The 2026 Armed Forces Race Challenge season is underway for Lee Kenealy, who returns to the grid in a newly prepared Citroën Saxo VTS 16v named Rockie following a public vote on Instagram. After finishing 6th overall and securing the Novice Champion title in 2025, Kenealy steps into the Veteran category for the new season.
The opening round at Silverstone National delivered a demanding start. Minor fuel issues in Race 1 interrupted pace towards the end, and a spin in Race 2 cost valuable time. Kenealy kept his composure and brought Rockie home safely in both races, collecting the first points of the year.
Mel Higgins, Co-Founder, Doris Archer Motorsport: “Silverstone was a tough opener, but Lee handled it exactly the way this championship requires. Calm, measured, and focused on getting the car to the flag. The Armed Forces Race Challenge is built on consistency rather than outright position, and even with the setbacks he delivered two clean finishes. With Rockie now shaken down, we are ready to build from here.”
A Championship Defined by Consistency
The Armed Forces Race Challenge uses a scoring system known as Performance Index (PI). Rather than rewarding finishing position, PI measures lap to lap consistency, scoring drivers on how closely they can match their own benchmark times.
The format levels the field across a wide range of cars. It rewards discipline, precision, and consistency. It reflects the championship’s ethos of skill and resilience.
Kenealy’s strengths in consistency and racecraft were central to his 2025 success and remain key to his 2026 Veteran Title campaign.
Rockie: A New Start for 2026
Rockie, the team’s newly built Citroën Saxo VTS 16v, represents a fresh chapter for the season. The name Rockie was chosen by public vote from a shortlist including Chanson, the name used for the Saxo in Japan, Donnie, a nod to designer Donato Coco, and Markie, which simply appealed to us. The public vote reflects the strong community support behind the business. Rockie, with improved performance potential over Lee’s previous car ‘Bari’, forms the foundation for the team’s development work this year.
Lee Kenealy: “Last season taught me a huge amount, and winning Novice Champion was an exciting milestone. This year is a new challenge with a new car, and even though Silverstone tested us, we have already taken a lot from the weekend. I am looking forward to pushing on and fighting for the Veteran Title.”
Acknowledgements
Doris Archer Motorsport would like to thank its 2026 partners for their continued support:
- The Shallow Consultancy Company
- Stormvault
- Next Mile Driver Training
- Ninety2 Automotive
- Stockists of Powerflex and RamAir
Their support enables the team to compete, develop, and represent their partners throughout the season.
Looking Ahead
With the first round complete and valuable data gathered, the team now turns its attention to the next event. The focus is on refining Rockie, strengthening consistency, and building momentum for the 2026 campaign.