Ireland’s WRC Dream Rekindled: Motorsport Ireland Mounts Fresh Charge to Bring the World Rally Championship to the Emerald Isle

 

Report: Neil McDaid

Photos: Neil McDaid 

Dublin, Ireland: Motorsport Ireland has once again thrown its weight behind an ambitious plan to return the FIA World Rally Championship to Irish roads, reigniting a dream that has simmered since the sport last roared through the country more than a decade ago. MSI's goal is to get Ireland on the WRC calendar for 2028-29

With renewed political engagement, a reshaped WRC calendar, and lessons learned from past disappointments, Ireland’s latest bid feels more grounded  and potentially more credible  than before.

Ireland last hosted a WRC round in 2009 and 2010, events fondly remembered for their unique blend of fast, narrow tarmac stages, unpredictable weather, and passionate crowds. Yet the curtain came down abruptly. The previous bid ultimately collapsed under the combined weight of funding shortfalls, late-stage government hesitation, and concerns within the FIA over long-term financial guarantees. Despite strong sporting delivery, the economic model simply didn’t stack up in a post-financial-crisis Ireland.

That failure has loomed large over subsequent attempts. But Motorsport Ireland’s current approach reflects a more mature, strategic understanding of what the modern WRC demands. Crucially, this bid is being framed not just as a motorsport event, but as a national tourism and economic initiative — language that resonates far more clearly with government stakeholders than pure sporting heritage ever did.

What may tip the balance this time is timing. The WRC is actively seeking high-profile tarmac events to balance its hybrid-heavy gravel calendar, and Ireland’s road network — honed by decades of Irish Tarmac Championship competition — is ready-made for the spectacle modern rally fans crave. Events like the Circuit of Ireland, West Cork Rally, and Donegal International Rally have continued to demonstrate Ireland’s organisational depth, volunteer base, and crowd control expertise at an elite level.

Equally important is Motorsport Ireland’s effort to secure multi-year commitments rather than a one-off splash. Stability is now a non-negotiable requirement for WRC Promoter, and early indications suggest stronger alignment between local authorities, national tourism bodies, and private partners than in previous attempts.

Ireland also benefits from a new generation of internationally successful drivers and co-drivers keeping the nation visible on the world stage, reinforcing the narrative that Ireland is not just a historic rally nation — but a current one.

 

There are still hurdles to clear: funding guarantees, logistical complexity, and the ever-present challenge of road closures on public tarmac. But for the first time since 2010, Ireland’s WRC bid feels less like a romantic revival — and more like a serious, calculated return.

From Pace Notes to Power Moves: Jonne Halttunen Joins Toyota Gazoo Racing USA Rally Program

 

Report: Neil McDaid

Photo: Red Bull Racing 

Toyota has confirmed WRC Champion Co-driver Jonne Halttunen as Project Manager for its expansion into the American Rally Association Championship. Toyota Gazoo Racing will also collaborate with Rallysupport Services, a company ironically led by Lance Smith, the same Lance Smith of Vermont Sports Car who brought Subaru to be the most successful brand in North American Rally.

Halttunen arrives with a résumé that commands instant respect. As co-driver to Kalle Rovanperä, he has been a central figure in Toyota Gazoo Racing’s modern WRC dominance. Together they claimed WRC World Championships in 2022 and 2023, multiple rally victories across gravel, tarmac, and snow, and redefined the modern driver–co-driver partnership with precision, calm authority, and tactical intelligence beyond their years. Halttunen’s reputation inside the service park is that of a strategist as much as a navigator—someone who understands not just pace notes, but the bigger competitive picture.

Less widely discussed, but equally relevant for the ARA project, is Halttunen’s own rally driving background. Before cementing his career on the right-hand seat, he competed as a driver in Finland’s national rally scene, giving him first-hand understanding of car behavior, setup compromises, and the physical demands of stage competition—an invaluable asset when translating WRC-level thinking to American events with their unique roads, formats, and logistics.

With WRC, getting serious about getting USA on their calendar, the obvious question is: could this project lead to something even bigger for Jonne? While a one-off ARA appearance by Halttunen alongside Rovanperä might seem far-fetched, Rovanperä has said "rallying will always be close to his heart," even though he hasn't indicated a 2026 stage rally commitment. Given this season's focus on establishing Toyota's presence in the USA, such an entry would generate significant exposure for both Toyota and ARA. Of course, this is all speculation, but regardless, Halttunen's move alone demonstrates that American stage rally is no longer on the fringes; it's firmly back on the world map. 

Chasing the Ghost of Paddy Hopkirk, MINI returns to stage rally and tackles the snow and ice covered Stages of Sno*Drift Rally

 

Report: Neil McDaid

Photo's: Mini USA

Atlanta, Michigan, To understand why this return matters, one must look back to January 1964. It was the "Night of the Long Knives" on the Col de Turini where Irishman Paddy Hopkirk etched his name into legend. In what remains the ultimate "David vs. Goliath" story, Hopkirk’s diminutive Mini Cooper S out-muscled V8-powered Ford Falcons. On the treacherous, icy mountain passes of the French Alps, the Mini’s nimble front-wheel-drive layout proved that agility and balance are the ultimate equalizers against raw horsepower.

The brand’s modern history with the dirt has been a series of "what ifs." In 2011, MINI made a grand, yet tragically short-lived, return to the World Rally Championship (WRC). Partnering with the engineering maestros at Prodrive, the MINI John Cooper Works WRC car was a technical masterpiece. It found immediate success, with Dani Sordo taking the car to a stunning 2nd-place finish at the 2012 Monte Carlo Rally—a poetic nod to Hopkirk. However, corporate restructuring and budget shifts saw the factory program shuttered far too early, leaving fans wondering what a fully developed MINI could have achieved on the world stage.

In 2026, we see a return of the little car that could, well not so little anymore, The "works" effort returns via the MINI John Cooper Works Race Team, led by a name synonymous with the brand’s American road racing success: Luis Perocarpi.

This isn't just a corporate entry; it is a family legacy. The team principal, Luis Perocarpi, will lead from the driver’s seat of a 2025 MINI Countryman ALL4 in the Limited 4-Wheel Drive (L4WD) class. Luis brings a storied background from the IndyCar pits and IMSA paddocks, but his heart has always been in the dirt, fueled by a childhood watching rallies in Chile. Joining him on the stages is his son, Cristian Perocarpi, who will pilot a 2025 MINI JCW in the highly competitive Open 2-Wheel Drive (O2WD) class. 

Cristian has spent the last several seasons proving his mettle in SRO TC America, honing the precise car control required to keep a front-wheel-drive machine at the limit. Both drivers gained prior rally experience by competing in regional events in late 2025, with Luis running the Nemadji Trail Winter Rally and both father and son competing at the Show-Me Rally. Despite their impressive resumes in racing the unpredictable and unforgiving stages of Sno Drift will surly be a new test of skills. 

Both cars were prepared by LAP Motorsports in Indianapolis. Known for building championship-winning touring cars, LAP has adapted the production-based MINI platform for the ever changing conditions of stage rally. 

In L4WD, Luis will contend with top drivers including Travis Pastrana in a new Subaru WRX and Lia Block in a Ford Fiesta, to name a few. The O2WD class sees Cristian face off against strong competitors, with vast experience on the tricky stages of Sno Drift.

One can always dream of a Mini shocker, but this is a new day and experience will win on the day at Sno Drift, nonetheless, its great to see brands like Mini back in the game. 

Pastrana Headlines 2026 Sno*Drift as Semenuk Exits for Europe

 

Report; Neil McDaid 

Photos: Subaru Motorsport USA, Neil McDaid,

(Atlanta, Mich., February 3, 2026) — The 2026 American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship kicks off February 6–7 in Atlanta, Michigan, as the Sno*Drift Rally once again opens the season with an event unlike any other in world rallying: the world’s only snow and ice rally where studded tires are prohibited.

There is a specific kind of madness that takes hold in the Northeast corner of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula every February. It is a place where the wind-chill bites through Nomex suits, and the roads resemble polished mirrors rather than thoroughfares. This is Sno*Drift, the traditional curtain-raiser for the American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship, and as we look toward the 2026 edition, the ghosts of rallies past are howling through the pines.

For over half a century, SnoDrift has been the ultimate equalizer in American stage rally. From its roots in the SCCA ProRally era through the high-octane years of Rally America and into the modern ARA era, the challenge has remained stubbornly, cruelly the same: And yes as the head lines says, No studs. While world-class winter rallies in Sweden or Canada allow tungsten-tipped tires to bite into the ice, SnoDrift competitors must dance on Tractionized, non-studded winter rally tires,  It is a high-speed ballet performed on a skating rink.

A Legacy Written in the Snow

The history of this event is a "Who’s Who" of dirt-track royalty. We remember the dominance of John Buffum, the man who defined American rallying, and the late Ken Block, whose "Hoonigan" style was forged in these snowbanks. We recall the precision of David Higgins, who mastered the art of the "snowbank turn"—using the frozen walls of the stage to pivot a car at 80 mph.

Pastrana has won Sno drift 4 times, but if you want to understand the soul of this rally, you have to look back to 2010. That year, Travis Pastrana arrived in Atlanta with his arm essentially strapped to his chest, nursing a freshly broken collarbone from a freestyle motocross mishap. In any other sport, he wouldn’t have cleared tech inspection. In rally, he strapped into his Subaru, gritted his teeth, and drove through the agony.

Pastrana didn’t just finish; he won. It remains one of the most legendary feats in the annals of the sport—a display of "checked-brain" bravery that cemented his status as the undisputed king of the Sno Drift woods.

The 2026 Grid: The Changing of the Guard

As we move into the 2026 season, the narrative has shifted. With the departure of four-time champion Brandon Semenuk to the European stages, the throne is vacant, and the 2026 entry list is a tantalizing mix of veteran grit and "Next-Gen" speed.

• The Competition: A Privateer’s Dream?
  Pastrana’s class switch has created a tantalizing "David vs. Goliath" scenario for the overall win. His primary threat comes from the privateer ranks: Patrick Gruszka (#243) returns in a Hyundai i20 R5. The R5 platform—purpose-built, nimble, and theoretically faster than a Limited class Subaru—gives Gruszka a legitimate shot at spoiling Pastrana’s homecoming, Javier Castro will be on hand in the A1 Maxx Audi to take advantage should either falter.
  
• Also drawing eyes is Lia Block (#157), who returns to the ARA stages in a RC2 M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3. After a stint in open-wheel racing, Lia is surly going to find the lack of grip at Sno Drift a challenge, Lia will be joined by her dad's long time co-driver Alex Gelsomino. 
• Also returning to Sno*Drift is the 2022 Overall winner Mark Piatkowski, who enters the Naturally Aspirated Four-Wheel-Drive (NA4WD) class alongside co-driver Aris Mantopoulos in their Subaru Impreza. The pair have repeatedly proven their ability to challenge more powerful machinery on Sno*Drift’s slick roads and will be looking to do so once again in 2026.

Sno*Drift is never won on the first stage, but it is frequently lost there. With the loss of the legendary "Bonfire Alley" spectator point this year due to safety reclassifications, the atmosphere will be different—more isolated, more haunting.

Teams will tackle a 16-stage, 108.6-mile itinerary across two days, winding through the forests of northern Michigan. Friday evening begins with a Parc Exposé in Lewiston, followed by night stages on “Meaford–Mills,” “622–East Branch,” “Black River–Camp 30,” and “Huff–Old State,” run as two loops with a 30-minute service at Atlanta High School in between.

Saturday’s action opens with a Parc Exposé at Briley Park in Atlanta before competitors head out onto the “Sage Creek–Von Dette,” “Blue Lake–Fishlab,” “Argens–Hunter,” and “Orchard–Shoreline” stages. After another service at Atlanta High School, teams repeat the first three stages before national entries conclude the rally with the “Orchard–Shoreline” Power Stage, where additional championship points are on the line.

Check back for post Rally report. 

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.