Green light for the 2026 Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cups!

• In France, the SMRC4 and SMRC6 will continue as part of the Asphalt and Gravel Championships, featuring three Stellantis Group brands: Opel, Peugeot, and Lancia

• Elsewhere in Europe and the Americas, Stellantis Motorsport is organizing numerous Rally Cups, some of which have already begun. The SMRC North and South America are launching this year

• Through all these Rally Cups, Stellantis Motorsport aims to discover and support young talent as they advance to the highest level of the sport

Following their resounding success last year, the two French Rally Cups—SMRC6 and SMRC4—are back this year as part of the French Asphalt Rally Championships (1st and 2nd Divisions) and the French Gravel Rally Championship. To date, the SMRC6 already has 27 entries and the SMRC4 attracts 28, a record number!

Launched in 2025, the SMRC6 is reserved for Stellantis vehicles in the FR6 category, namely the Peugeot 208 Racing and the new Lancia Ypsilon HF Racing. These front-wheel-drive models, equipped with a 145-horsepower turbocharged engine and standard tires, are fun, reliable, and accessible. They are the ideal way to get started in the sport. The 2026 calendar consists of six asphalt rallies, four in the French Championship and two in the 2nd Division Championship. Prizes are awarded at the end of each round, and the Junior Champion will win a 2027 season in the Rally4 category with Team St-Vallier.

The SMRC4 is open to Stellantis vehicles in the Rally4 category—Peugeot 208, Opel Corsa, and Lancia Ypsilon HF. With a 1.2-liter turbocharged engine producing over 200 horsepower and a maximum torque of 290 Nm at 3,000 rpm, a dedicated chassis, and a SADEV sequential gearbox, these three highly competitive models offer seasoned drivers and young talents alike a great driving experience and provide the technical and sporting expertise essential for a career in the sport. It is the perfect springboard to the top level and the Rally2 category… In fact, the winner will drive a Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 in 2027 as part of the CFR. The 2026 calendar is a mix of four asphalt rallies and two gravel events.

In addition to France, Stellantis Motorsport organizes several Rally Cups and Trophies in the Americas and Europe. Across the Atlantic, the SMRC North and South America series are launching this year based on the Rally4 models. In Europe, the SMRC UK/Ireland (asphalt in Ireland, gravel in the UK) and SMRC Iberica (asphalt in Spain, gravel in Portugal) will be held in 2026. In the Benelux region, the SMRC4 is now accompanied by an SMRC6, as in France. A Rally Cup is also organized in Hungary, not to mention the Trofeo Lancia in Italy. In addition, the ADAC Opel GSE Rally Cup, organized by Opel, stands out as the first fully electric rally program.

With all these programs — combustion and electric — Stellantis Motorsport strengthens its position as a major global player in rallying and demonstrates its commitment to sporting innovation.

Whether in the Americas or Europe, Stellantis Motorsport supports all its teams and provides sporting and technical guidance. At every rally, a spare parts truck and a hospitality area are present in the service parks. At every Rally Cup event, winners are rewarded with cash prizes and prizes. At the end of the year, most winners are offered the opportunity to drive a Stellantis vehicle in the higher category the following season.

The Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cups have enabled young talents to reach the top level—and even the very highest level—of the sport. For example, the Rossel brothers, Yohan and Léo, who are competing this season in the FIA World Rally Championship (Rally2 category), cut their teeth in the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup.

François Wales, Director of Customer Racing
“Closely aligned with rally calendars for many years and inseparable from them, the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cups are restarting! In France, after a promising debut in 2025, the SMRC6 is firmly establishing itself this year alongside the SMRC4, which continues to be contested within both the Asphalt and Gravel Championships. The other Rally Cups also remain present in their historical territories across Europe, and we are very pleased to add two new Cups to this list with the SMRC North and South America.
Like the existing Rally Cups, these new competitions will allow us to discover and support young talents on rally-friendly terrain and help guide them towards the highest level of the discipline. At the same time, they will also enable drivers of all generations to compete within a rigorous, competitive, yet friendly environment.
At Stellantis Motorsport, we are very proud to contribute to the identification and promotion of young rally talents, as we have demonstrated over many seasons. We are also delighted to contribute to the success of the discipline through our Rally Cups, bringing together strong grids composed of three iconic Stellantis brands: Lancia, Opel, and Peugeot!”

Jean-Marc Vinatier, Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Manager
“The 2026 racing season promises to be exciting. It will be an opportunity to discover new talent in SMRC6 and confirm promising drivers in SMRC4. To achieve this, our goals are clear: we must be active on all fronts—creating a real synergy between the two Cups in France, supporting our international racing markets, and reaching the highest level of world rallying. The Rallye du Touquet will be the first event, and we can count on more than twenty crews in each of the two Cups. They are all highly motivated and ambitious—which is perfect, because our organizing team is just as driven. The winter season is well and truly over; let the action begin!”