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European Rally Championship

Annual rallying championship series in Europe

European Rally Championship

Annual rallying championship series in Europe

FieldValue
logoEuropean Rally Championship logo.jpg
image-size270px
categoryGroups Rally
Super 2000
Group N
country/regionEurope
inaugural
driversVaries
teamsVaries
champion driverPOL Mikołaj Marczyk
champion codriverPOL Szymon Gospodarczyk
champion teamIND Team MRF Tyres
current_season2025 European Rally Championship
website

| image-size = 270px Super 2000 Group N | country/region = Europe 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.

History

1000 Lakes Rally

The European Rally Championship was first contested in 1953 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recent seasons

2010 season

Main article: 2010 European Rally Championship

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

2011 season

Main article: 2011 European Rally Championship

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

Main article: 2012 European Rally Championship

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

Main article: 2013 European Rally Championship

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

Main article: 2014 European Rally Championship

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

Main article: 2015 European Rally Championship

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

European Rally Championship for Drivers

SeasonDriverCo-driverCar Model(s) Used1953195419551956195719581959196019611962196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Sources:
GER Helmut PolenskyGER Walter SchlüterPorsche 356 Coupé
Fiat 1100
GER Walter SchlüterDKW 3=6 F91 Sonderklasse]]
GER Werner EngelMercedes-Benz 300 SL
GER Walter SchockMercedes-Benz 220
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
GER Ruprecht HopfenBorgward Isabella
Saab 93
SWE Gunnar AnderssonVolvo PV444
Volvo PV544
FRA Paul ColtelloniAlfa Romeo Giulietta TI
Citroën ID 19
GER Walter SchockMercedes-Benz 220 SE
GER Hans-Joachim WalterPorsche 356 Carrera Coupé
GER Eugen BöhringerMercedes-Benz 220 SE
SWE Gunnar AnderssonVolvo 122 S
Volvo PV544
SWE Tom TranaVolvo PV544 S
FIN Rauno AaltonenBMC Mini Cooper S
SWE Lillebror NaseniusOpel Rekord
POL Sobiesław ZasadaBMC Mini Cooper S
Steyr-Puch 650 TR
GER Günter KlassPorsche 911
POL Sobiesław ZasadaPorsche 911 S
Porsche 912
SWE Bengt SöderströmLotus Cortina
GBR Vic ElfordPorsche 911 S
FIN Pauli ToivonenPorsche 911 T
SWE Harry KällströmLancia Fulvia Coupé 1.3 HF
Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF
FRA Jean-Claude AndruetAlpine A110 1600
POL Sobiesław ZasadaBMW 2002 TI
ITA Raffaele PintoITA Gino MacalusoFiat 124 Sport Spider
ITA Sandro MunariITA Mario MannucciLancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF
GER Walter RöhrlGER Jochen BergerOpel Ascona A
ITA Maurizio VeriniFiat Abarth 124 Rally
FRA Bernard DarnicheLancia Stratos HF
FRA Bernard DarnicheLancia Stratos HF
ITA Tony CarelloLancia Stratos HF
GER Jochi KleintOpel Ascona B
Opel Kadett GT/E
ESP Antonio ZaniniPorsche 911 SC
Ford Escort RS1800
ITA Adartico VudafieriFiat 131 Abarth
ITA Antonio FassinaOpel Ascona 400
ITA Miki BiasionITA Tiziano SivieroLancia Rally 037
ITA Carlo CaponeUSA Sergio CrestoLancia Rally 037
ITA Dario CerratoITA Giuseppe CerriLancia Rally 037
ITA Fabrizio TabatonITA Luciano TedeschiniLancia Delta S4
ITA Dario CerratoITA Giuseppe CerriLancia Delta HF 4WD
ITA Fabrizio TabatonITA Luciano TedeschiniLancia Delta HF 4WD
Lancia Delta Integrale
FRA Yves LoubetFRA Jean-Marc AndriéLancia Delta Integrale
BEL Robert DroogmansBEL Joosten RonnyLancia Delta Integrale 16V
ITA Piero LiattiITA Luciano TedeschiniLancia Delta Integrale 16V
GER Erwin WeberGER Manfred HiemerMitsubishi Galant VR-4
FRA Pierre-César BaroniFRA Denis GiraudetLancia Delta HF Integrale
Ford Escort RS Cosworth
BEL Patrick SnijersFord Escort RS Cosworth
ITA Enrico BertoneToyota Celica Turbo 4WD
GER Armin SchwarzToyota Celica GT-Four ST205
POL Krzysztof HołowczycSubaru Impreza 555
ITA Andrea NavarraSubaru Impreza 555
ITA Enrico BertoneRenault Mégane Maxi
DEN Henrik LundgaardToyota Corolla WRC
GER Armin KremerToyota Corolla WRC
ITA Renato TravagliaPeugeot 206 WRC
BEL Bruno ThiryPeugeot 206 WRC
FRA Simon Jean-JosephRenault Clio S1600
ITA Renato TravagliaITA Flavio ZanellaMitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII
Renault Clio S1600
ITA Giandomenico BassoITA Mitia DottaFiat Punto Abarth S2000
FRA Simon Jean-JosephFRA Jack BoyereCitroën C2 S1600
Citroën C2 R2
ITA Luca RossettiITA Matteo ChiarcossiPeugeot 207 S2000
ITA Giandomenico BassoITA Mitia DottaAbarth Grande Punto S2000
ITA Luca RossettiITA Matteo ChiarcossiAbarth Grande Punto S2000
ITA Luca RossettiITA Matteo ChiarcossiAbarth Grande Punto S2000
FIN Juho HänninenFIN Mikko MarkkulaŠkoda Fabia S2000
CZE Jan KopeckýCZE Pavel DreslerŠkoda Fabia S2000
FIN Esapekka LappiFIN Janne FermŠkoda Fabia S2000
POL Kajetan KajetanowiczPOL Jarosław BaranFord Fiesta R5
POL Kajetan KajetanowiczPOL Jarosław BaranFord Fiesta R5
POL Kajetan KajetanowiczPOL Jarosław BaranFord Fiesta R5
RUS Alexey LukyanukRUS Alexey ArnautovFord Fiesta R5
UK Chris IngramUK Ross WhittockŠkoda Fabia R5
Škoda Fabia R5 evo
RUS Alexey LukyanukRUS Dmitriy EremeevCitroën C3 R5
NOR Andreas MikkelsenESP Sara FernándezŠkoda Fabia Rally2 evo
ESP Efrén LlarenaESP Sara FernándezŠkoda Fabia Rally2 evo
NZL Hayden PaddonNZL John KennardHyundai i20 N Rally2
NZL Hayden PaddonNZL John KennardHyundai i20 N Rally2
POL Mikołaj MarczykPOL Szymon GospodarczykŠkoda Fabia RS Rally2

Support categories

Support championships

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

Season2WD / ERC-3ERC-4ERC Junior U28 / ERC1 Junior / ERC JuniorDriverCarDriverCarDriverCar201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
HUN Zoltán BessenyeyHonda Civic Type-R R3Not contestedNot contested
HUN Zoltán BessenyeyHonda Civic Type-R R3
SWE Emil BergkvistOpel Adam R2
GBR Chris IngramOpel Adam R2
GBR Chris IngramOpel Adam R2GER Marijan GriebelŠkoda Fabia R5
LAT Mārtiņš SesksOpel Adam R2RUS Nikolay GryazinŠkoda Fabia R5
ESP Efrén LlarenaPeugeot 208 R2CZE Filip MarešŠkoda Fabia R5
EST Ken TornFord Fiesta Rally4SWE Oliver SolbergVolkswagen Polo GTI R5
Škoda Fabia R5 evo
FRA Jean-Baptiste FranceschiRenault Clio Rally4EST Ken TornFord Fiesta Rally3
POL Igor WidlakFord Fiesta Rally3ESP Oscar PalomoPeugeot 208 Rally4FRA Laurent PellierOpel Corsa Rally4
GBR Jon ArmstrongFord Fiesta Rally3ITA Roberto DapràPeugeot 208 Rally4ROM Norbert MaiorPeugeot 208 Rally4
CZE Filip KohnFord Fiesta Rally3SWE Mille JohanssonOpel Corsa Rally4SWE Mille JohanssonOpel Corsa Rally4

Former support categories

SeasonProduction Cup / ERC-2ERC Junior / ERC Junior U27 / ERC-3 JuniorAbarth Rally CupClio Trophy by Toksport WRTDriverCarDriverCarDriverCarDriverCar20132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
AUT Andreas AignerSubaru Impreza WRX STI R4Not contestedNot contestedNot contested
UKR Vitaliy PushkarMitsubishi Lancer Evolution X R4FRA Stéphane LefebvrePeugeot 208 R2
HUN Dávid BotkaMitsubishi Lancer Evolution IXSWE Emil BergkvistOpel Adam R2
POL Wojciech ChuchałaSubaru Impreza WRX STI N15GER Marijan GriebelOpel Adam R2
HUN Tibor Érdi Jr.Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XGBR Chris IngramOpel Adam R2
HUN Tibor Érdi Jr.Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XLAT Mārtiņš SesksOpel Adam R2
ARG Juan Carlos AlonsoMitsubishi Lancer Evolution XESP Efrén LlarenaPeugeot 208 R2ITA Andrea NucitaAbarth 124 Rally RGT
HUN Tibor Érdi Jr.Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XEST Ken TornFord Fiesta Rally4ITA Andrea MabelliniAbarth 124 Rally RGT
ESP Javier PardoSuzuki Swift R4LLY SFRA Jean-Baptiste FranceschiRenault Clio Rally4POL Dariusz PolońskiAbarth 124 Rally RGTITA Andrea MabelliniRenault Clio RSR Rally5
Not contestedNot contestedNot contestedARG Paulo SoriaRenault Clio RSR Rally5
Not contested

Ladies champions

SeasonDriverCar1958196019621964196519892013201420152016201720182019
ENG Pat MossAustin-Healey 100/4
Morris Minor 1000
ENG Pat Moss
ENG Pat Moss
ENG Pat Moss
ENG Pat Moss
GBR Louise Aitken-Walker
AUS Molly TaylorCitroën DS3 R3T
BUL Ekaterina StratievaSubaru Impreza
BUL Ekaterina StratievaMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
GBR Catie MunningsPeugeot 208 R2
ITA Tamara MolinaroOpel Adam R2
ESP Emma FalcónPeugeot 208 R2
BUL Ekaterina StratievaPeugeot 208 R2

Footnotes

References

References

  1. "ERC @ 70: A brief history".
  2. "The history of the European Rally Championship". European Rally Championship.
  3. (8 July 2021). "WRC Promoter announced as new ERC promoter".
  4. Shacki. "Top stats - eWRC-results".
  5. "motorsport-archive.com :: European Rally Championship :: Overview".
  6. "Mercedes-Benz 220 SE rally car (W 111), 1960 - 1961". Mercedes-Benz.
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