After an enthralling eight-round season on some of the best asphalt and gravel stages across Ireland and the United Kingdom, Kyle McBride and co-driver Darragh Mullen were crowned 2025 Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK champions after a winner takes all final showdown on the Cambrian Rally in Wales.
The Stellantis Cup contest organised and promoted by Race & Rally, Michelin Motorsport, Protyre Motorsport Ireland and LP Tents for cars from automotive giant Stellantis, concluded its second season and yet again produced a gripping Cup competition. With five different drivers standing on the podium across the dual surface campaign – two drivers stood out among the rest. Kyle McBride and Joe Kelly.
The ‘Cup Final’ was set-up for a ‘winner takes all’ race to first place. McBride and co-driver Darragh Mullen had a one point advantage coming into the north Wales finale – but with Joe Kelly and Killian McArdle the outfit to beat on the loose this year – it was all set for a grandstand finish between the Peugeot 208 Rally4 crews.
Kelly set the initial red-hot pace in the forests, carving out a 4.8 second lead after the opening test. McBride responded, chipping into the lead by two tenths of a second, before Kelly served back – pushing the advantage up to 7.1 seconds at the halfway service halt.
However disaster struck Kelly and McArdle at the start of the final loop – getting caught behind a slower car on the Clocaenog stage lost them precious time – falling into a 7.6 second deficit. McBride sensed his opportunity and smashed home the advantage to 13.5 seconds with just one to go. Kelly was not giving up without a fight, and on the last stage gave it his all but could only claw the disadvantage to 12.6 seconds. A valiant effort that created one of the closest battles in British and Irish rallying this season.
“It’s great to win it – it hasn’t been an easy year. I can’t thank everyone enough. To everyone who is behind me to make it happen and give me the opportunity to compete at this level for these big prizes. To Darragh [Mullen], Motorsport Ireland, everyone on the car and off the car. We gave it everything this weekend and are delighted to come out on top. I just want to say what a great battle we have had with Joe [Kelly] and Killian [McArdle] all year – they have been really fast and helped push us on as well – hats off to them for a good season. All this, the Junior BRC, Stellantis – it will all take a while to sink in – I am delighted!”
Kyle McBride and Darragh Mullen will have a busy 2026, after a spellbinding season in 2025. The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy team not only won the cup, but as a result they will receive a substantial support package worth €40,000, consisting of championship registration, entries and tyres for five FIA Junior European Rally Championship rounds next year. They also won the Junior British Rally Championship title in Wales – and with that comes the reward of a full season of entries to use in a 2026 British campaign. The Irish team also completed the hat-trick, when they were awarded the first place voucher award which swells their Stellantis Cup parts voucher pot another €3,000.
Joe Kelly and Killian McArdle received €1,500 for their valiant display in second, while Sam Mason and James Seymour (Peugeot 208 Rally4) for only the second time this year picked up €1,000 for the final registered crew on the podium. Sadly missing out on the fight was Natalie Robinson and Sam Collis in their Peugeot 208 Rally4. Robinson had held third early on, but a suspension issue forced her and Collis into an early retirement.
Backed by Race & Rally with support from Michelin Motorsport, Protyre Motorsport Ireland and LP Tents, the season has now drawn to a close. For more information on the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK visit: https://stellantismotorsportcup.com/
