The countdown to one of the most compact events on the calendar has begun as Carlow Car Club confirms details for the 2026 Carlow Stages Rally. Scheduled for Sunday, May 17, the event brings national rally competition to the tarmac of Carlow and Kilkenny.
Under Clerk of the Course Mick Comerford, the rally returns to its headquarters at the Seven Oaks Hotel. The event is supported by main sponsors Seven Oaks Hotel and O’Brien Cement, alongside associate sponsors Fitzpatricks Garages, Autoimage, and Hilltop Quarries.
HONOURING THE CLASSICS: THE MKII HISTORIC CHALLENGE
Carlow is long established as the home of the Ford Escort MKII in Irish rallying. This year the club introduces the MKII Historic Challenge Award, sponsored by WALSH School Furniture. While the traditional MKII Challenge remains a centerpiece, this new trophy honours crews who stay true to classic specifications in Classes 17 to 19. It provides a dedicated platform for historic-spec machinery to compete for their own silverware.
COMPACT NINE-STAGE FORMAT
The 2026 route features three closed-road stages across the Carlow and Kilkenny borders. Each stage is tackled three times for a total of nine tests. To keep road mileage low, the club has secured a centrally located service area between the three stages. This layout is designed to keep the action flowing for both crews and spectators.
Clerk of the Course Mick Comerford said the club is delighted to bring the rally back as a counting round for several major championships. He noted that as the home of the MKII Challenge, they expect a strong field to compete for honours across the fantastic local stages.
CHAMPIONSHIP STATUS AND NATIONAL INTEREST
The rally carries major championship status for the 2026 season. It serves as a points-scoring round for the Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship, the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Ireland, the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series (MIJRS), and the Dacia Sandero Challenge Cup.
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