Galway Conquered: Devine Mastery Tames the West in 2026 ITRC Opener

 

By: Neil McDaid 

Photos: David McDaid 

Galway, Ireland

 — The stone walls of the West have finally fallen to Callum Devine. In a performance that blended raw speed with calculated precision, the reigning Irish Tarmac Rally Champion exorcised the demons of previous years to claim a dominant, start-to-finish victory at the 2026 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally.

For the Derryman and his Killarney co-driver Noel O’Sullivan, this win was the missing jewel in their domestic crown. Having secured the title in 2025 without a Galway victory, the duo arrived in Eyre Square determined to set the record straight. They did so emphatically, piloting their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 to a commanding win, leaving the drama to unfold in their wake on the treacherous, rain-slicked lanes.

"It’s been a long time coming," a relieved Devine said at the finish ramp, his voice cracking with emotion. "We’ve had the pace here before but never the luck. To finally add Galway to the list, especially on these stages which demand so much respect, is the perfect start to our title defense. The car was faultless, and Noel was perfect on the notes."

While Devine controlled the front, the battle for the podium was a fierce, fluctuating war of attrition. Kilkenny’s Eddie Doherty, stepping up his pace significantly this season in a similar Skoda Fabia, drove a superb rally to secure second place, finishing 37.1 seconds adrift of the leader. It was a statement drive from Doherty, who kept the pressure on but wisely settled for points when Devine’s lead became unassailable.

The final podium spot saw late heartbreak and heroism. For much of the weekend, the Boyle family appeared set to make history, with Michael and Declan Boyle holding a strong third heading into the final loop. However, a late charge by Monaghan’s Josh Moffett, debuting the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, spoiled the script. Moffett, adapting quickly to the new machinery, clawed back time over the closing miles to snatch third place by a mere handful of seconds, relegating Michael Boyle to fourth.

"We knew it would be tight," Moffett admitted, visibly exhausted. "Learning the Yaris on these roads is a baptism of fire, but we found a rhythm in the afternoon loop. We just kept pushing."

The event, the traditional curtain-raiser for the 2026 NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, was not without its high-profile casualties. The unforgiving Galway ditches claimed several top contenders early. Eamonn Kelly, a favourite for a podium spot, made a heavy exit on Stage 2, his Toyota Yaris succumbing to a slippery square left. Former champion Darren Gass also failed to reach the finish, retiring his Citroën C3 Rally2 with mechanical issues on Stage 6, while David Guest bowed out after an off on Stage 8.

In the Modified section, the action was typically breathless. Michael Cahill piloted his Ford Escort Mk2 to a stunning class victory, entertaining the sodden crowds with flamboyant driving that defied the grip levels. Meanwhile, in the Historic category, the nostalgia-heavy field navigated the conditions with grace, proving that the old-school machinery can still bite.

2026 Galway International Rally - Overall Top 5

1. Callum Devine / Noel O’Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) – 1:26:47.7
2. Eddie Doherty / Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) – +37.1s
3. Josh Moffett / Andy Hayes (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) – +46.6s
4. David Kelly / Shane Buckley (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) – +52.0s
5. Declan Boyle/Patrick Walsh (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) – +1.14.3s
6. Notable Retirements:

• Eamonn Kelly (Accident, SS2)
• Darren Gass (Mechanical, SS6)
• David Guest (Accident, SS8)

As the champagne sprayed in Galway, the message was clear: Devine is not just defending his title; he is stamping his authority on the history books. The championship now moves south, but the benchmark has firmly been set in the West.

WRC Ends 40-Year U.S. Hiatus with June 2026 Trial Run

 

The FIA’s confirmation of a formal pathway for the World Rally Championship to return to the United States—headlined by a candidate event scheduled for 11–17 June 2026—is more than a calendar note. It is the reopening of a story left unresolved for nearly forty years, one written in pine forests, frozen roads, and the fading echoes of Group B at full throttle.

The WRC’s relationship with America has always been brief, brilliant, and frustratingly incomplete. The championship first arrived on U.S. soil in 1986, at the height of rallying’s most extreme era. Olympus Rally, based in Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, was instantly iconic. Narrow logging roads, towering evergreens, and massive roadside crowds provided a stark contrast to Europe’s farmland lanes. Drivers loved the speed and flow; organizers struggled with scale and logistics. The event returned in 1987 and 1988, quickly becoming a cult favorite among teams and fans alike.

Alongside Olympus stood Press On Regardless Rally in Michigan, a winter classic forged in snowbanks and endurance. Its inclusion on the WRC calendar showcased a very different side of American rallying—long days, brutal attrition, and conditions that rewarded mechanical sympathy as much as outright pace. Together, these events proved that the U.S. could deliver world-class rallying that was raw, demanding, and visually spectacular.

Then, just as momentum seemed possible, it all ended.

By 1989, the WRC had retreated from the United States entirely. Costs were rising, Group B’s demise had reshaped the sport, and the championship’s center of gravity drifted firmly back toward Europe. America, vast and complex, was deemed too difficult to sustain. The departure left a lingering sense of what might have been—a championship door slammed shut just as fans were beginning to embrace it.

What followed was not a collapse, but a divergence. While the WRC evolved overseas, stage rally in the United States went its own way. Events like Sno*Drift, Ojibwe Forests, and the Lake Superior Performance Rally became pillars of a uniquely American culture: volunteer-driven, terrain-heavy, and fiercely resilient. The roads were longer, the stages rougher, and the atmosphere less polished—but deeply authentic.

Crucially, rally never disappeared from the American consciousness. Subaru’s long-term commitment, first through the SCCA ProRally era and later Rally America and the American Rally Association, kept the sport visible. Generations of fans grew up knowing WRC legends not from live events, but from VHS tapes, magazine spreads, and later streaming highlights—always aware that the world’s best cars were running somewhere else.

The FIA’s 2026 candidate event changes that narrative. It represents the first concrete, structured attempt to bring the WRC back into alignment with the American rally ecosystem rather than dropping in as an isolated spectacle. It acknowledges history—both the successes and the failures—and suggests a more sustainable vision rooted in cooperation, planning, and patience.

If the past has taught rally anything, it is that America is not a quick win. But it is a worthy one. In June 2026, the WRC will not just test roads and logistics. It will test whether a championship and a country, long separated by circumstance, are finally ready to finish the story they started together.

Report/Photo: Neil McDaid 

Solberg Conquers the Col de Turini: A New Monte Carlo King Crowned

Monte Carlo, January 25, 2026 — On its icy, treacherous final day Rally Monte Carlo added another name to it legendary roster of winners. Toyota driver Oliver Solberg , the youngest ever, etched his name into WRC, mastering the infamous asphalt-and-ice lottery of the Alpes-Maritimes, with a few hair raising moments along the way secured a career-defining victory. After four days of relentless tension, changing conditions, and razor-thin margins, Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson emerged triumphant, sealing a historic first Monte Carlo win and announcing a new force at the very top of the World Rally Championship.

The final day was classic Monte: dry patches giving way to black ice, snowbanks lurking just inches off the racing line, and the Col de Turini playing judge, jury, and executioner. Solberg started Sunday with a slim but hard-earned lead and drove with a maturity well beyond his years, balancing restraint with moments of breathtaking commitment. His control through the Power Stage was decisive, backing up his overall victory with maximum bonus points and sending a clear message to the championship field.

Drama, inevitably, followed. The most notable retirement of the day was M-Sport  driver Jon Armstrong in the Ford Puma, whose rally ended heartbreakingly on the second pass of Turini. Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne slid wide on a shaded left-hander, the car snapping into a snowbank and damaging the suspension beyond repair. It was a cruel end to a strong rally that had shown Armstrong’s growing confidence at the WRC level. “We were just caught out by the grip change,” Armstrong admitted. “That’s Monte — it gives, and it takes away.”

Behind Solberg, the fight for the podium was fierce but ultimately settled. The top three arrived back into Monaco to scenes of celebration, flares lighting the harbor as champagne flowed freely. Solberg was visibly emotional on the final control. “This one means everything,” he said. “Monte Carlo is the rally every driver dreams of winning. To do it here, with this team, and in these conditions — it’s unreal.”

Second place praised the winner’s composure, while third reflected on survival as the key to success. “You don’t beat Monte,” one podium finisher smiled. “You just respect it and hope it lets you through.”

• 1st: Oliver Solberg (SWE) / Elliott Edmondson (GBR) - Toyota: 4h 24m 59.0s
• 2nd: Elfyn Evans (GBR) / Scott Martin (GBR) - Toyota: +51.8s
• 3rd: Sebastien Ogier (FRA) / Vincent Landais (FRA) - Toyota: +2m 02.2s
• 4th: Adrien Fourmaux (FRA) / Alexandre Coria (FRA) - Hyundai: +5m 59.3s
• 5th: Thierry Neuville (BEL) / Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL) - Hyundai: +10m 29.8s 

Solberg Survives Scare to Retain Monte-Carlo Lead on Day of Alpine Chaos

MONTE CARLO – The treacherous slopes of the French Alps lived up to their fearsome reputation on Saturday, turning Day 3 of the 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo into a high-stakes game of survival. In a day defined by black ice, slush, and snowbanks, Toyota’s young sensation Oliver Solberg defied the odds—and physics—to maintain his lead, despite a heart-stopping off-road excursion that nearly ended his fairytale run.

The drama peaked on SS12 (La Bréole / Bellaffaire), where Solberg, pushing to defend his advantage against teammates Elfyn Evans and Sébastien Ogier, lost the rear of his GR Yaris Rally1 on a patch of fresh snow. The car ploughed through a fence and into a field, leaving spectators breathless. In a display of raw talent and luck, Solberg kept the throttle pinned, wrestling the machine back onto the tarmac to not only survive but incredibly win the stage.

"I tell you: my god! That is the craziest stage I've ever done in my life," a shell-shocked Solberg said at the stage end. "I had ruts in my pacenotes, I was just trying to follow them and on one exit there was full snow... I was lucky. Very lucky."

While Solberg escaped, others were not so fortunate. The unforgiving conditions claimed Toyota’s Sami Pajari, who crashed out of fourth place on the morning loop after sliding wide into a snowbank and striking a tree. Hyundai’s Hayden Paddon also fell victim to the ice, sliding off the road and losing over four minutes as spectators scrambled to push his i20 N back into play, dropping him out of the top 10. Rookie Jon Armstrong continued his trial by fire, clinging to an impressive sixth overall despite a puncture and clipping a bridge on SS10.

As the sun set, the action moved to the glitter of the Principality for the SS13 Super Special Stage on the Monaco Grand Prix circuit. Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux dazzled the crowds with the fastest time, but the night belonged to Toyota. The Japanese manufacturer locks out the podium places heading into Sunday, with Solberg holding a precarious lead of just over a minute.

Sébastien Ogier, chasing a record-extending 10th Monte victory, appeared resigned to a podium finish after struggling to match the leader's pace in the slush. "Top spot is too far," the Frenchman admitted. "I didn't put on a show tonight, I think we all look ridiculous here [on slicks], but that's how it is."

Top 10 Overall Classification (After Day 3)

1. O. Solberg / E. Edmondson (Toyota) – 2:11:13.1
2. E. Evans / S. Martin (Toyota) +1:04.7
3. S. Ogier / V. Landais (Toyota) +1:31.3
4. A. Fourmaux / A. Coria (Hyundai) +6:13.8
5. T. Neuville / M. Wydaeghe (Hyundai) +7:29.5
6. J. Armstrong / S. Byrne (M-Sport Ford) +10:06.1
7. L. Rossel / G. Mercoiret (Citroën - WRC2) +11:01.8
8. G. Munster / L. Louka (M-Sport Ford) +11:24.8
9. T. Katsuta / A. Johnston (Toyota) +11:47.1
10. R. Daprà / L. Guglielmetti (Skoda - WRC2) +12:29.5

Sunday Preview: The Col de Turini Awaits
The final day promises a sting in the tail with four stages covering 71.90km. Crews will face two loops of Col de Braus and the legendary La Bollène-Vésubie / Moulinet, which crosses the iconic Col de Turini. With ice reported on the pass, the Power Stage offers one last chance for heartbreak or glory. Solberg stands on the brink of a career-defining victory, but in Monte Carlo, the rally isn't over until the engines are silenced in the harbor.

Report: Neil McDaid 

Solberg Supreme in Monte Mayhem: Ice, Fog, and Ditches Decimate Field on Day 2

GAP, FRANCE – The 94th Rallye Monte-Carlo bared its teeth on Friday, delivering a classic day of Alpine carnage that saw Oliver Solberg tighten his vice-like grip on the leaderboard while his rivals faltered in treacherous conditions. What began as a snow-covered morning loop descended into a foggy, slush-filled nightmare by late afternoon, claiming victims among the sport’s elite and reshuffling the top ten in dramatic fashion. “It’s been another really incredible day and I’m very happy. The goal was to try and stay consistent and avoid problems. We did have one slow puncture but the rest has been really good. This afternoon was more about trying to survive. In the first one we could still be fastest, and then when it got dark it was a bit too risky to push. There was also a lot of mud being further back on the road, and having to do big cuts in those conditions for the first time with this car. So there’s still a lot of learning going on, and still a crazy long way to go" said Solberg. 

Toyota’s new golden boy, Oliver Solberg, defied his lack of Rally1 asphalt experience, mastering the changing grip levels to extend his lead to over a minute. While Solberg danced through the danger, his teammates were left fighting for survival. Reigning champion Sébastien Ogier and Welshman Elfyn Evans traded blows for second place, with Evans ending the day just 6.5 seconds ahead of the Frenchman, locking out a provisional Toyota 1-2-3.

The afternoon loop, particularly the final run through La-Bâtie-des-Fonts, proved disastrous for Hyundai. Thierry Neuville, running fourth, slid wide into a snow-filled ditch on SS9. "Zero confidence, zero," the Belgian had muttered earlier, and his day worsened as he lost three agonizing minutes while fans frantically pushed his i20 N back onto the tarmac. He plummeted to fifth overall.

Adrien Fourmaux fared little better, battling a bizarre mix of weather and fan interference. "There is quite a lot of fog... and the spectators put a lot of smoke," Fourmaux vented after dropping five minutes. "I went in the ditch without seeing where I was." Meanwhile, Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta endured a "disaster" of a day, suffering two punctures in the morning before clattering a bank in the slush and losing power steering, tumbling down to 12th.

As crews returned to Gap, the service park was abuzz with tales of near-misses, but for M-Sport’s Jon Armstrong, survival was the only victory; the Irishman gritted his teeth to hold an impressive sixth overall amidst the chaos.

Overall Standings After Day 2 (SS9)

1. Oliver Solberg (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)
2. Elfyn Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1:08.4
3. Sébastien Ogier (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1:14.9
4. Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +5:05.2
5. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +6:05.3
6. Jon Armstrong (Ford Puma Rally1) +7:18.8
7. Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +8:45.1
8. Léo Rossel (Citroën C3 Rally2) +9:12.0
9. Eric Camilli (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +9:35.5
10. Nikolay Gryazin (Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF) +9:58.2

Report: Neil McDaid