The second season for the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK gets underway this weekend in West Cork, Ireland as the 2025 protagonists prepare for a new year of competition with a lucrative prize waiting at the end for the overall champions.
The series organised and promoted by Race & Rally once again receives the blessing from automotive giant Stellantis, as it is set to provide a competitive cup series with the perfect blend of events – each providing its own unique test on asphalt and gravel. With rallies in both the Republic of Ireland and the UK, the series provides an international flavour and is open to all competitors driving Rally4 cars from the Stellantis automotive group – including the Peugeot 208 Rally4, Opel Corsa Rally4 and Lancia Ypsilon Rally4.
Continuing the appeal, the series takes in a packed eight-round calendar with several of the events sitting alongside the Irish Tarmac Championship rounds including two trips to Cork for the West Cork and Cork 20 rallies, as well as the legendary Killarney Rally of the Lakes, and the Donegal International Rally – the headliner in the summer. Three of the four rounds will be on the UK gravel with rallies sitting alongside the British Rally Championship in England, Scotland and Wales – each providing their own unique characteristics.
One of the big draws once again for the Cup will be the opportunity for the registered crews to go toe-to-toe with the FIA European Rally Championship teams in September, as Rali Ceredigion hosts the ERC once more. The opportunity in Wales gives the crews a taste of European competition, as the overall winner of the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK will walk away with one of the biggest prize pots in rallying to put towards a 2026 European Rally Championship campaign in either the Junior category or in ERC4. This will include registration to the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship, entry fees to five rounds and 12 tyres per round contested in the series – together worth almost €40,000.
Away from the top prize – there are further vouchers up for grabs with the winner of each round receiving €3,000 while second and third in the Cup will take home €1,500 and €1,000 respectively.
Backed by Race & Rally with support from Michelin Motorsport, Protyre Motorsport Ireland and LP Tents, the championship gets its season underway this weekend at the West Cork Rally in Clonakilty. It doesn’t start easy, with three hard, gruelling days on the challenging Tarmac closed roads with stages under the cover of darkness and expect to see variable weather conditions with strategic tyre choices aplenty.
Six crews have registered for the opening round with Kyle McBride first on the entry list at car #31 in his Peugeot 208 Rally4. Despite his relatively young age – McBride carries a good amount of experience after several years computing on both sides of the water, and along with Darragh Mullen will be aiming to get the Cup season off to a flyer following a Junior British Rally Championship win on the recent East Riding Stages.
One of the drivers tipped for a strong run this season on all surfaces is Joseph Kelly with Killian McArdle sat alongside. The pair enter their third year in the 208 Rally4, and with podiums already under their belts – the Cup returnees will be searching for wins from the off in the hope of stringing together a title winning run.
Michael Fitzgibbon and Carrie Ryan like Kelly are entering their third year with the French pocket-rocket Rally4 car and will also be eager to show youth is no match for experience. The Irish crew started 2024 with a Cup podium in West Cork before retirements on the Grampian and Cambrian ended their Cup run prematurely. Fitzgibbon is revelling his time in the 208 and will be eyeing that illusive first win.
A dark horse to watch very closely is 18-year-old Kallum Graffin with co-driver Mark McGeehan calling the notes. Graffin is in his second season in the Peugeot 208 and second season in the Cup, and is building his confidence in the car after a busy 2024 season. The Irishman holds the accolade as the youngest winner of the Junior BRC event at just 17 and already bagged a Stellaris podium in Ceredigion last season – which puts him in good shape for a promising year ahead.
Former Billy Coleman Award winner Jack Brennan with Eoghan Doherty in the navigators seat return to Ireland and the UK and register for the Stellantis Motorsport Cup for the first time. After events in Europe last year, the duo have a point to prove on home soil and will look to stamp their mark on the series. Also in the popular 208 Rally4 – the pair are setting the bar high as they aim for a win on the opening rally of the year.
Making his Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK debuts as well as his Peugeot 208 Rally4 bow is Andrew Slattery. To help with the challenge, and reuniting after almost 10 years – Shaun Forde returns to sit alongside Slattery who will line-up in Cork in his new 208 Rally4. The Irishman is no stranger to the Peugeot brand having contested a 208 R2 previously to good effect and will be looking to build the confidence while also keeping one eye on the podium.
