It was a weekend of extreme highs and devastating lows for Cavan’s Craig Rahill and co-driver Conor Smith as they made their much-anticipated FIA Junior WRC debut at Rally Sweden.
Thursday: A False Start
The dream start turned into a nightmare before the first stage even began. A technical issue with the fire extinguisher system at the refuel zone meant the crew were unable to start Thursday night’s SS1. Under strict FIA safety regulations, a car cannot compete without a fully functioning and armed fire suppression system. This forced the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy duo into SuperRally rules before they had even turned a wheel in anger.
Friday & Saturday: Finding the Rhythm
Restarting on Friday, the goal shifted entirely to gaining mileage and experience on the high-speed Swedish ice. Despite the massive time penalty from Thursday and a frustrating puncture on Friday afternoon, Rahill showed impressive resilience. By the end of Friday, he had climbed into the top five of the Junior category, showing pace that suggested he belonged on the world stage.
Sunday: Heartbreak in the Woods
The comeback story was looking solid until the final day. Running comfortably in fifth place, disaster struck just 4.7km into SS17. The Ford Fiesta Rally3 went off the road, ending their rally on the penultimate stage. The crash promoted Ali Türkkan into the top five and left the Irish crew with no points on the board after the opening round.
Looking Ahead: The Tarmac Challenge
While Sweden was a brutal learning curve, the speed Rahill showed in his first four-wheel-drive outing on snow is a major positive. The Junior WRC now moves from the ice of Scandinavia to the treacherous, high-grip asphalt of the Croatia Rally (April 9–12).
Rahill and Smith will be looking to leave the “what-ifs” of Sweden behind and use their tarmac expertise to kickstart their championship campaign in Rijeka.
Kerry Motorsport News 