American Driver Conner Martell to Make WRC Debut with Lancia at Acropolis Rally

American rally driver Conner Martell will make his World Rally Championship debut next month behind the wheel of the new Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale at WRC EKO Acropolis Rally Greece, becoming one of only three American drivers to compete at the WRC level in the past 25 years.

Martell will be paired with co-driver Alex Gelsomino — no stranger to WRC, having previously co-driven with Ken Block — and will compete under the banner of French motorsport organization 2C Competition alongside French crew Léo Rossel and Guillaume Mercoiret. The team takes the start at WRC EKO Acropolis Rally Greece the weekend of June 25–28.

Martell, who hails from Vermont, has proven himself to be a rising talent in the American Rally Association (ARA) Championship the last few years before taking his program to Europe. A second-place overall finish at 2025 Rallye Terre de Vaucluse in the French Gravel Rally Championship opened the door to a three-round campaign in the French series in 2026 — a championship noted for its demanding same-day reconnaissance and race format — where Martell and Gelsomino earned multiple podium finishes against a competitive field.

Greece will mark the first of three planned WRC appearances for Martell, with Finland and Italy also on the schedule.

Martell said: “I am very excited to start this new chapter in my career. Being part of the Lancia and Stellantis program — names that carry so much weight in rally — is an incredible feeling. The WRC has always been the dream, and I believe I can perform well there. It won’t be an easy transition, but I’m beyond excited for the challenge and everything that comes with it. I couldn’t ask for a better team than 2C Competition — they’ve been integral to developing my racecraft, and I hope to make America proud.”

Co-driver Alex Gelsomino added: “I’m stoked to be back in WRC, and to do it with a brand like Lancia means something special — I was born and raised in Italy, and Lancia was winning world championships when I was a teenager. They inspired me to become a professional co-driver. 2C Competition has built a serious program for Conner and I, starting in the American and French championships and now stepping up to WRC. I’m excited to watch Conner take on his first events at this level and keep progressing.”

Follow Conner Martell on Instagram @ConnerMartell21, as well as @AlexGelsomino and @2C_Competition, for the latest news and updates.