2023 ERC News & Rumours

[Jarek Z]

European Rally Championship turns 70 this year:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/introducing-erc---70/

[PLuto]

The Ulster Rally may return to ERC if it & its organisers impress the FIA...

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/motor-sport/ulster-rally-given-another-chance-to-shine-under-the-european-spotlight/11641808.html

= if they will bring money...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

= if they will bring money...

That goes without saying these days...

But N.Ireland has history in the ERC and it will be cheaper than getting an event into the WRC.

[fiscorpun]

Not sure where to post this, but Alex Lukyanuk raced as co-driver this year, which is pretty cool! I thought he was totally out of the rallying scene. Hope to see him back into ERC!
https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/82059-rally-vigneti-monferrini-2023/
(in P8 with a Skoda)

[Andre Oliveira]

Lukyanuk is doing coach of ukranian crew (and other portuguese crews like Lucas Simões) that participates in Portugal national championship this season.


https://campeonatoportugalderalis.pt/ucraniano-korzun-contorna-a-guerra-para-vir-a-portugal-correr-nas-2rm/?fbclid=IwAR1anTSfNu3AAftwpnOTBdnJJ_6MExyrkpMYyGhS 8l2zhdY-GQ0PhHeGO34

[atsiotras79]

And in Greece too…

[dimviii]

for which driver?

[Andre Oliveira]

He is living in Cyprus now.

[RallyFan13]

He participate in Italy with Cypriot flag too

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Remembering Craig Breen in the ERC. I was his biggest fan and (possibly only) supporter on this forum at the time.

This was his and the 208T16's first win - Acropolis Rally 2014:

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/10171279_487076374752290_1992111954_n.jpg

https://www.fia.com/news/double-erc-first-breen-and-208t16-acropolis-rally

[RallyFan13]

Thank you Craig Breen for all memories
https://youtu.be/FhfDqBiAeyA

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/erc-stars-pay-tribute-to-craig-breen/

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/craig-breen-a-champion-on-and-away-from-the-stages/

[dimviii]

He participate in Italy with Cypriot flag too

link?

[Andre Oliveira]

https://i.postimg.cc/XNzMw4G6/IMG-0562.jpg

[Jarek Z]

Toyota is still looking for new Japanese rally talents. As part of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program, 3 young drivers from Japan - Yuki Yamamoto, Nao Otake and Hikaru Kogure - are going to compete in ERC Rally Poland on May 19-21. Funny thing is that... they are all going to drive Renaults Clio Rally4 :)

Last week they were competing in Rally Regione Piemonte in Italy, but it didn't go very well.

Source of news and more details about the Toyota initiative:
https://toyotagazooracing.com/challengeprogram_rally/release/2023/041702-01/

[br21]

It's already second year of that project...

[Andre Oliveira]

Dennis Rådström and Johan Johansson to FIA ERC - European Rally Championship in the highest class together with GN Motorsport.

Rally driver Dennis Rådström from Torsby, together with his co-driver Johan Johansson from Valdemarsvik, will drive three races in this year's ERC rally series in the highest class. This is when, together with the reigning Swedish champion team GN Motorsport from Skåne, they drive the gravel races in Poland, Latvia and the home rally Royal Rally of Scandinavia in Värmland in July.

Dennis and Johan will drive a four-wheel-drive Ford Fiesta Rally2 together with GN Motorsport, which has won the Rally-SM for the past three years. This year, the team is betting on the ERC series, where Dennis and Johan will now be teammates with double world champion Pontus Tidemand and co-driver Julia Thulin.

- I am really excited and look forward to developing and competing internationally again. We have a long way to go, and need some miles in our body before we are among the top in the four-wheel drive class. But the potential is there, I feel, and together with GN Motorsport I look forward to the fantastically fun races we will run this summer, says Dennis Rådström.

In the ERC, Dennis and Johan will compete on tires from the Indian tire manufacturer MRF.

We welcome Dennis and Johan to us at GN Motorsporthttps://postimg.cc/MXBqnHGHhttps://i.postimg.cc/fW2Lg0nc/IMG-1573.jpg

[Jarek Z]

Javier Pardo to compete in Rally Islas Canarias as yet another driver representing MRF Tyres:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/pardo-primed-with-erc-rally-islas-canarias-15-days-away/

[ouvreur]

Javier Pardo to compete in Rally Islas Canarias as yet another driver representing MRF Tyres:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/pardo-primed-with-erc-rally-islas-canarias-15-days-away/

Operation Sponsor Everyone Then Maybe One Will Win in full swing...

[Jarek Z]

Operation Sponsor Everyone Then Maybe One Will Win in full swing...

It will be funny if it is Hayden Paddon who wins the title :)

[YerayEcoBoost]

Osyan Price confirms that he will take part in the next three rounds of the ERC (Poland, Latvia and Sweden). These rounds could be joined by a few more.

He will take part in a Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo of the Spanish Mapo Motorsport team, accompanied by the experienced Stephan Prevot. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230509/c7478f17a0a0698544a821c01ead1618.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230509/95efd5c670d4bdd79ff5059e43cd2142.jpg

Enviado desde mi S88Plus mediante Tapatalk

[Fast Eddie WRC]

More from Osian Pryce...

Time for a new challenge !

Following my success in the British Rally Championship last year, i felt the need to try something new, and take on a new challenge.

After a lot of hard work, effort and endless setbacks, I’ve managed to put a deal together to complete in the FIA European Rally Championship for the next 3 events at least. Taking part in Poland, Latvia, and Sweden and see how it goes!

This year I’ll be piloting a Skoda Fabia Rally 2 EVO ran by MAPO Motorsport.
Joining me in the co drivers seat is former WRC co driver Stephane Prevot, so I’m looking forward to learning from him too.

Very thankful that My loyal sponsors and supporters behind the scenes are back for more after being with me for the last two seasons and more. The one thing the last challenging few months has taught me is to rely on the loyal ones, they have stuck with me and kept to their word’s.

Also Thanks to my family and friends once again for their support, I definitely wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for them. 🙏🏻

Looking forward to starting in just over a weeks time in Poland, and join the FIA ERC roadshow. Its been a competitive few rounds so far, so looking forward to getting stuck in, and seeing how we go. And of course…. Enjoy the Experience!

More on: http://www.osianpryce.com/news/osian-to-make-erc-debut-in-poland/

[Jarek Z]

Another MRF driver in ERC 2023:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/rossi-brings-a-lion-to-the-erc4-victory-chase/

[Jarek Z]

Miklós Csomós and Attila Nagy after their huge crash say that they are going to be back on Rally di Roma Capitale in July:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/hungarian-erc-heroes-to-bounce-back-from-canarias-crash/

[TWRC]

Miklós Csomós and Attila Nagy after their huge crash say that they are going to be back on Rally di Roma Capitale in July:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/hungarian-erc-heroes-to-bounce-back-from-canarias-crash/
They started a crowdfunding on their facebook page also, as basically this almost collapsed their budget. I hope to be wrong, but without the help of a big sponsor, it is very 50/50 for them to be there...

[PLuto]

Tom Kristensson Motorsport cancels the ERC program in 2023

It is with great sadness that Tom and Andreas now choose to stop competing in the ERC - European Rally Championship after 3 rounds, and with this also ends the partnership with Tagai Racing Technology and Citroën.
There are many small reasons for this decision. Everything from a feeling, to bigger challenges in working with budgets and the situation in the world right now, as well as some other things, says Tom.
Of course, I would have hoped for a perfect feeling and a really great season in a fantastic championship, but obviously that doesn't happen, unfortunately.
I have been fighting for so many years and learned never to do anything that doesn't feel 100% good or right. This with full respect for everyone involved - the Team, Andreas, Pirelli, Citroën Racing and above all for my own part that I choose to do this.
It's really not about me not wanting to drive a rally car. The will and the joy are there. But it needs to be done the right way. It is so important that the positive outweighs the negative in order to have the strength and be able to continue, concludes Tom.
There are still many activities and sponsor events going on and we are working on a new way forward.
In the middle of this, a request has appeared from a person who has been very involved in my rally effort in various ways. This concerned driving and being seen as well as evaluating various things at Hovdalasprinten in Hässleholm, which is part of the Swedish Championship Gravel Sprint as early as June 3rd.
We will therefore start there in one of GN Motorsport's Ford Fiesta Rally2 here. This felt like a good thing to do considering this situation and we have therefore chosen to accept this.
There are no more competitions planned right now, but we will see how the future develops.
We drive and enjoy in Hovdalasprinten and then we'll see.
Once again, we would like to extend a big and warm thank you to everyone involved.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

JoshMcErlean5
He is back ! @J_Fuzzy_Fulton will return to the hot seat as we take on @FIAERC @LVRally next weekend. Some very fast roads with a very good friend, it doesn’t get much better !

What a brave guy co-driver James Fulton is, getting back into a rally car after the accident that cost his driver Craig Breen his life.

[rp]

What a brave guy co-driver James Fulton is, getting back into a rally car after the accident that cost his driver Craig Breen his life.

That´s true, but he was already in Rally de Portugal with Meeke.

[Kenneth]

Jon Armstrong joins MRF crew and steps up into Fiesta Rally2.

[PLuto]

Jon Armstrong joins MRF crew and steps up into Fiesta Rally2.

Instead of Pontus Tidemand. Currently only for Rally Scandinavia.

[Jarek Z]

Hayden Paddon: We’re trying to do something that hasn’t been done before in 70 years in terms of a non-European winning ERC:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/why-paddon-has-no-plans-to-get-selfish-in-the-erc/

[focus206]

Hayden Paddon: We’re trying to do something that hasn’t been done before in 70 years in terms of a non-European winning ERC:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/why-paddon-has-no-plans-to-get-selfish-in-the-erc/

It's clear that he'll win the title, as Sesks is not fast on asphalt... but could someone tell Paddon that he's too late for that 70 years record thing? Simon Jean-Joseph is French but from Martinique, so he's effectively the first non-European to win the ERC (twice!)

[Jarek Z]

could someone tell Paddon that he's too late for that 70 years record thing? Simon Jean-Joseph is French but from Martinique, so he's effectively the first non-European to win the ERC (twice!)

Good point! I was wandering if anybody would bring it up! :)

[Jarek Z]

Famous Finnish actress goes rallying!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz0IQqYKqAc

[wyler]

delighted to have a few erc drivers in my hometown rally this week in preparation of Rome.
besides italians Campedelli and Mabellini, very surprised to have Sesks in the entry list! I'll try to keep you posted!

[Tom K]

Sesks was announced to do full season before Fafe. There could be much bigger surprise, but let's wait for entries.

EDIT: Sorry did not spot that you are talking about local rally!

[wyler]

Sesks was announced to do full season before Fafe. There could be much bigger surprise, but let's wait for entries.

EDIT: Sorry did not spot that you are talking about local rally!

yep, Rally della Lana, Italy. here is the entry list: https://www.rally-lana.it/blog/tag/concorrenti/170-elenco-iscritti

EDIT: don't know why is not on the main page, ma here's the ewrc entry to follow results:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/81298-rally-lana-2023/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Sesks must be getting good funding to be able to do rallies as practice for his next ERC events.

[wyler]

Sesks must be getting good funding to be able to do rallies as practice for his next ERC events.

my guess is that it's an mrf operation. campedelli is there anyway for the italian championship, so they added two youngsters that need experience: mabellini and sesks...

[Jarek Z]

Sesks must be getting good funding to be able to do rallies as practice for his next ERC events.

Good for him! I hope he doesn't end up like Ralfs Sirmacis...
https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/9403-ralfs-sirmacis/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Delighted to see this. Rally fans to the rescue again.

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/fans-to-the-rescue-as-csom--s-secures-erc-return/

[wyler]

delighted to have a few erc drivers in my hometown rally this week in preparation of Rome.
besides italians Campedelli and Mabellini, very surprised to have Sesks in the entry list! I'll try to keep you posted!

brief recap:
hard to judge sesks as he was driving a rally2-kit fabia. looking good from outside, can't tell how much is the driving and how much is the car in loosing 2s/km from mabellini. then he retired on ss4 (mechanical).
mabellini really really good expecially on fast and large roads, a bit less on technical slower roads. in the lead or fighting for until a puncture lead him to retirement on the penultimate stage.
average race for campedelli, second in the end, not very much in the real fight.

let's see what happens in roma!

[Jarek Z]

Irish driver joins ERC with Hankook Tires:
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/o---brien-in-it-for-the-long-term-with-hankook-equipped-erc-bid/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Chris Ingram is planning to enter Barum Czech Rally Zlín as prep for the WRC Central European Rally.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Re the comeback of Alexey Lukyanuk at Rally di Roma

Were any interviews done with him or any statement made on the reason for his return to competition in the ERC ? I didnt see and cant find any.

I've got nothing against him as he's been anti war in Ukraine for many years. But I thought more would've been made of his return and under the Cypriot flag.

[Walach]

There was only a short interview on regional czech website

https://www-drbna-cz.translate.goog/domaci/10562-zemi-jsme-opustili-na-zacatku-valky-nejde-predstirat-ze-se-nic-nedeje-rika-rusky-zavodnik-sam-vyzyva-k-miru.html?_x_tr_sl=cs&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=cs&_x_tr_pto=wapp

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F3-vkrtXgAAvJh6?format=jpg&name=large

[Rallyper]

Very good performance overall, Hayden and John!

[Jarek Z]

You can vote for The ERC Most Improved Driver of the Year award at https://www.fiaerc.com/a/news/w26680_VoteNow:ERCMostImprovedDriver

[eddy707]

Now that the season is over, I decided to count all the stage winners:

Martins Sesks 17
Hayden Paddon 14
Oliver Solberg 10
Yoann Bonato 8
Andrea Crugnola 8
Mads Ostberg 7
Miklos Csomos 7
Craig Breen 6
Erik Cais 5
Jan Kopecky 4
Andrea Mabellini 4
Mikko Heikkila 3
Robert Virves 2
Jan Solans 2
Simon Wagner 2
Miko Marczyk 2
Ricardo Teodosio 1
Adam Brezik 1
Simone Campedelli 1
Alexey Lukyanuk 1

I didn't double check it, but you get the overall picture.
Points of note:

Solberg got the third most stage wins from participating in just a single rally;
Breen would have definitely been up there;
Paddon had a very consistent and strong season without pushing when he didn't need to;
Former champion Llarena did not get a single stage win.

[Jarek Z]

Now that the season is over, I decided to count all the stage winners:

Martins Sesks 17
Hayden Paddon 14
Oliver Solberg 10
Yoann Bonato 8
Andrea Crugnola 8
Mads Ostberg 7
Miklos Csomos 7
Craig Breen 6
Erik Cais 5
Jan Kopecky 4
Andrea Mabellini 4
Mikko Heikkila 3
Robert Virves 2
Jan Solans 2
Simon Wagner 2
Miko Marczyk 2
Ricardo Teodosio 1
Adam Brezik 1
Simone Campedelli 1
Alexey Lukyanuk 1

I didn't double check it, but you get the overall picture.
Points of note:

Solberg got the third most stage wins from participating in just a single rally;
Breen would have definitely been up there;
Paddon had a very consistent and strong season without pushing when he didn't need to;
Former champion Llarena did not get a single stage win.

That's interesting to see Sesks with so many wins. He must have scored most of them in gravel rallies in Poland and Latvia.
I agree with your conclusion about Paddon - very consistent driver.
Llarena's lack of wins perfectly sums up his bad season.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

2022 BRC Champion Osian Pryce explains his 2023 ERC struggle...

https://dirtfish.com/rally/what-next-the-reality-of-achieving-your-rallying-dream/

[HKSjbg]

Just posted this on the British section of the forum :D Hopefully he can give a better account of himself next season in the i20 if that relationship continues…

[PLuto]

It is difficult to be champion at home. But if you are going abroad, it is even more difficult to be competitive on high places. Competition in ERC is very high and it is not easy to fight for lets say top 5. Especially when you are starting in the middle of the season, when all your rivals did plenty of events before and are in a good rhythm...

[Jarek Z]

Campedelli wins Quote of the year award :D
https://www.fiaerc.com/a/news/w26839_TwobigwinsinaweekforERCsCampedelli

[Jarek Z]

The past 70 years of the European Rally Championship have created many legends. But who was the greatest driver ever? A new voting on the official website begins on November 7 and ends on December 1:
https://www.fiaerc.com/a/news/w26930_Voteforthegreatest-everERCdriver

[Jarek Z]

Aaltonen, Kopecký, Zanini and Darniche eliminated.
Rossetti, Kajetanowicz, Zasada and Snijers in the quarter-final :)
https://www.fiaerc.com/a/news/w26955_MixedfortunesforERCbiggunsafterfirstweekofG reatestDrivervoting

[Jarek Z]

Giandomenico Basso is ERC Greatest Driver ever ;)
https://www.fiaerc.com/a/news/w27037_ItsBasso!ItalianlegendwinsERCGreatestDriver vote

[RallyFan13]

Alexey Lukyanuk/Yuriy Arshanskiy test Day in Cyprus…hope for him a come back to ERC
https://youtu.be/bcLGSaYT6mE?si=teEbjfzRk0jF39ed