuta, snatching a last-gasp win on the final stage. Rahill and Smith were competitive straightaway on their maiden asphalt start in the Junior WRC, setting several top-three times and a fastest time on Friday morning. The Ford Fiesta Rally3 crew

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy co-driver Darragh Mullen finished at the top of the Rally4 standings on the Birr Stages Rally alongside Oran England, claiming top MIJRS and Stellantis Rally Cup points after a commanding performance in their Peugeot 208 Rally4. Three fastest times and a lock-out of top-three stage times in Class 2 ensured they finished the nine-stage event with a 19.7-second Class 2 victory. "We are super happy with how the weekend in Nenagh went," reflected

Dubliner started Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy to help drivers advance in the industry What do Moira’s William Creighton, Kesh’s Jon Armstrong and Kilrea’s Josh McErlean – along with many other rising Irish rally drivers, male and female – have in common? The answer is simple: John Coyne. By Jason Craig    |  The Irish News  |  Sport / Motorsport  |  18 March 2026 A decorated and title-winning competitor, the Dublin-born former CEO of Western Digital is now a philanthropis

The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver officially launched his 2026 European Rally Championship season with his co-driver Paul McPhillips in front of family, friends, sponsors, and rally enthusiasts on a memorable afternoon in Co. Monaghan. Watch: Event Summary Video Last Sunday, Rally School Ireland played host to the official launch of Cian Caldwell’s 2026 ERC campaign, and the weather couldn’t have been more fitting. With the sun out and the track busy all afternoon,

2025 ERC Rookie of the Year Craig Rahill and Conor Smith returns to the ERC, adding ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy alongside 2026 Junior WRC campaign. The duo will drive a KMS Racing prepared Fiesta Rally3 in the five-round competition starting with Rally Sierra Morena in mid-April. 22-year-old Rahill took on the Junior European Rally Championship in 2025 after winning Motorsport Ireland's Billy Coleman Award in 2024. The Cavan crew finished third in their rookie year, picking up a

Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne battled through extreme conditions to finish their first rally outside Europe on Safari Rally Kenya, as County Tyrone co-driver, Aaron Johnston, sealed his first-ever win in the World Rally Championship alongside Takamoto Katsuta. The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew of Armstrong and Byrne finished the four-day event in their Ford Puma Rally1 despite picking up several punctures, damaging rear suspension, and managing a water temperature war

Irish rally driver makes ERC debut, backed by the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, and opens his account with a class win on the Galway International Rally. Irish rally driver Cian Caldwell has confirmed plans to compete in the M-Sport ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy as part of the 2026 European Rally Championship (ERC) season. The 21-year-old will drive a fiesta Rally3 prepared by the MCN Rally Team in the one-make championship, with continued support and guidance from the Motorsp

After a remarkable debut season at European level competition that saw him claim victory on the final round of the M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, Casey Jay Coleman has now set his sights on further FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) success as he announces an exciting plan for 2026 which sees him tackle the full seven round ERC3 series. Having tasted continental competition for the first time in 2025, the young Irish star is keen to impress as he steps up to the full E

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy co-drivers had to be at their best on Sunday’s Mayo Stages Rally to battle through a barrage of wet weather on Ireland’s west coast. Darragh Mullen added another Class 2 win to his name, steering Oran England to a dominant two-minute, 25-second victory aboard their Peugeot 208 Rally4. The pair moved into the lead from stage two following the retirement of early pacesetters Danny Brady and Academy co-driver Conor Smith. “Mayo turned out to be a

Available now, the latest Krunching Gears podcast episode "In this episode, we sit down with William Creighton and Liam Regan to discuss their major announcement for 2026. Backed by the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, Creighton will step up to contest a full campaign in the European Rally Championship with Tagai Racing Technology, representing Stellantis Motorsport across the seven-round series.  The reigning British Rally Championship winner reflects on the significance of

William Creighton will tackle the 2026 European Rally Championship with Tagai Racing Technology, representing Stellantis Motorsport in the seven-round series. The reigning British Rally Champion will contest a full ERC campaign for the first time, alongside co-driver Liam Regan, the pair now entering their 13th year together. Their quest for ERC success begins on April’s Andalusia Rally. Creighton and Regan will start the opening round in a Citroën C3 Rally2 before transition

Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne secured eighth overall on Rally Sweden, with Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy close behind in ninth as both Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crews scored valuable World Rally Championship points on the high-speed snow stages around Umeå. Armstrong and Byrne delivered a strong performance to finish 19.6 seconds behind 2024 World Rally Champion Thierry Neuville. The M-Sport Ford crew had a challenging start to the rally after an overshoot on stage one

Cian Caldwell and Paul McPhillips claimed a commanding Rally3 victory on the Galway International Rally, winning the class by 36.5 seconds on their first Ford Fiesta Rally3 appearance of the year. Carrying the momentum of last year’s hat-trick of Rally4 titles in the MI Junior Rally Series (MIJRS), National Rally Championship, and Forest Rally Championship, the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew were a model of consistency throughout the weekend. The Rally3 rookies regular

Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne delivered an outstanding Rally1 debut on the opening round of the World Rally Championship. Unfortunately, their impressive performance ended in heartbreak on Rally Monte-Carlo's penultimate stage amid tough winter conditions. Armstrong, promoted to Rally1 after a runner-up European Rally Championship finish in 2025, set the third-fastest time on an incredibly slippery, snow- and ice-covered stage two on his Monte-Carlo debut, proving his natural

All eyes will be on M-Sport’s Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy line-up for the opening round of the 2026 World Rally Championship, Rally Monte-Carlo, as Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne join Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy for a full WRC campaign with M-Sport. The latest WRC season was launched on Saturday with M-Sport's Ford Puma Rally1 displayed in its Motorsport Ireland and Castrol-inspired livery. Watch: McErlean and Treacy completed their maiden Rally1 campaign last year and

Available now, the latest episode of the official WRC podcast From eSports WRC world champion to preparing for a Rallye Monte-Carlo debut in a Rally1 car, Jon Armstrong’s journey to the elite level of rallying is one of boyhood dreams, as well as example of incredible perseverance as the Irishman worked his way up the rallying pyramid. Hear his incredible story, in his own words, as told to Becs Williams in the first edition of WRC Backstories for 2026. Listen at Spotify List

James McShea will embark on an incredible 2026 with the support of the Craig Breen Foundation, following his victory in the 2025 Irish Forest Rally Championship J1000 class. As part of his prize, the Donegal teenager is joining runner-up Kyle Drury at the legendary John Haugland Winter Rally School in Norway, a frozen-lake training ground that has shaped some of the biggest names in rallying. John Haughland McShea (Left) & Drury (Right) Over two days, the pair will refine car

Krunching Gears - The Rally Podcast, 2025 Season, episode 52... 'A special episode this week as M-Sport confirms its driver line-up for the 2026 World Rally Championship. Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy return to the team following a breakthrough season, underlining M-Sport’s confidence in one of the championship’s most promising partnerships. We also look ahead to an exciting new chapter as Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne step up to contest all 14 rounds of the WRC with the M-Sp

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew Craig Rahill and Conor Smith will step up to the World Rally Championship's Junior WRC series in 2026, marking the next stage in their rally career. Rahill - Left / Smith - Right The duo will drive an M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 in the five-round competition starting on February's Rally Sweden. Smith - Left / Kathleen Kennedy (Rally Academy) - Middle / Rahill - Right 22-year-old Rahill took on the Junior European Rally Championship

M-Sport Ford World Rally Team is pleased to announce an expanded collaboration with the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy in 2026.  Academy crew Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy will return to the Ford Puma Rally1 car for the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship, with Rally1 newbies Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne joiningthe full season line-up. McErlean and Treacy will be joined by their new Academy teammates Armstrong and Shane Byrne on the start ramp at Rallye Monte-Carlo next mont