History is on the line for three drivers as they head to the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally [Saturday October 26] with a shot at the inaugural Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK title.
Promoted by Race & Rally and launched in 2024 for drivers in Peugeot 208 or Opel Corsa Rally4 machines, this brand-new eight-round championship has taken crews to the best events in Ireland and the United Kingdom, creating a thrilling competition that has gone down to the wire.
After seven rounds, four different drivers have won events and three of them head to this weekend’s finale in Wales with a chance of lifting the championship title and the Junior European Rally Championship prize package that comes with it.
Ioan Lloyd/Sion Williams lead the standings after claiming three victories so far this season, so will start as favourites given the Cambrian uses classic Welsh stages Clocaenog, Alwen and Brenig that they can call home.
Keelan Grogan/Ayrton Sherlock appear to be their closest challengers after a supremely consistent season, coupled to a win in Scotland at the Grampian Forest Rally, has seen them lead plenty of the season, but with dropped scores considered it’s actually Kyle McBride/Darragh Mullen who are closest to Lloyd.
While Lloyd does enjoy local status, both Grogan and McBride have contested the Cambrian before and achieved strong results, so the championship is far from a foregone conclusion.
But with a 16-point lead over McBride and 17 points in-hand over Grogan, the onus is on the Irishmen to overhaul Lloyd.
Ioan Lloyd said: “We’re really looking forward to the Cambrian Rally now. We know what we need to do so we will have our full focus on making sure that we try and deliver the result we need for the championship. It won’t be easy but we are looking forward to some incredible stages the rally has to offer and as always to enjoy the event.”
Kyle McBride said: “We really can’t wait for the Cambrian. It’s a very good gravel event with some really iconic stages. For the Stellantis Cup a lot of things have to go my way, but look my main focus is going to the event and having a good recce and then trying my best to be on the pace. We all know in rallying that anything can happen, so let’s go and try our best. When there’s championships on offer I think everyone will be pushing, so it’s going to be really interesting. We will just have to go flat out and see how it fairs out.”
Keelan Grogan said: “It’s been a brilliant championship so far and to see it go to the final round with three different crews still in with a chance of winning it shows that. While the advantage definitely lies with Ioan and Sion, it’s still not over and as we have seen throughout the year anything can happen. For us, we just have to go and push on as much as we can and score maximum points to keep the pressure on. But with Kyle on a similar mission and a few other crews there it certainly won’t be easy and could produce a great battle.”
Joining the three title challengers in Wales are Joseph Kelly and co-driver Killian McArdle, who’ve shown great pace in their Peugeot this season but misfortune has restricted them to a best place of finish this season, achieved at the Donegal International Rally.
Robert Proudlock and Steven Brown, winners of the Severn Valley Stages back in April, could also prove a fly in the ointment considering their prowess on the loose. Michael Fitzgibbon/Carrie Ryan make a welcome return to action after a rollover at the Grampian, with 18-year-old Kalum Graffin and co-driver Mark McGeehan keen to round out a mixed season on a high.
The Cambrian, based in Llandudno, comprises seven stages, totalling 58 competitive miles. The winner and champion of the 2024 Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK will be crowned after 5.30pm on Saturday evening.
Provisional Top Three Championship Points after Round 7 of 8
- Ioan Lloyd/Sion Williams 111*
- Keelan Grogan/Ayrton Sherlock 102*
- Kyle McBride/Darragh Mullen 95*
*Seven best scores from eight, count towards the championship
