European Rally Championship

The European Rally Championship (officially FIA European Rally Championship) is an automobile rally competition held annually on the European continent and organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The championship has been organized since 1953 and has competed in different European countries, alternating between rallies on asphalt and gravel. It was the first supranational rally championship that was organized in the world and therefore the oldest one. In 2012 it had 60 editions and in 2013 it was renewed with the merger with the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

European Rally Championship
CategoryR5
Super 2000
Group N
CountryEurope
Inaugural season1953; 71 years ago (1953)
DriversVaries
TeamsVaries
Drivers' championNew Zealand Hayden Paddon
Teams' championItaly BRC Racing Team
Official websitefiaerc.com
Current season

History

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Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen at the 1965 1000 Lakes Rally

The European Rally Championship was first contested in 1953[1] and in the following year was one of the most prestigious rallying series. However, with the introduction of the World Rally Championship for manufacturers in 1973, and in particular with the drivers' World Championship being contested from 1979 on, the importance of the ERC began to decline.[2]

Over many years, a typical ERC season featured around 40 rallies, and from 1974 on, the rallies were assigned different coefficients (1, 2, 3 or 4) that were multiplied with the championship points. Changing the coefficients to 2, 5, 10 and 20 did also not improve the situation. Thus, the ERC was more a series for event organizers than an interesting championship for drivers.[2]

A first improvement was implemented for the 2004 season, where the number of events counting for the European Rally Championship were reduced to those with coefficient 20, while the other rallies became part of regional "European Rally Cups". An ERC season now featured around 10 to 12 events and thus had a clearer structure.[2]

Between 2007 and 2011, the driver had to register for the European championships and thus only registered drivers could score ERC points, keeping the local drivers from taking up all ERC points despite not participating in the championship. The registered drivers were also obligated to contest a minimal number of events.[2]

Between 2013 and 2021, French-based broadcaster Eurosport was the promoter of ERC. From 2022, it was taken over by Munich based WRC Promoter GmbH.[3]

Recent seasons

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2010 season

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The 2010 ERC season featured 11 rallies. Luca Rossetti was the winner of 4 events and won the championship.

2011 season

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The 2011 ERC season started on 14 April 2011 and featured 11 rallies. It ended on 29 October with the Rallye International du Valais. Italian driver Luca Rossetti claimed his third European championship title after winning 5 of the events. In total, 28 registered drivers from 7 different countries competed in the championship.

2012 season

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The 2012 season started in January with a new event, the "Jänner Rallye" in Austria. As an important change, drivers no longer had to register for the championship. Finnish driver Juho Hänninen won the championship.

2013 season

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The 2013 season is the first after the merger between IRC and the old ERC, and also the first after Eurosport became the championship's promoter. The season started with the Jänner Rallye in Austria on 3 January 2013, and ended with the Rallye du Valais on 9 November. Czech driver Jan Kopecký won the championship.

2014 season

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The 2014 season started with the Jänner Rallye in Austria on 3 January 2014, and ended with the Tour de Corse on 8 November. Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi won the championship and the new Asphalt Masters trophy, while Polish drivers Robert Kubica and Kajetan Kajetanowicz won the Ice Masters and Gravel Masters, respectively. French driver Stéphane Lefebvre won the ERC Junior championship.

2015 season

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The season started with the Jänner Rallye in Austria on 4 January 2015, and ended with the Rallye International du Valais on 7 November. For this year the drivers had to register for the championship, and the categories have been renamed into ERC 1 (for S2000, R5 and RRC (last year) cars), ERC 2 (category for R4 production cars (previously titled N4)) and ERC 3 (for R1, R2 and R3 cars). Polish driver Kajetan Kajetanowicz won the championship.

Champions

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1965 champion Rauno Aaltonen, 1968 champion Pauli Toivonen and Timo Mäkinen

European Rally Championship for Drivers

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Season Driver Co-driver Car Model(s) Used
1953   Helmut Polensky   Walter Schlüter Porsche 356 Coupé
Fiat 1100
1954   Walter Schlüter DKW 3=6 F91 Sonderklasse
1955   Werner Engel Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
1956   Walter Schock Mercedes-Benz 220
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
1957   Ruprecht Hopfen Borgward Isabella
Saab 93
1958   Gunnar Andersson Volvo PV444
Volvo PV544
1959   Paul Coltelloni Alfa Romeo Giulietta TI
Citroën ID 19
1960   Walter Schock Mercedes-Benz 220 SE
1961   Hans-Joachim Walter Porsche 356 Carrera Coupé
1962   Eugen Böhringer Mercedes-Benz 220 SE
1963   Gunnar Andersson Volvo 122 S
Volvo PV544
1964   Tom Trana Volvo PV544 S
1965   Rauno Aaltonen BMC Mini Cooper S
1966   Lillebror Nasenius Opel Rekord
  Sobiesław Zasada BMC Mini Cooper S
Steyr-Puch 650 TR
  Günter Klass Porsche 911
1967   Sobiesław Zasada Porsche 911 S
Porsche 912
  Bengt Söderström Lotus Cortina
  Vic Elford Porsche 911 S
1968   Pauli Toivonen Porsche 911 T
1969   Harry Källström Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.3 HF
Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF
1970   Jean-Claude Andruet Alpine A110 1600
1971   Sobiesław Zasada BMW 2002 TI
1972   Raffaele Pinto   Gino Macaluso Fiat 124 Sport Spider
1973   Sandro Munari   Mario Mannucci Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF
1974   Walter Röhrl   Jochen Berger Opel Ascona A
1975   Maurizio Verini Fiat Abarth 124 Rally
1976   Bernard Darniche Lancia Stratos HF
1977   Bernard Darniche Lancia Stratos HF
1978   Tony Carello Lancia Stratos HF
1979   Jochi Kleint Opel Ascona B
Opel Kadett GT/E
1980   Antonio Zanini Porsche 911 SC
Ford Escort RS1800
1981   Adartico Vudafieri Fiat 131 Abarth
1982   Antonio Fassina Opel Ascona 400
1983   Miki Biasion   Tiziano Siviero Lancia Rally 037
1984   Carlo Capone   Sergio Cresto Lancia Rally 037
1985   Dario Cerrato   Giuseppe Cerri Lancia Rally 037
1986   Fabrizio Tabaton   Luciano Tedeschini Lancia Delta S4
1987   Dario Cerrato   Giuseppe Cerri Lancia Delta HF 4WD
1988   Fabrizio Tabaton   Luciano Tedeschini Lancia Delta HF 4WD
Lancia Delta Integrale
1989   Yves Loubet   Jean-Marc Andrié Lancia Delta Integrale
1990   Robert Droogmans   Joosten Ronny Lancia Delta Integrale 16V
1991   Piero Liatti   Luciano Tedeschini Lancia Delta Integrale 16V
1992   Erwin Weber   Manfred Hiemer Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
1993   Pierre-César Baroni   Denis Giraudet Lancia Delta HF Integrale
Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1994   Patrick Snijers Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1995   Enrico Bertone Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1996   Armin Schwarz Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205
1997   Krzysztof Hołowczyc Subaru Impreza 555
1998   Andrea Navarra Subaru Impreza 555
1999   Enrico Bertone Renault Mégane Maxi
2000   Henrik Lundgaard Toyota Corolla WRC
2001   Armin Kremer Toyota Corolla WRC
2002   Renato Travaglia Peugeot 206 WRC
2003   Bruno Thiry Peugeot 206 WRC
2004   Simon Jean-Joseph Renault Clio S1600
2005   Renato Travaglia   Flavio Zanella Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII
Renault Clio S1600
2006   Giandomenico Basso   Mitia Dotta Fiat Punto Abarth S2000
2007   Simon Jean-Joseph   Jack Boyere Citroën C2 S1600
Citroën C2 R2
2008   Luca Rossetti   Matteo Chiarcossi Peugeot 207 S2000
2009   Giandomenico Basso   Mitia Dotta Abarth Grande Punto S2000
2010   Luca Rossetti   Matteo Chiarcossi Abarth Grande Punto S2000
2011   Luca Rossetti   Matteo Chiarcossi Abarth Grande Punto S2000
2012   Juho Hänninen   Mikko Markkula Škoda Fabia S2000
2013   Jan Kopecký   Pavel Dresler Škoda Fabia S2000
2014   Esapekka Lappi   Janne Ferm Škoda Fabia S2000
2015   Kajetan Kajetanowicz   Jarosław Baran Ford Fiesta R5
2016   Kajetan Kajetanowicz   Jarosław Baran Ford Fiesta R5
2017   Kajetan Kajetanowicz   Jarosław Baran Ford Fiesta R5
2018   Alexey Lukyanuk   Alexey Arnautov Ford Fiesta R5
2019   Chris Ingram   Ross Whittock Škoda Fabia R5
Škoda Fabia R5 evo
2020   Alexey Lukyanuk   Dmitriy Eremeev Citroën C3 R5
2021   Andreas Mikkelsen Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo
2022   Efrén Llarena   Sara Fernández Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo
2023   Hayden Paddon   John Kennard Hyundai i20 N Rally2
2024   Hayden Paddon   John Kennard Hyundai i20 N Rally2
Sources:[1][4][5][6]

Support categories

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Support championships

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European Rally Championship has three support categories, ERC3, ERC4 and ERC Junior. These championships are contested on the same events and stages as the WRC calendar and have tighter restrictions on eligible car criteria.

Season 2WD / ERC-3 ERC-4 ERC Junior U28 / ERC1 Junior / ERC Junior
Driver Car Driver Car Driver Car
2013   Zoltán Bessenyey Honda Civic Type-R R3 Not contested Not contested
2014   Zoltán Bessenyey Honda Civic Type-R R3
2015   Emil Bergkvist Opel Adam R2
2016   Chris Ingram Opel Adam R2
2017   Chris Ingram Opel Adam R2   Marijan Griebel Škoda Fabia R5
2018   Mārtiņš Sesks Opel Adam R2   Nikolay Gryazin Škoda Fabia R5
2019   Efrén Llarena Peugeot 208 R2   Filip Mareš Škoda Fabia R5
2020   Ken Torn Ford Fiesta Rally4   Oliver Solberg Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
Škoda Fabia R5 evo
2021   Jean-Baptiste Franceschi Renault Clio Rally4   Ken Torn Ford Fiesta Rally3
2022   Igor Widlak Ford Fiesta Rally3   Oscar Palomo Peugeot 208 Rally4   Laurent Pellier Opel Corsa Rally4
2023   Jon Armstrong Ford Fiesta Rally3   Roberto Daprà Peugeot 208 Rally4   Norbert Maior Peugeot 208 Rally4
2024   Filip Kohn Ford Fiesta Rally3   Mille Johansson Opel Corsa Rally4   Mille Johansson Opel Corsa Rally4

Former support categories

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Season Production Cup / ERC-2 ERC Junior / ERC Junior U27 / ERC-3 Junior Abarth Rally Cup Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT
Driver Car Driver Car Driver Car Driver Car
2013   Andreas Aigner Subaru Impreza WRX STI R4 Not contested Not contested Not contested
2014   Vitaliy Pushkar Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X R4   Stéphane Lefebvre Peugeot 208 R2
2015   Dávid Botka Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX   Emil Bergkvist Opel Adam R2
2016   Wojciech Chuchała Subaru Impreza WRX STI N15   Marijan Griebel Opel Adam R2
2017   Tibor Érdi Jr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X   Chris Ingram Opel Adam R2
2018   Tibor Érdi Jr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X   Mārtiņš Sesks Opel Adam R2
2019   Juan Carlos Alonso Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X   Efrén Llarena Peugeot 208 R2   Andrea Nucita Abarth 124 Rally RGT
2020   Tibor Érdi Jr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X   Ken Torn Ford Fiesta Rally4   Andrea Mabellini Abarth 124 Rally RGT
2021   Javier Pardo Suzuki Swift R4LLY S   Jean-Baptiste Franceschi Renault Clio Rally4   Dariusz Poloński Abarth 124 Rally RGT   Andrea Mabellini Renault Clio RSR Rally5
2022 Not contested Not contested Not contested   Paulo Soria Renault Clio RSR Rally5
2023 Not contested

Ladies champions

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Season Driver Car
1958   Pat Moss Austin-Healey 100/4
Morris Minor 1000
1960   Pat Moss
1962   Pat Moss
1964   Pat Moss
1965   Pat Moss
1989   Louise Aitken-Walker
2013   Molly Taylor Citroën DS3 R3T
2014   Ekaterina Stratieva Subaru Impreza
2015   Ekaterina Stratieva Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2016   Catie Munnings Peugeot 208 R2
2017   Tamara Molinaro Opel Adam R2
2018   Emma Falcón Peugeot 208 R2
2019   Ekaterina Stratieva Peugeot 208 R2

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "ERC @ 70: A brief history". fiaerc.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "The history of the European Rally Championship". European Rally Championship. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  3. ^ "WRC Promoter announced as new ERC promoter". dirtfish.com. 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ Shacki. "Top stats - eWRC-results". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  5. ^ "motorsport-archive.com :: European Rally Championship :: Overview". www.motorsport-archive.com. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Mercedes-Benz 220 SE rally car (W 111), 1960 - 1961". The Digital Archives of Mercedes-Benz Classic. Mercedes-Benz. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
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