27/02/2026
M-SPORT RALLY ITALIA AWARD FOR WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP JUNIORS
Two young competitors from this year's Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship will win the opportunity of a lifetime to join the M-Sport WRC team for Rally Italia in October.
In a continuation of the unique partnership between M-Sport and the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, the leading junior driver and co-driver after round four of the season, the Micky Grist stages in July, will get the chance to travel to Rally Italia and work with the M-Sport team as part of the weather crew for the event.
According to M-Sport WRC driver Jon Armstrong, the role of the weather crew is very important. Armstrong said: “Weather crews play such an important role during the rally days and the information we get from these crews on the stages is so valuable when choosing tyres and making final adjustments to pacenotes. All the crews are always so grateful for what these guys do, and we wouldn’t be able to perform at the level we do without them.”
For 2026 the junior awards within the PWRC will only be open to crews in two-wheel-drive cars and are for competitors aged under 25 at January 1, 2026.
This unique prize will include accommodation and transport in Italy, so the winners only have to cover their flights from the UK to Italy. They will then work as part of the M-Sport team across the rally as Irish aces Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean spearhead the M-Sport challenge in Ford Puma Rally1 cars.
The Welsh championship award winners will get the chance to meet the drivers, co-drivers and key team members and gain an unrivalled insight into how a team at the top of the sport operates.
On behalf of the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, joint co-ordinator Brynmor Pierce said: “We are truly indebted to Rich Millener and everyone at M-Sport for making this amazing prize available. It really is a unique opportunity for two youngsters to learn so much about rallying at the top of the sport. I look forward to seeing who our leading contenders are and then confirming our two winners .”
Pirelli Motorsport UK Welsh Rally Championship
March 28 Rally North Wales
April 11 Severn Valley Stages
June 13 Plains Rally
July 11 Nicky Grist Stages
September 12 Woodpecker Rally
October 24 Cambrian Rally
November 14 Wyedean Stages Rally