Caldwell and McPhillips Launch ERC Campaign
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Cian Caldwell from Kells and his County Monaghan navigator Paul McPhillips launched their 2026 European Rally Championship (ERC) Fiesta Rally3 Trophy campaign at Rally School Ireland on Sunday last.
The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy team will begin their championship on the ’43. Andalucía Rally – Sierra Morena – Córdoba World Heritage Site 2026′ in Spain on the 17-19th of April and bring the championship to a close on the Barum Czech Rally Zlin 2026 in August.
In preparation for the Sierra Morena event, Cian and Paul will contest the Rallye La Lana also in Spain on the 10/11th of April.
Aidan Harper (Right)the Motorsport Ireland president was a guest on the day and spoke at length of the success that Cian and Paul have had to date and what their international exploits will mean to their fellow competitors here in Ireland.
Cian and Paul thanked the large crowd who came to support and wish them all success during the upcoming season and Veronica, David and Malachy Smith for hosting the launch at their state-of-the-art facility in Scotstown.
They also thanked the huge input from the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy for helping them progress to the international level and providing help and guidance as they began this new adventure.
During the launch, guests had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of one of the rally school cars for a high-speed drive around the track. There will be huge Cavan/Monaghan interest in the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy 2026 as Cian and Paul are joined by Killian McArdle navigating for Casey Jay Coleman from Clonmel and Craig Rahill/Conor Smith from County Cavan.
The 2025/26 Squealing Pig Monaghan Border Navigation Championship
came to a close on Saturday last at the Donegal Navigation Trial.
This season’s national navigation champions Evin Hughes and Pakie Duffy finished the event in 2nd place and took 1st in the expert class. Adam Langan navigating for Paddy O’Donnell finished in 3rd place and won the semi-expert class. David McCrudden and Peter Deery finished in 7th place and took 2nd in the expert class. Ruaidhri Nash and Eoghan Corr finished 3rd in the expert class. Provisional championship results were published shortly after the finish, and it is Conor Boylan and Derek Mackarel provisionally the Squealing Pig Monaghan border navigation champions for 2025/26 by the smallest of margins over national champions Evin Hughes and Pakie Duffy.
The launch of the Four Seasons Hotel Ronnie Hawe Monaghan Stages Rally 2026 took place in the Four Seasons Hotel Monaghan on Friday night last.
There was a large crowd in attendance to view some of the local rally cars and listen to local radio DJ Sean McCaffrey interview local rally drivers and navigators as well as representatives of Triton Showers and Sligo Pallets who sponsor the National and Border tarmac championships respectively.
Regulations and entry are now published and available for the 2026 Four Seasons Hotel Ronnie Hawe Monaghan Stages Rally. Thomas Treanor and team have picked three demanding stages in the north Monaghan region. The event will take place on Sunday April 12th.
County Monaghan Motor Club 