Quote Originally Posted by Mirek View Post
WRC2 is a lot more expensive than ERC. Its main advantage is that it is World Championship. The name means a lot plus if You want to drive WRC one day You need to get experience on WRC stages. You may be a God of ERC but You still need two or three seasons in WRC to get in. The way to WRC through ERC is simply too long.
Not sure whether 'best in second tier WRC competition' or best in Europe sounds better to be honest.

Mikelssen, Meeke and Neuville didn't have the 2-3 years you talk about, although the first two had some previous experience of WRC stages. On the other hand what WRC2 driver has progressed to a works drive? Paddon is maybe their biggest success story.