It’s all about new in the FIA European Rally Championship this season with new events, new drivers, new teams, new cars and new rules. And it all starts this week when the city of Veszprém hosts V-Híd Rally Hungary from 12 – 14 April.
Now all-gravel having used asphalt stages in the past, V-Híd Rally Hungary forms round one of the eight-event ERC season
As well as counting for overall ERC points, V-Híd Rally Hungary is part of the FIA ERC3, FIA ERC4, FIA Junior ERC and the new-for-2024 Fiesta Rally3 Trophy schedules.
The ERC’s four tyre partners, Hankook, Michelin, MRF and Pirelli will contest the inaugural FIA European Rally Championship for Tyre Suppliers.
Eight manufacturers of FIA rally category cars, Citroën, Hyundai, M-Sport-Ford, Opel, Peugeot, Škoda, Toyota and Volkswagen are represented.
ERC’s big three return
The ERC’s top three from 2023, Hayden Paddon, Mārtiņš Sesks and Mads Østberg, are all back to chase more European championship success.
Defending champion Paddon, who is embarking on his 19th season with co-driver John Kennard, has re-signed for the Pirelli-equipped BRC Racing Team to drive a Hyundai i20 N Rally2.
The New Zealander said: “John and I will have targets painted on our backs with other competitors striving to beat us. We expect a tougher fight this year, but John and I will look to lift our performances on some of the events we will now have experience of – it will be an exciting year.”
While Latvian Sesks continues his partnership with MRF Tyres, he switches from the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 he used to claim two wins in 2023 to an all-new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
“There will be a learning curve as the team familiarises itself with the new car, and we anticipate additional challenges, such as increased Tarmac stages throughout the season,” Sesks said. “Nevertheless, we are committed to thorough preparation and hard work to ensure a strong season, continually learning and evolving along the way.”
Norwegian Østberg’s TRT Racing Team will fit Michelin tyres to his Citroën C3 Rally2. After winning the Rally Hungary season closer in 2023, the one-time WRC event winner hopes to carry that momentum forward into 2024.
“I loved the ERC last year, it’s a great championship but the level of competition is very strong,” Østberg said. “It’s not only two or three drivers fighting for the win but it can be up to 10 drivers fighting for the win so it’s an amazing championship with very nice TV coverage. I’m really happy to take part again.”
But it’s not just Paddon, Sesks and Østberg in the chase for ERC success. Jon Armstrong, Hungarian hero Miklós ‘Mixi’ Csomós, Mathieu Franceschi, Mikko Heikkilä, Efrén Llarena, Andrea Mabellini, Miko Marczyk, Filip Mareš, Simone Temestini and Simon Wagner are among the others drivers that are expected to run at the front on V-Híd Rally Hungary.
