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 (1953)
DriversVaries
TeamsVaries
Drivers' championNew Zealand Hayden Paddon
Teams' championIndia MRF Racing
Official websitefiaerc.com
Current season

History

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

2010 season

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

2011 season

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

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

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

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

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

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

European Rally Championship for Drivers

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

Multiple wins by individual

Name Titles Winning Years
Poland Sobiesław Zasada 3 1966, 1967, 1971
Italy Luca Rossetti 2008, 2010, 2011
Poland Kajetan Kajetanowicz 2015, 2016, 2017
Germany Walter Schock 2 1956, 1960
Sweden Gunnar Andersson 1958, 1963
France Bernard Darniche 1976, 1977
Italy Dario Cerrato 1985, 1987
Italy Fabrizio Tabaton 1986, 1988
Italy Enrico Bertone 1995, 1999
Italy Renato Travaglia 2002, 2005
France Simon Jean-Joseph 2004, 2007
Italy Giandomenico Basso 2006, 2009
Russia Alexey Lukyanuk 2018, 2020

Multiple wins by car manufacturer

Name Titles Winning Years
Italy Lancia 15 1969, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
United States Ford 8 1967, 1980, 1993, 1994, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Germany Porsche 7 1953, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1980
Czech Republic Škoda 6 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022
Italy Fiat 5 1953, 1972, 1975, 1981, 2006
Germany Mercedes-Benz 4 1955, 1956, 1960, 1962
Germany Opel 1966, 1974, 1979, 1982

ERC2 and ERC3

Season Production Cup / ERC-2 2WD / ERC-3
Driver Car Driver Car
2013 Austria Andreas Aigner Subaru Impreza WRX STI R4 Hungary Zoltán Bessenyey Honda Civic Type-R R3
2014 Ukraine Vitaliy Pushkar Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X R4 Hungary Zoltán Bessenyey Honda Civic Type-R R3
2015 Hungary Dávid Botka Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX Sweden Emil Bergkvist Opel Adam R2
2016 Poland Wojciech Chuchała Subaru Impreza WRX STI N15 United Kingdom Chris Ingram Opel Adam R2
2017 Hungary Tibor Érdi Jr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X United Kingdom Chris Ingram Opel Adam R2
2018 Hungary Tibor Érdi Jr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Latvia Mārtiņš Sesks Opel Adam R2
2019 Argentina Juan Carlos Alonso Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Spain Efrén Llarena Peugeot 208 R2
2020 Hungary Tibor Érdi Jr. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Estonia Ken Torn Ford Fiesta Rally4
2021 Spain Javier Pardo Suzuki Swift R4LLY S France Jean-Baptiste Franceschi Renault Clio Rally4
2022 Not contested Poland Igor Widlak

Junior and other categories

Season ERC Junior U28 / ERC1 Junior / ERC Junior ERC Junior / ERC Junior U27 / ERC-3 Junior Abarth Rally Cup Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT
Driver Car Driver Car Driver Car Driver Car
2014 Not contested France Stéphane Lefebvre Peugeot 208 R2 Not contested Not contested
2015 Sweden Emil Bergkvist Opel Adam R2
2016 Germany Marijan Griebel Opel Adam R2
2017 Germany Marijan Griebel Škoda Fabia R5 United Kingdom Chris Ingram Opel Adam R2
2018 Russia Nikolay Gryazin Škoda Fabia R5 Latvia Mārtiņš Sesks Opel Adam R2
2019 Czech Republic Filip Mareš Škoda Fabia R5 Spain Efrén Llarena Peugeot 208 R2 Italy Andrea Nucita Abarth 124 Rally RGT
2020 Sweden Oliver Solberg Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
Škoda Fabia R5 evo
Estonia Ken Torn Ford Fiesta Rally4 Italy Andrea Mabellini Abarth 124 Rally RGT
2021 Estonia Ken Torn Ford Fiesta Rally3 France Jean-Baptiste Franceschi Renault Clio Rally4 Poland Dariusz Poloński Abarth 124 Rally RGT Italy Andrea Mabellini Renault Clio RSR Rally5
2022 Not contested Argentina Paulo Soria Renault Clio RSR Rally5

Ladies champions

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

See also

References

  1. "ERC @ 70: A brief history". fiaerc.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  2. "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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