The Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK title fight is brewing nicely, with the battle finally poised after the encounter in the Killarney-centred Rally of the Lakes.
The sealed-surface rally played host to the third event on the calendar – with the crews in Rally4 machinery fighting for valuable points in the chase for one of the biggest prizes in Irish and UK rallying. The end goal for the champion – an FIA European Rally Championship prize drive worth €40,000 for the 2026 season.
The Stellantis Cup which is organised and promoted by Race & Rally, Michelin Motorsport, Protyre Motorsport Ireland and LP Tents is home to cars produced by automotive powerhouse Stellantis, who manufacture Lancia, Opel and Peugeot branded products from their impressive stable.
Joining the Irish Tarmac Championship for the latest challenge – the front-wheel-drive Cup crews had two days out in the Lakes for one of the toughest tarmac rallies in Europe. Iconic stages such as Moll’s Gap sees thousands of spectators line the route to see who will be pushing on for victory on the roads in County Kerry.
Round two winner in the dusty forests of Kileder in the UK, Joe Kelly was pumped-up after his convincing win on the English gravel. The young Irishman was rejoined in his Peugeot 208 Rally4 by Killian McArdle, and the pair were eager to discover some sealed surface form after a retirement on the first Tarmac event in West Cork back in March. The man from Donegal set his stall out early, punching in the fastest time on stage one by 12.9 seconds. This was followed up with a further four stage wins on the opening day to stretch out a lead of 47.5 seconds going into the overnight halt.
With the damage done on the opening day – Kelly could control his destiny as he threaded his French pocket-rocket to the finish. With another fastest stage time on the penultimate stage – he and co-driver McArdle stood on the top step in Killarney, and also lifted a voucher for €3,000 for their performance . His title ambition was well and truly underway heading to his backyard in Donegal next time out.
“Happy to get another win in the Stellantis Cup this weekend – especially here in Killarney,” said a delighted Kelly at the finish. “It’s a big, big rally and the competition is always hot as everyone was going hard this weekend. We managed to build up a steady lead from the start and keep it going for the whole weekend. Thanks to Killian on the notes and to the DGM team for a faultless car all weekend. Hopefully we can keep this form rolling and do it again on home soil next time out in Donegal!”
With Kelly calling the shots out front – his two closest rivals in the championship had to fight for the remaining podium positions. An event long scrap between Kalum Graffin (208 Rally4 and Jack Brennan (208 Rally4) was to enrage. Despite feeling under the weather – Graffin and co-driver Mark McGeehan held third on the first day – nestled in behind Brennan and navigator Eoghan Doherty in second – just 3.2 seconds split the teams after nine stages.
On the second day, the tables turned and a monumental effort from teenager Graffin saw him come out the blocks on the first run through Moll’s Gap to overhaul Brennan by 18.9 seconds. Kalum was finding his form in the Stellantis Cup and was only out of the top two fastest times once during the Sunday stages, as he drove to chalk-up his first €1,500 voucher in the process.
Brennan couldn’t quite live with an energised Graffin, and had to be happy with third. Playing the long game, the streetwise Irishman banked his podium points and the €1,000 voucher from Race & Rally and now leads the title race by a single point going to Donegal next month.
First on the road for the Stellantis runners was round one winner Kyle McBride and Darragh Mullen in their Motorsport Ireland-backed Peugeot 208 Rally4. The luck of the Irish wasn’t to be on their side sadly once more however. After an accident on round two, round three was to be no easy ride for the pair, as suspected engine woes sidelined the duo after the opening stage.
Recovering the car – the crew managed to fix the gremlins and restart the car under Super Rally rules, but with a heavy time penalty for the privilege. With no chance of catching the front runners – McBride had to show the worth of his stock by being fastest on five of the six stages on Sunday and with his blistering pace reel in and pass David Herbert into fourth on the final stage of the rally – keeping himself in the title race as it heads home for McBride.
David Herbert and Daniel Seamen are relatively new to rallying, and were joining the Stellanis Cup for selected outings in 2025. Herbert, who was behind the wheel of his version of the Peugeot 208 Rally4, was gaining confidence with every stage and thoroughly enjoyed his rallying weekend as he kept his pocket-rocket out of trouble to round out the top five on his first Cup outing.
Backed by Race & Rally with support from Michelin Motorsport, Protyre Motorsport Ireland and LP Tents, the championship heads to the hills with the famous Donegal International Rally (20-22 June) the next stop on the action-packed calendar.
