Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup launches unrivalled offering for 2024

• Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK announces a brand-new rally series
• All Peugeot Sport 208 Rally4 and Opel Motorsport Corsa Rally4 examples are eligible
• Cup reveals €75,000 prize fund and FIA Junior European Rally Championship support for Junior winner
• Eight-round series includes gravel and asphalt surfaces and four, top-level events in Ireland and the UK
• Series supported by Michelin Motorsport, Race & Rally, LP Tents Protyre Motorsport Ireland and Stellantis Motorsport

Race & Rally are delighted to announce the launch of the 2024 Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK, a manufacturer-supported series designed to offer top-drawer competition and a career pathway for young aspiring drivers in Ireland and the UK.

With a prize fund unrivalled in domestic motorsport for well over a decade, the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup will see crews in the Peugeot 208 Rally4 or Opel Corsa Rally4 battle it out for €75,000 and a supported drive in the 2025 FIA Junior European Rally Championship [Junior ERC].

The Cup will follow the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and Probite British Rally Championship, tackling four rounds of each series on both gravel and asphalt surfaces. The calendar has been constructed to offer the most challenging events on both sides of the Irish Sea, ensuring the greatest competition for all contenders and preparation for the future for career-minded youngsters.

Open to all ages, the Cup will offer €6,000 of prize money in each round, with €3,000 going to the highest-placed competitor in every event. Second place receives €1,750, third €750, fourth €500 and fifth receives one Michelin Motorsport tyre from distributors Protyre Motorsport Ireland.

Outside of the top five, a random draw will take place at the conclusion of each event, with one lucky crew receiving a Michelin Motorsport tyre.

For those competitors under 26 years old on 1^st January 2024, a Junior prize is also available for the highest-placed Junior contender at the end of the season. The winner will receive registration to the 2025 FIA Junior European Rally Championship, entry fees to six rounds of the Junior ERC and 12 tyres per round contested in the series, worth almost €40,000.

Contenders will use the Michelin Pilot Sport Pro tyre, which has been designed specifically for the Stellantis series across Europe and will be the first recipients of this new tyre in Ireland and the UK. Series organisers have ensured a cost-effective registration fee of €1,950 for the season which includes an awning, barriers, and flags from series partners LP Tent.

It also includes registration to the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and Probite British Rally Championship for the 2024 season, ensuring competitors can also chase the respective titles should they so choose.

Technical and parts support will be available on every round of the series, provided by Peugeot Sport and Opel Motorsport distributors Race & Rally.

The Cup will kick off in Ireland, with the highly anticipated West Cork Rally in March, before heading onto the gravel for the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages in April. Killarney Rally of the Lakes marks back-to-back asphalt events, with the Donegal International Rally following on in June. The Voyonic Grampian Forest Rally takes crews into Scotland in August, before the Cup joins the European Rally Championship and British Rally Championship crews at the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion in September.

Cork 20 International marks the final asphalt round before the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally brings the curtain down on the season in October as crews face the famous Wales Rally GB stages to potentially decide the title. Seven rounds from eight will count towards the final score.

Raymond Moore, Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK registrar is delighted to finally unveil the series and open registrations for the 2024 campaign.

“I'm very excited to finally release the championship regulations and declare registrations open for the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK,” he says.

“It's taken a lot of hard work over the past six months or so behind the scenes to make this happen, but thanks to the support of Stellantis Motorsport, Michelin, Protyre Motorsport Ireland, LP Tents and Race & Rally, we have been able to get this over the line.”

“Both Ireland and the UK have really been missing this kind of series which welcomes all drivers but also offers the progressive youngster an opportunity to further their careers. The Junior ERC is highly competitive and the perfect proving ground, so it made total sense to construct a calendar which offers the best events on both sides of the water, ensuring they are as ready as possible to take their careers to the next level.

“Interest has already been high, and we have talked to an encouraging number of crews who want to join us. Of course, we welcome anyone interested in taking part and we can always assist in locating Peugeot 208 or Corsa Rally4’s for the series.

“I look forward to seeing everyone in Cork in March, it will be a very exciting moment to see the series finally get off the ground”.

Iain Campbell, FIA European Rally Championship Manager believes the series offers a great platform for aspiring drivers.

“This is a fabulous incentive for UK and Ireland competitors, and a great stepping stone to international competition for the winner” he says.

“The UK and Ireland have a great history of producing top drivers and co-drivers who go onto star on the world stage. In fact, almost a third of the WRC competitors in Rally1 cars in 2024 have competed in the British and Irish series when learning their trade.

“We look forward to welcoming the winner of this inaugural Cup to the FIA Junior ERC Championship in 2025. Knowing how fierce the competition is in Juniors, it will be fascinating to see them progress.

“Well done to everyone involved in getting this initiative off the ground and remember it’s possible to enter Junior ERC events in 2024 on a one-off or partial basis for those drivers wanting to get a taste of what they might experience next season."

For more information on the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK visit:

https://stellantismotorsportcup.com/

Images:

The Stellantis Motorsport Cup IRE & UK is launched (image credit British Rally Championship)
The Opel Corsa Rally4 is eligible, along with the Peugeot 208 Rally4, both part of the Stellantis group (image credit Opel Motorsport)
Asphalt and gravel feature in the calendar in Ireland and the UK (image credit British Rally Championship)