American driver Conner Martell will make his World Rally Championship debut at next month’s Acropolis Rally Greece driving a Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale.
Since transitioning from rallycross to stage rallying full-time in 2023, Martell established himself as a winner in the American Rally Association behind the wheel of a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 before making the transition to Europe.
This year tne 29-year-old has been competing in the French Gravel Championship with 2C Competition, but will now transition into the world championship – starting with the Acropolis in June before further events in Finland and Sardinia.
Martell will stay with 2C but will trade a Fabia for an Ypsilon as he looks to make the next step in his career – joining team-mate Léo Rossel who’ll move from his Citroën C3 to a Lancia as well.
“I am very excited to start this new chapter in my career,” he said. “It’s an incredible feeling to be a part of Lancia and Stellantis who’s names hold great value in the sport of rally. I can’t wait to get into the car and I believe that I can perform very well.
Martell will make his Lancia debut in conjunction with his WRC debut in Greece
“The WRC will be the true testing ground for my skill set. It has always been a dream of mine to compete at the pinnacle of rally racing; that is the WRC. Not only will we be competing in Greece but we also will be doing Rally Finland as well as Rally Sardinia.
“I am anxious to get started and to put in all the hard work to see how we stack up against the series veterans. It’s going to be a difficult transition but I am beyond excited for this new challenge and all the learning that will come with it.
“I couldn’t ask for a better team to be supporting this endeavor as I have developed a great relationship with 2C Competition and they have been integral to taking my race-craft to the next level. I hope to make America proud.”
For co-driver Alex Gelsomino, this program marks a return to the WRC for the first time since 2018 when he co-drove Ken Block in a Ford Fiesta WRC.
Gelsomino (left) has WRC experience alongside drivers such as Ken Block and Gus Greensmith
“I am stoked to be back in WRC after several years, and on top of that with a brand like Lancia,” he said. “Being born and raised in Italy, that means a lot to me. Lancia is not only one of the legendary names in our sport, but was also winning world championships when I was a teenager, and inspired me to one day become a professional co-driver.
“2C Competition has put together an extensive program for Conner and I that started with gaining experience in the American and French Rally Championships late last year and into 2026, and now moving to WRC events. I’m also excited for Conner to experience his first WRC events this year and progress into the next level of his rallying.”
Alongside their WRC program, Martell and Gelsomino will also compete at Rallye Terre de Vaucluse, the finale of the French Gravel Championship, in November – the rally Martell made his European debut on last year.
