SMRC4 and SMRC6 – New developments for the Stellantis Cup!

Stellantis Motorsport has completely redesigned its promotional cup in 2025. The Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup (SMRC) now becomes two distinct championships: the SMRC4, for the group’s Rally4 cars, and the SMRC6, dedicated to the new Peugeot 208 Racing (FR6 category).

🗣️ As highlighted by Jean-Marc Vinatier (Head of Promotional Formulas at Stellantis Motorsport): “The SMRC4 remains the benchmark for Stellantis Rally4 cars, while the SMRC6 provides access to competition with the Peugeot 208 Racing.”

These two formulas take place during rounds of the French Rally Championship (all on tarmac, except for one gravel round in SMRC4) and aim to offer young drivers a real springboard to the top level 📈

🔗 See the official press release on the STELLANTIS Motorsport website

SMRC4: multi-brand Rally4 cup

For 2025, this formula brings together all Rally4 models from the Stellantis group: Peugeot 208 Rally4, Opel Corsa Rally4 and the Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF. The championship runs across six rounds of the French calendar (five on tarmac, one on gravel). Competitors are divided into three age categories (U25, U30 and Expert) and compete for the overall standings. The cup therefore highlights small-displacement cars (1.2 L turbo, around 210 hp) which are already acclaimed as “high-performance race cars” for developing young talent 💪

At the end of the season, the prizes are very attractive. The winner in the U25 or U30 category will be awarded a full program in the 2026 French Rally Championship with a Citroën C3 Rally2 🥳

If the U25 champion does not win the overall standings (for example, if finishing behind an older driver), they will still receive a 2026 SMRC4 program in collaboration with the Saint-Vallier High School (rally training center). In addition, the Expert champion (the oldest driver) will be awarded a brand-new Peugeot 208 Racing FR6. Furthermore, three “loyalty bonuses” will reward the most consistent crews throughout the season. This reward structure makes the SMRC4 a true springboard to the 2026 French Rally Championship and higher categories 👍

📅 SMRC4 - 2025 Calendar

The SMRC4 2025 takes place over six national events (five tarmac rallies and one gravel rally) included in the FFSA calendars:

• Rallye du Touquet – Pas-de-Calais: March 13-15, 2025 (tarmac)
• Rallye Terre de Castine: May 2-4, 2025 (gravel)
• Rallye Vosges Grand Est: June 13-15, 2025 (tarmac)
• Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine: September 4-6, 2025 (tarmac)
• Rallye Cœur de France: September 26-28, 2025 (tarmac)
• Rallye du Var: November 28-30, 2025 (tarmac)

SMRC6: Peugeot 208 Racing FR6 Cup

The Peugeot 208 Racing FR6 is at the heart of the SMRC6. This new model, unveiled in 2024, is a truly accessible race car (turbocharged 1.2-L three-cylinder engine with around 145 hp) designed specifically for the new FR6 category. The SMRC6 is exclusively reserved for this car, competitive and accessible, ideal for drivers looking to discover the discipline.

See also: "FR6 FFSA Trophy: info and prices"

In 2025, the SMRC6 will be contested over four asphalt rounds of the French Championship (they partly overlap with those of the SMRC4). The classification is done overall (scratch) and in the U25 category.

ℹ️ In 2025, the SMRC6 is reserved for the Peugeot 208 Racing FR6. Other FR6 models exist (Corsa, Ypsilon), with no eligibility announced in SMRC6 to date (September 2025)

See also: "Clio, Corsa, Ypsilon… Rally6 welcomes new cars"

The progression principle is clear: over the season, crews compete for a prize pool. In total, €15,000 in bonuses will be distributed among the top SMRC6 crews of the season. Above all, the U25 winner (the youngest driver) will be offered entry into at least two SMRC4 rounds in 2026, thus opening a direct door to the higher cup 💪

As Didier Clément (Head of Customer Racing) explains: the SMRC6 makes it possible “to start a rally career in optimal conditions”. In short, the SMRC6 ensures a well-structured first step in rallying and opens immediate prospects towards the SMRC4 😋

📅 SMRC6 – 2025 Calendar

The 2025 SMRC6 takes place over four asphalt events of the FFSA French Rally Championship:

• Rallye Vosges Grand Est: 13 – 15 June 2025
• Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine: 4 – 6 September 2025
• Rallye Cœur de France: 26 – 28 September 2025 (event contested in 2 distinct legs for the FR6 trophy)
• Rallye du Var: 28 – 30 November 2025

Integration of the 2024 Rallye Jeunes FFSA winners into SMRC6 (2025)

The FFSA is using the new SMRC6 cup as a springboard for young talents from the Rallye Jeunes programme. After the 2024 selections, which brought together more than 6,000 candidates, three winners were chosen: Paul Couturier (19), Antoine Jarraud (21) and Camille Choudin (25, women’s winner). These three drivers make up the “2025 class” of Rallye Jeunes and benefit from an official programme in the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup FR6 👌

In practice, each winner in 2025 has a Peugeot 208 Racing FR6 provided by the FFSA Academy and takes part in four asphalt rallies of the French Rally Championship, matching the SMRC6 calendar: Vosges, Mont-Blanc, Cœur de France and Var. The three Rallye Jeunes crews are supervised by the FFSA Academy and were able to complete two warm-up events (Lohéac and Tréport) to get familiar with the 208 FR6 before the official start of the season.

Number of winners and gender diversity

The 2025 class includes three winners — two men and one woman — thanks to the addition of a dedicated women’s selection in 2024. Since this year, Rallye Jeunes FFSA awards at least one seat to a female candidate in order to promote gender diversity in French rallying. Paul Couturier, Antoine Jarraud and Camille Choudin were the fastest at the national final of the 2024 Rallye Jeunes selections, thus earning their place in the 2025 Stellantis cup.

Eligibility conditions for the Rallye Jeunes seat

To participate, candidates must meet strict criteria: be of French nationality, be under 26 years of age and hold a category B driving licence. No prior competition experience is required: winners can be complete newcomers.

Entries are open to all young people meeting these criteria, for a symbolic fee of 20 €. The winners of the Rallye Jeunes FFSA selections thus obtain an official, Federation-funded seat for a full season in SMRC6, including provision of the car, rally entries, technical and sporting support, etc. 🎉

ℹ️ This Rallye Jeunes → SMRC6 pathway is a unique opportunity for new talents to start directly in competition within a professional framework and gain experience with a view to the higher tiers of French rallying.

🔗 Find all the information (regulations, prizes and registration) on the official Rallye Jeunes FFSA website.

Prizes and Prospects for the Stellantis Cups in 2026

The SMRC4 and SMRC6 cups are designed as stepping stones to the higher levels. In addition to the material prizes (car awarded, financial bonuses) described above, the best drivers are offered race programs for the following season. As stated for the SMRC4, the U25/U30 champions will move up in 2026 to the Citroën C3 Rally2 in the French Championship. Meanwhile, the U25 winner of the 2025 SMRC6 will immediately compete at the start of the 2026 season in the SMRC4 (at least two events).

➡️ See all rally car listings on GoToTheGrid (for sale / for rent) 😉

This automatic progression is designed to keep deserving drivers within the Stellantis fold and give them the means to shine at the national level. In addition, all SMRC participants (4 or 6) will benefit from shared technical support (joint service area, technical assistance at events) and rigorous sporting supervision to ensure fairness ⚖️

In 2026, these formulas will be fully established: the SMRC4 will again have its six rounds and the SMRC6 its four events (calendar to be confirmed at the end of 2025). Stellantis’ goal is clear: “to support talent towards the highest level,” as Vinatier again affirms. For young drivers, it’s a structured pathway – SMRC6 → SMRC4 → French Rally Championship – that is now clearly mapped out 🚀

🏆 Recent Records (SMRC4/SMRC6)

👉 SMRC4 / Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Record since 2020

• 2021 – Hugo Margaillan (co-driver: Laëtitia Marsault) – Winner of the 2021 208 Rally Cup France, title clinched at the Rallye du Var, leading to a Citroën C3 Rally2 program for 2022.
• 2022 – Léo Rossel (co-driver: Guillaume Mercoiret) – 2022 Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup France Champion. Already 2020 French Junior Champion, he won the Stellantis Cup in 2022 and then joined the Citroën Racing program in Rally2.
• 2023 – Anthony Fotia (co-driver: William Hanocq) – Winner of the 2023 Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup (U29 category), with 5 wins in 6 rallies. His Stellantis Rally4 Cup title gave him a seat in a Citroën C3 Rally2 in the French Rally Championship.
• 2024 – Lucas Darmezin (co-driver: Valentin Augé) – 2024 Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup Champion after the final at Rallye du Var. At 22 years old, Lucas Darmezin claimed the overall Scratch title of the cup (after a close duel with V. Ascenzi) and secured an official C3 Rally2 program for the 2025 season.

📸 Nicolas Millet Photography

👉 SMRC6 Record

• 2025 – First winner to be determined. The 2025 SMRC6 season (208 Rally Cup FR6) is the very first edition of this format; the 2025 SMRC6 champion title will be awarded after the final round (Rallye du Var 2025). No previous record exists for the FR6 category, introduced in 2025.

Stellantis in Rallying: International Reach

While this article focuses deliberately on France, the promotion model is global for Stellantis. Several similar cups already exist in Europe: the same concept can be found in Spain, Portugal, BeLux, Italy (with the “Trofeo Lancia Rally4”), the UK/Ireland (cup on gravel and tarmac events), etc. These competitions bring together the Rally4 models (208, Corsa, Ypsilon) in each country, giving more visibility and opportunities to young drivers 👏

Starting in 2026, Stellantis is extending this approach internationally: its first American Rally Cup will be launched in the United States and Canada, exclusively with the Peugeot 208 Rally4. As noted by the Stellantis manager, it’s “a new and very exciting challenge” to export this concept to the Americas. The North American calendar will include six gravel/snow events (with a final in Charlevoix, Canada) and will be structured into Junior/Expert categories similar to Europe 🌍

This global approach shows that the group is capitalizing on the success of the European Rally Cups, which have already proven effective in bringing out talent across Europe.

In summary, the 2025 Stellantis Cup strengthens the promotion formulas in France for young rally drivers. By offering two complementary formats (SMRC4 and SMRC6) and attractive rewards (cars, Rally2 2026 programs, prize money), it aims to expand the brand’s driver development pathway. With the prospect of progression to the 2026 French Rally Championship, it continues Stellantis’ efforts (like the Clio Trophy with the Clio Rally5) to structure the learning process in rallying.

Simply put: SMRC6 to learn, SMRC4 to perform, Rally2 to prove. The Stellantis 2025–2026 pathway clearly outlines a ramp towards the top level 😎