After over 30 years, a Lancia is atop the podium in an international rally. Last weekend, Craig Rahill won the FIA European Rally Championship’s Barum Czech Rally Zlín in the ERC4 and Junior ERC categories with a Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF.

Lancia last won an FIA-sanctioned rally in 1993 when Christophe Spiliotis topped Group N at the 1993 Rallye Monte-Carlo in a Lancia Delta HF Integrale. The manufactuer had pulled out of the World Rally Championship after winning the 1992 title, but some privateers continued to use them until Group A was phased out in 1997.

Their latest overall win in an international rally was the 1992 Rallye Sanremo with Andrea Aghini and Juha Kankkunen finishing 1–2.

In late 2024, Stellantis brought Lancia back into the rally world with the Ypsilon Rally4 HF and Trofeo Lancia Rally spec series. The inaugural champion of the latter will then race for Lancia’s revived factory team Lancia Corse HF in the 2026 European Rally Championship. Multiple Lancias entered their home race at the Rally di Roma Capitale, where Giandrea Pisani was their highest finisher of third in ERC4.

Rahill usually races a Peugeot 208 Rally4 in the ERC but switched to Lancia for the Barum Rally. Competing under the Motorsport Ireland Academy banner, he finished 23rd overall while beat David Tomek’s Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo for the RC4 class win.

“[W]hat an honour it is to create a small bit of history,” Rahill wrote. “We had a game plan coming into the weekend and we stuck by it from the word go and it all fell into place for us. The Hankook tyres were extremely impressive throughout the weekend even in mixed conditions we had a good feeling with them which built our confidence.”

Lancia released the following statement after his win:

The new Ypsilon Rally4 HF does not cease to amaze and has just added an important milestone to an already boundless journey: last weekend, Craigh Rahill and his co-driver, Conor Smith, rewrote motorsport history by dominating both the ERC4 and Junior ERC at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín, at the wheel of the Lancia rally car. This is the first win for the new Italian car in a European championship, a result which confirms the great potential of a project devised to give young talents the chance to shine and chase a future as professionals.

[…]

For Lancia, the Czech victory is an important milestone: the new Ypsilon Rally4 HF has found success in an international competition, opening up new possibilities for the sports ambitions of the Turin-based brand. The Barum Rally has thus confirmed its legendary status on the European scene: it is a true proving ground for young talents and a launchpad for vehicles ready to make a name for themselves in continental competitions.

The Trofeo Lancia Rally is conducted in tandem with the Campionato Italiano Assoluto Rally Sparco. Pisani currently leads the points standings.

“With over 100 Ypsilon Rally4 HF vehicles already sold and 40 teams registered, Lancia’s single-brand cup is proving to be one of the most popular and competitive championships of the season, offering the ideal balance between accessibility, performance, and youth,” continued Lancia’s statement. “The cup’s star is the Ypsilon Rally4 HF, developed with the technical input of Miki Biasion and capable of combining power and reliability since its first official tests. In short, with simplified regulations, low costs, and highly educational environment, the Trofeo Lancia represents a proving ground for both emerging talents and ambitious drivers.

“The Ypsilon Rally4 HF, the exciting Trofeo Lancia and now also Craig Rahill’s incredible victory at the Barum Rally, have brought the brand’s racing soul back into the spotlight, reigniting the passion for ‘drifting’ among fans and on the roads, in the natural territory of the most successful brand in the history of motorsport.”

Featured image credit: @World / Red Bull Content Pool