Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy's Rahill and Smith to tackle ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy Campaign for 2026
2025 ERC Rookie of the Year Craig Rahill and Conor Smith returns to the ERC, adding ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy alongside 2026 Junior WRC campaign.
The duo will drive a KMS Racing prepared Fiesta Rally3 in the five-round competition starting with Rally Sierra Morena in mid-April.
22-year-old Rahill took on the Junior European Rally Championship in 2025 after winning Motorsport Ireland's Billy Coleman Award in 2024. The Cavan crew finished third in their rookie year, picking up a maiden Junior ERC victory on Barum Czech Rally Zlín on their Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 debut.
Rahill will now take a step up to the Fiesta Rally3 Trophy which will provide valuable seat time and mileage alongside their JWRC campaign as he continues to develop his career.
His longtime co-driver, 27-year-old Conor Smith, will continue in his role in the co-driver seat.
Rahill’s rallying career started in a rear-wheel-drive Ford Escort Mk2 less than four years ago. His driving skill transferred naturally to front-wheel-drive competition in 2023, scoring a class win on his Rally4 debut and after a successful campaign in 2024 won the prestigious Billy Coleman award. Now he will look forward to making his four-wheel-drive debut in 2026 ERC.
The pair will tackle mixed terrain on some of the most challenging and highly renowned rally stages Europe has to offer. Visits to Spain, Sweden, Italy, Poland and Czech Republic make up the 2026 Fiesta Rally3 Trophy. The overall Trophy winner will receive a Ford Fiesta Rally2 prize drive at JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion in September.
Craig Rahill, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver:
“I’m delighted to be competing in the ERC Rally3 Trophy alongside our JWRC programme this season. It’s a great championship organised by M-Sport Poland, and I’m really looking forward to returning to the ERC after our success last season where we finished third in the Junior ERC and were honoured to be voted Rookie of the Year.
The Rally3 Trophy will provide valuable seat time and mileage alongside the JWRC campaign. Having experience of many of the rallies from last year, we’ll be aiming to put that knowledge to good use and get the most out of the Rally3 Fiesta and the Pirelli tyres package!
The level of competition in the Rally3 Trophy looks extremely strong this year, so it’s exciting to be part of it. I’m delighted to be teaming up with KMS Racing for the season, they have a lot of experience with the Rally3 package and operate a very professional operation.
None of this would be possible without the continued support of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and my sponsors, and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity.”