Coleman reflects on 2025 & announces plan for 2026 ERC campaign
After a remarkable debut season at European level competition that saw him claim victory on the final round of the M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, Casey Jay Coleman has now set his sights on further FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) success as he announces an exciting plan for 2026.
‘’At just 22 years of age, the Irish youngster secured an impressive victory by winning the M-Sport and Pirelli backed Ford Fiesta Rally3 Trophy Round in Barum Czech Rally Zlin, claiming success with an assured and confident drive, his progression of speed and consistency since I’ve first witnessed C.J behind the wheel combined with his positive friendly attitude has really impressed me” stated Maciej Woda, M-Sport Poland Managing Director’’
Taking the win in Barum on the final round of the season, Coleman secured a second-place finish in the M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3 Trophy standings, a remarkable feat in a debut season for the Irish youngster at European level that has seen him compete at events in Spain, Hungary, Poland and Italy before the final round in Czechia.
It is with the experienced gained from these events that Casey Jay now has his sights set on a full ERC 3 Championship campaign in 2026 alongside competing once more in the M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, a step up that Coleman is excited to make.
“It was a great year for the whole team, and we learned so much across the five events with driving experience, car set up and pace note perfection thanks to navigators Killian McArdle, Lorcan Moore, Michael Gilbey & Adam Coffey, but now its time to push on to the next level. Using the same Ford Fiesta Rally3 as last year to take on the full ERC 3 Championship along with the M-Sport Trophy again, its exciting to look ahead knowing I have experience on four of the events, and I look forward to those I haven’t competed on before!”
Experience is key for Coleman, as his planned ERC 3 Campaign will see him compete on eight rounds of the series, of which four will be brand new to the Irish driver as events like Royal Rally Scandinavia in Sweden, Rally Silesia in Poland, Rali Ceredigion in Wales and the Rally Five Cities in Portugal lie ahead across the season as well as rounds that he competed on in 2025.
Guiding Casey Jay across the season will be Killian McArdle, the pair reuniting full time having done selected events together in 2025 including sharing their very first ERC podium together on Rally di Roma Capitale. At just 24 years of age McArdle is a rising star aswell in the sport, having already navigated at World Championship level while also tasting success both nationally and internationally.
McArdle is excited for the season ahead “It’s a fantastic opportunity for myself and Casey Jay to go and compete as part of such a wonderful Championship as the ERC is, with a huge media presence and attention. I enjoyed the podium in Rome last year, but it will be even better to not only go back to events we have competed on before, but to have four new events at least to look forward to is great”.
The European campaign will see Casey Jay Coleman & Killian McArdle compete once again in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 prepared and run by RLA Autosport. The Omagh based Loughran family business provided a faultless machine right across the 2025 season, and the experienced they have gained alongside Casey Jay on events is expected to really prove invaluable in the new season.
Alongside competing in Europe, Casey Jay Coleman showed remarkable pace on home events aswell in 2025 including wonderful performances on the Cork 20 and Wexford rallies behind the wheel of a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, as well as an RC3 victory on the three-day West Cork Rally. Looking ahead to 2026, Coleman is excited to take on a selected calendar of events outside of his ERC commitments both at home and abroad.
“It’s great to get to do the events recently in the Rally2 Skoda, we had a great run in Wexford and the pace was really strong aswell in Cork. Rallying in Ireland helps to keep sharp for tarmac events in Europe but I still need more experience on the high speed gravel stages so I’m looking at some events early in the season which should benefit us for the year ahead.”
Having tasted the top step of a European Rally podium in 2025, the future is bright for Casey Jay Coleman, and on the announcement of his 2026 ERC 3 Campaign, the youngster was also thankful to his supporters who have made this opportunity possible, and who have supported his journey up through the ranks having started aged 16 in the Junior 1000 series of the Irish Forest Rally Championship.
“It’s incredible to see how far I’ve come since the days starting off in J1000 and having moved through Rally4 machines both at home and abroad, its really exciting to be able to compete in both Rally3 and Rally2 cars in both the ERC and elsewhere. None of that though would be possible without the support of sponsors, and I am grateful to those who have supported me for a long number of years, as well as those that have come on board recently to support the European Championship campaign”.
The 2026 European Rally Championship begins in March with the high-speed gravel lanes of Rally Hungary, the Veszprém based event a familiar start for Coleman having competed there in 2025. With his sights set on contesting for both the ERC 3 and M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally 3 Trophy victories in 2026, it could be a historic season in store as Casey Jay Coleman and Killian McArdle aim to be the first Irish crew to ever claim a European Rally Championship title.
The FIA European Rally Championship is amongst the largest Rally series in the world, with a staggering 750,000 followers across social media, and millions of viewers around the world following the action live across TV and Online with Rally TV+ and countless networks. The ERC is also supported by Red Bull Media who provide photographic and video content from each round of the series, showcasing Casey Jay Coleman and the rest of the ERC field across world media outlets. The ERC is promoted by WRC Promoter GmbH, the same team responsible for the World Rally Championship.
