Rahill’s rise from Irish National class champion to ERC3 podium finisher

Rahill secures breakthrough ERC3 podium in Sweden

Cavan driver Craig Rahill and co-driver Conor Smith secured their first-ever FIA European Rally Championship ERC3 podium finish over the weekend at the Royal Rally of Scandinavia in Sweden.

The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy duo delivered a clean performance in their KMS Racing Ford Fiesta Rally3 on Pirelli tyres, marking a major milestone in their dual ERC and Junior WRC campaigns.

Prior to his breakthrough podium on the Swedish gravel, the 2024 Billy Coleman Award winner gave an insight into his rallying background, his career achievements, and his targets for the 2026 season.

Career background and achievements

Rahill’s competitive driving career began just four years ago at the 2022 Mayo Stages Rally, where he paired up with co-driver Conor Smith.

“Myself and Conor took on the Irish National Championship that year in my dad’s Mk2 Escort with a 1600 engine, competing in Class 11R,” Rahill said. “I had done a few track days beforehand, but it was still a big step into rallying. We were on the pace straight away, and by stage seven we were sitting second in class and fighting for the lead. Unfortunately, the alternator failed and we had to retire, which wasn’t the dream start, but we bounced back from it and went on to win the championship that year, which made it all worthwhile.”

Following their domestic success, the crew stepped up to the European stage in 2025, finishing fourth in the ERC4 standings and third in Junior ERC. The highlight of their international campaign came on the demanding asphalt of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín.

“Our Junior ERC win last year was our greatest achievement, especially as it was our first event in the Lancia. It was really special to be part of bringing continental success back to the brand after more than 30 years and to make a bit of history with them. Barum is known for being a very demanding and technical Tarmac rally, so to come away with the win was a huge achievement for us. It was also great to take a first ERC category victory for the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, which made it even more meaningful.”

The step to four-wheel drive in 2026

For the 2026 season, Rahill graduated to four-wheel-drive machinery, combining a Junior WRC programme with a full assault on the ERC3 category and the M-Sport Poland Fiesta Rally3 Trophy.

“We really enjoyed competing in ERC last season, so it was always something we wanted to come back to. This year is all about gaining as much seat time and experience as possible in the Rally3 car, and the ERC is the perfect platform alongside our Junior WRC programme. The ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy run by M-Sport Poland is also a really strong championship, with great competition and strong incentives at each round, as well as for the overall title. It gives us a clear target and something extra to fight for throughout the season.”

“The main focus is to continue building our understanding of four-wheel drive and the Rally3 car. We want to keep improving our approach to set-up and really fine-tune the car so we can carry that knowledge into the Junior WRC events this year and beyond. Ultimately, it’s about closing the gap to the top pace and becoming more complete as a driver across all conditions.”

Despite taking a podium on the fast gravel stages of Sweden, Rahill notes that his competitive preferences lean toward sealed surfaces.

“We have experience of a lot of the events from last season, so the aim is to use that knowledge to our advantage and really maximise our performance on rallies we’re familiar with. Tarmac is probably my preferred surface, so the fact that the championship is mainly Tarmac-based should suit us well. The goal is to fight for the championship, but at the same time stay focused on the bigger picture. There will be strong local drivers at each event, so it’s important not to get drawn into individual battles and instead stay consistent across the season.”

Heroes and future goals

When looking at the inspirations behind his career, Rahill credits both his family and a local modified frontrunner for sparking his interest in the sport.

“Paddy Kiernan was my hero. He was a local, up-and-coming driver competing in a 2.0-litre Mk2 Escort, someone not everyone might know, but for me, he was the one who really sparked it all. I remember standing on ditches as a young lad watching rallies, and Paddy was always the one you looked forward to seeing. He had a style that just stood out—fast, committed, very entertaining—and you could always tell he was enjoying every second of it. He was dominating his class at the time in his red Mk2, and that left a big impression on me.”

“Of course, my dad was my hero as well. I grew up following him competing around Ireland in his Escort, and that’s where my love for the sport really started. But watching Paddy gave me that extra push, it gave me something to aim for and made me want to be as good as him someday.”

Outside of the cockpit, Rahill balances his sporting commitments with a professional career, having recently qualified as a mechatronic engineer.

“I work with a local company called Galetech. My role involves automation, programming and designing smart energy systems. With such a busy schedule this year, there won’t be as much time for that, so most of my focus outside of rallies will be on training, staying fit, and preparing properly for each event. Before rallying, I played a lot of Gaelic football, so if I wasn’t racing I’d probably still be involved in that in some way.”

Looking long-term, the Cavan driver aims to utilize the support of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy to reach the absolute pinnacle of world rallying within the next five years.

“We’re very lucky to be part of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, and if we continue to deliver results and keep working hard, the goal is to progress to the very top level of the sport. In five years, I’d love to be competing in the WRC full time, aiming for stage wins and hopefully challenging for podiums.”

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