Rahill's Little Lancia with a Big Story
Left to Right - Gabriele Cogni - Trofeo Lancia Sporting Director, CoDriver Conor Smith, Miki Biasion - Lancia Ambassador, Luca Martello - Lancia Corse HF Director, Craig Rahill, Massimiliano Palumbo - Trofeo Lancia Press Officer
Craig Rahill and Conor Smith recently reunited with the Lancia Corse HF team ahead of Rally di Roma Capitale, one year on from a Junior ERC victory so significant it has since been commemorated in an official IXO 1:43 scale replica.
The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew's triumph on the Barum Czech Rally Zlín last August delivered Lancia's first international triumph in 30 years and the first ERC win for the marque's new Ypsilon Rally4 — a maiden Junior ERC victory that made history for both driver and manufacturer.
The significance of the occasion was not lost on the 21-year-old from the outset. As the 2024 Billy Coleman Award winner, he was acutely aware of the legacy he was stepping into.
"One of the last times an Irish driver has been behind the wheel of a Lancia in the European Rally Championship was Billy Coleman in 1978. As the current Billy Coleman Award winner it is pretty special to be driving a Lancia in ERC like Billy once did; it's a real honour, it feels like I'm following a bit of a legacy of a driver that I really look up to.”
On the rally itself, Rahill built his challenge methodically through Saturday's opening loop, a string of top-five stage times putting him fourth before a stage win on the sixth test moved him into an overnight lead. He was dominant on Sunday — three more fastest times, including the Power Stage, sealed a commanding 35.9-second victory over Norway's Karl Peder Nordstrand.
"We are absolutely over the moon to come to the end of Barum Czech Rally Zlín on the top step of the podium," said Rahill. "Especially with it being my first outing in the Lancia, it is a dream come true.”
"It is really special to be the first driver to bring Lancia back to the top step of a podium in the European Rally Championship. The stages out here are crazy, really fast, really narrow and quite bumpy. We kept our noses clean all weekend, found a steady pace, and it all fell into place for us.”
Ahead of the Rome meeting, Rahill brought a personal gesture — a framed poster of the iconic podium photograph from Zlín, presented to the Lancia Corse HF team as a mark of appreciation for their shared piece of history.
Luca Martello, Director of Lancia Corse HF, said: "It was a real pleasure to welcome Craig and Conor to the Lancia Corse HF family and to share once again the emotions of such a significant moment in our recent history. Their victory at Barum was much more than a rally win: it marked Lancia's return to winning ways in the European Rally Championship after 30 years, an achievement made possible by Craig Rahill and Conor Smith's talent, dedication and professionalism. Together, they have written an important chapter in the history of Lancia's return to international rallying.We sincerely hope Craig enjoys a bright and successful future.”
IXO, one of the world's leading die-cast model manufacturers, has since produced an official 1:43 scale replica of the winning Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 to commemorate the result, underlining the lasting significance of what the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew achieved that weekend in the Czech Republic.
"It was a privilege to meet with Lancia Corse HF ahead of Rally di Roma and to reflect on what was such a special achievement for both ourselves and the brand," said Rahill.
"To make history with a manufacturer as iconic as Lancia during the beginning of its exciting return to international rallying is something I will always be incredibly proud of. Lancia is a brand I admired growing up, so to have the opportunity to drive one of its cars and play a small part in its return to success has been a real honour. Seeing IXO commemorate that moment by producing an official 1:43 scale model is incredibly special and a fitting tribute to a result that means so much to Conor and myself.”