Rahill and Smith step up to Junior WRC in 2026
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew Craig Rahill and Conor Smith will compete in the 2026 Junior World Rally Championship as they take the next step in their rally careers.
The Cavan pairing will drive an M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 in the five-round series, which begins on Rally Sweden in February. The calendar also includes events in Croatia, Portugal, Finland and Chile.
Rahill earned his place on the world stage after winning the Billy Coleman Award in 2024. He moved into the Junior European Rally Championship in 2025 and finished third overall in his rookie season, highlighted by a first Junior ERC win on Barum Czech Rally Zlín. The 22-year-old now follows the path taken by previous Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy drivers including Callum Devine, Jon Armstrong, Junior WRC champion William Creighton and recent Junior WRC winner Eamonn Kelly.
Co-driver Conor Smith continues alongside Rahill, aiming to build on the Academy’s strong record in the Junior WRC, which includes WRC3 Junior and Junior WRC titles in recent seasons.
Rahill’s rally career began less than four years ago in a rear-wheel-drive Ford Escort Mk2. After progressing through Rally4 machinery, the move to Junior WRC will mark his first full season competing in four-wheel-drive rally cars.
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy founder and patron John Coyne said the programme was pleased to support another Irish crew taking a step up the WRC ladder, while Academy coordinator Sean McHugh described the Junior WRC as a key development stage for young drivers and co-drivers.
Rahill said competing in the Junior WRC had been a long-term goal and described the opportunity as a major step forward as he and Smith look to gain experience and measure themselves against the strongest young crews in world rallying.
M-Sport Poland managing director Maciej Woda welcomed Rahill to the Junior WRC, noting the strong track record of Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy graduates in the championship
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