Five-time World Rally Championship event winner Kris Meeke produced a masterclass on the unforgiving tarmac of Mid Wales to claim a commanding victory at the 2026 JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion.

Osian Hits Bank on QS - Courtesy of Adam Peer
Historics Podium - Courtesy of Adam Peer

The 2026 JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion delivered another dramatic weekend of competition across the treacherous mountain passes and coastal roads of Mid Wales, with the event forming a major round of both the FIA European Rally Championship and the Probite British Rally Championship.

Teemu Sunninen and Antti Haapla take ERC title - Courtesy of Adam Peer

A stacked ERC entry ensured there was plenty at stake throughout the weekend, while the British championship contenders produced an equally compelling battle on home soil.

Twists, upsets and unexpected drama were never far away.

Merion Evans Interviews after Wn -Courtesy of Adam Peer

Meeke Delivers a Masterclass

Five-time WRC event winner Kris Meeke joined forces with Melvyn Evans Motorsport for the event and immediately demonstrated why he remains one of rallying's most formidable talents.

ERC Podium - Courtesy of Adam Peer

Meeke established an early advantage over Teemu Suninen before producing a measured and controlled performance across the demanding Welsh stages. Rather than taking unnecessary risks, Meeke managed his advantage intelligently as the event progressed, maintaining a comfortable margin heading into the final stages.

By the penultimate test, Meeke held a buffer of more than 30 seconds and was able to approach the final Power Stage with victory firmly under control.

BRC Podim -Courtesy of Adam Peer

On SS16, Ty Glyn 2, Meeke crossed the finish line to secure an impressive overall victory by 38.6 seconds.

Suninen brought his Škoda home safely in second position, collecting enough points to secure the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship title ahead of Polish contender Miko Marczyk.

Merion Poses with Team Melvyn Evans for Home Rally Win - Courtesy of Adam Peer

BRC Battle Goes Down to the Wire

Behind the ERC frontrunners, the fight for British Rally Championship honours produced plenty of drama.

Merion Through Water Splash on SS Pendam -Courtesy of Adam Peer

Championship leader Osian Pryce endured a difficult start after an incident during the qualifying stage saw him slide into a bank and suffer a puncture. Pryce responded impressively, however, fighting his way back through the field and steadily closing the gap to Max McRae stage by stage.

Unfortunately for Pryce, his recovery came to an end on Sunday when gearbox problems forced him out of the rally.

Mcrae Rounds Sharp Corner as Spectators look on at Sundays Town Stages -Courtesy of Adam Peer

That left McRae and Evans to continue their battle for BRC honours, with Evans ultimately getting the better of McRae to secure victory on Sunday via use of his Joker.

McRae nevertheless produced a strong overall performance in the European Rally Championship classification, finishing fourth overall and approximately six seconds ahead of Evans.

Twisitng Narror Roads of Rali Ceredigion -Courtesy of Adam Peer

The result leaves the British Rally Championship finely poised heading into the final round, with all three leading contenders remaining firmly in the title fight.

The championship will now be decided at the Cambrian Rally in late October, setting the stage for what promises to be a dramatic, white-knuckled finale.

Soar Y Mynnyd Valley -Courtesy of Adam Peer

Raftery Secures BRC3 Crown

Aoife Raftery also had plenty to celebrate after securing the BRC3 championship title.

Her success added another significant storyline to a weekend packed with championship drama and challenging conditions.

Teemu Suninnen Catapults Down Sharp Bank -Courtesy of Adam Peer

Stage Drama and Disruption

The demanding nature of Rali Ceredigion was reflected not only in the competition but also in a number of interruptions across the weekend.

Saturday's SS6, Soar y Mynydd, was cancelled due to radio communication issues which created a safety concern for organisers and competitors.

Further drama followed on Sunday when SS13, Gorsgoch, was halted following a crash involving ERC contender Jakub Matulka and co-driver Damian Syty.

The remaining international competitors were diverted away from the stage while the necessary safety procedures were carried out.

Mcrae Poses with Co Driver and Family -Courtesy of Adam Peer

Historic Rallying Takes Centre Stage

The 2026 Rali Ceredigion also marked a milestone year with the official inclusion of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship.

The historic field brought some of rallying's most iconic machinery back to the high-speed and unpredictable tarmac roads of Mid Wales.

Aoife Interviews with Molly post event Win -Courtesy of Adam Peer

Among the notable entries were Dyfrig James and Emyr Jones in a Ford Escort RS1800 MkII, alongside Mark Higgins and Carl Williamson in a Triumph TR7 V8.

Maciej Lubiak and Grzegorz Dachowski completed the historic podium in their Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0, mastering the demanding stages and the unique characteristics of the rear-engined Porsche.

Meeke Celebrates with Champaign Blast - Courtesy of Adam Peer

With Kris Meeke delivering a commanding overall victory, Teemu Suninen securing the European title and the British Rally Championship now heading towards a winner-takes-all finale, the 2026 Rali Ceredigion once again proved why it has become one of the standout events on the European rally calendar.

Helecopter Passes Over Mcrae after SS6 Cancellation -Courtesy of Adam Peer

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