Rali Ceredigion 2026 brings ERC, BRC and a new Historic round to Aberystwyth

The JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion runs from 4 to 6 September 2026, based in Aberystwyth and using closed public roads across Ceredigion and Powys. The event is round six of the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship, a counting round of the British Rally Championship, and — for the first time — a round of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship.

The essentials

• Dates: 4–6 September 2026
• Base: Aberystwyth, Wales
• Championships: FIA European Rally Championship (round six), British Rally Championship, FIA European Historic Rally Championship (new for 2026)
• Format: 16 special stages, about 196km (roughly 122 miles) of competitive running
• Surface: tarmac (closed public roads)
• Longest stage: Cwm Elan, 13.5 miles, in the Elan Valley
• Route areas: Ceredigion, Powys and the Elan Valley
• Ceremonial start: 6pm, Thursday 3 September, Aberystwyth Promenade
• Power Stage: the second pass of Ty Glyn

A BRC title fight

For the fifth consecutive year the Aberystwyth-based rally is on the British Rally Championship calendar. In 2026 championship points are awarded twice over the weekend: once across Friday evening and Saturday, then again over Sunday’s four stages after the standings are reset.

Osian Pryce (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) arrives leading the championship by 10 points from Max McRae. The Machynlleth-born driver won the British title in 2022 and has won Rali Ceredigion twice. McRae (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) — grandson of five-time British champion Jimmy McRae and nephew of the late 1995 world champion Colin McRae — is second after his first BRC asphalt win at the Jim Clark Rally, with Pryce’s Castrol MEM team-mate Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), from Lampeter, third and still within mathematical reach of the title. Sam Touzel, from Jersey, returns to the BRC in a Škoda Fabia and makes his FIA European Rally Championship debut alongside co-driver Max Freeman.

Lower down the bill, Aoife Raftery (Ford Fiesta Rally3) leads the BRC3 standings from Junzhe Tang and can seal that title in Ceredigion with maximum scores. In the Junior BRC, Ben McFall (Ford Fiesta Rally4) is among the Rally4 contenders alongside Luke Constantine (Opel Corsa Rally4), Sam Mason and Oran England (both Peugeot 208 Rally4), with Riley Chester (Peugeot 208 Rally4) getting his first taste of international competition. In the National rally, Owen Paterson holds the advantage over Alfie Hammond, co-driver Catrin Price can wrap up the National co-drivers’ title, and Chris Richmond Hand returns to the series in a Toyota Starlet.

Among the wider European entry, reigning European champion Miko Marczyk is on the list, and Jon Armstrong returns as the 2025 Rali Ceredigion winner.

The route

The 2026 event mixes new stages and areas with established ones, combining roads around reservoirs and mountains with technical country lanes. It runs to 16 special stages and about 196km. The Aberystwyth street stage returns and is run twice on each of the Friday and Saturday evenings. Elsewhere the route takes in Elerch, Blaenmelindwr, Aberffrwd, Soar y Mynydd, Gorsgoch and Ty Glyn, with the longest stage, Cwm Elan, measuring 13.5 miles. Saturday carries the bulk of the mileage at eight stages and more than 132km; Friday opens with the street stage and two further tests, and Sunday closes with four stages. The second run of Ty Glyn is the Power Stage, before the finish back on the Aberystwyth Promenade.

For spectators

The Rali Show and autograph session begin at 4.30pm on Thursday 3 September, with the ceremonial start following at 6pm on Aberystwyth Promenade.

Fan Zone tickets, each valid for one car of up to five people, cost £45 online or £60 on the day per zone and cover two passes of that stage. A full-day Fan Zone ticket is £60 and a weekend ticket is £95, though the weekend ticket does not include the street stage. Aberystwyth street-stage admission is £12 in advance or £15 on the day, with under-16s free and a separate ticket required for each of the Friday and Saturday nights; a Premium Zone at the street stage costs £35 for adults and £5 for children. The official programme is £5.

What the organisers say

Last year’s event delivered a £11.6m positive event impact, including an estimated £5.59m of direct economic impact.

Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of Ceredigion County Council, said: “We’re proud to welcome Rali Ceredigion back to the county for 2026. The event continues to grow year on year, bringing significant benefits to our communities, local businesses and the wider economy.”

Charlie Jukes, Event Director for Rali Ceredigion, said: “We’re excited to be building on the success of previous years and to be bringing an expanded event to Ceredigion and Powys in 2026.”

For coverage of Friday’s opening stages, see our Friday day one report.