Oran England and co-driver Darragh Mullen are preparing to give it everything at next weekend’s rescheduled Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, with the Stellantis Cup title, a prize drive in Hungary, and the Class 2 National Rally Championship crown all on the line.
The stakes could hardly be higher for Virginia, County Cavan driver England and his main rival Danny Brady, who go head-to-head on the Tipperary stages level on 46 points in Class 2. With the best six results from eight rounds counting, the national title will be decided on Sunday, October 25.
At the heart of the battle is the ultimate reward for the Stellantis Motorsport Cup champion: an all-expenses-paid opportunity to pilot a Tagai Racing Technology Peugeot 208 Rally4 at the Zemplén Rally in Hungary next month, alongside an exclusive test outing in the new Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally2 car.
Supported officially by Peugeot Ireland, England will take to the Tipperary stages in a Tom Gahan Motorsport-prepared Peugeot 208 Rally4.
For England and Sligo co-driver Mullen, the mission is clear. Brady currently holds the advantage in the Stellantis Cup standings, leaving England needing to win Class 2 and have at least one other Stellantis Cup crew finish between the two rivals to overturn the deficit and secure the European prize drive.
It is equally a winner-takes-all situation for the Class 2 championship, with both crews knowing that the final result in Tipperary will determine who lifts the national crown.
The Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Driver of the Year Award nomination adds further intrigue to the showdown. England secured his nomination earlier in the season following strong national form, but the Class 2 title remains up for grabs. As the nomination does not pass to a runner-up, Brady would miss out on the associated nomination if he finishes second behind England.
England is determined to leave nothing on the table at the final round.
“We’re going to give it everything we have in Tipperary. We know what’s at stake and we know there is no second chance after this one. The aim is to win Class 2, put ourselves in the best possible position for the Stellantis Cup and give ourselves every chance of taking that trip to Hungary to drive with Tagai Racing Technology and test the Lancia. We’ll push as hard as we can and see where we end up.”
The Stonethrowers Rally represents the final opportunity for England and Mullen to turn their campaign into a championship-winning season. When the final stage is complete, one of the two Class 2 contenders will have the national crown, while the other will have to settle for second. For England and Mullen, the objective is to make sure they are the crew celebrating in Tipperary.
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