2021 ERC News and Rumors

[Co-driven]

Pluto, just for comparison - maybe you could reveal some details. Cost for Azores vs Cyprus vs Canarias (I know it's tarmac but the Island itself isn't cheap)?

Also one of the problems is not the cost itself, but for some of these events the teams have their cars/trucks away for 3 weeks or more, so besides the rally weekend, it's another 2 weekends that the team can't rent their cars, for example.

[Tom K]

I did some research and it seems its more less equal as all are island-events, but the most expensive is Azores Rallye. Of course it also depends what is the condition of the car after Cyprus :)

[Jarek Z]

where is a gravel rough event prepare a talent for WRC gravel events like Sardenia or Acropolis?I believe Cyprus is must event in ERC

Cyprus was always the worst rally when it comes to the entry list. ERC consists of mostly private drivers and most of them don't want to waste their expensive cars on rough rocks and loose sand. Leave survival rallies for the World Championship.

Do you find it exciting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0G5iqgLKk

[Mirek]

Personally, I'm not sure on the 'stepping stone' route. Rallying has to be more than just the WRC - I still think we need another international level series, other disciplines manage it.

It has been working excelent since IRC. IRC/ERC became the ladder to the WRC by natural way and it was its biggest strength. Prior to that when ERC drivers didn't fight for their chance to be in the WRC it was a weak and boring championship for gentleman drivers.


Why shouldn't we be able to see some of the top WRC drivers in ERC events, in Rally2 cars?

Not very often but they do appear in ERC events from time to time.

[Mirek]

ERC is a stepping stone before WRC for a driver to show his talent but where is a gravel rough event prepare a talent for WRC gravel events like Sardenia or Acropolis?I believe Cyprus is must event in ERC

Rough events are expensive and don't attract privateers. The past decade has shown that rough events are not a choice for privateer-oriented championship.

[Reis Eduardo]

Who will drive the MRF Tires i20 r5 in the next rallies? Huttunen?

[pantealex]

Who will drive the MRF Tires i20 r5 in the next rallies? Huttunen?

Huttunen (and Breen +Solberg) are doing WRC Finland at beginning of October which is same as ERC

[Tom K]

But he could do Azores, two weeks earlier.

[PLuto]

But he could do Azores, two weeks earlier.

He will not do Azores, it was only one start on Barum.

[Andre Oliveira]

Sordo will do Azores, so...

[Jarek Z]

...so will it be the first ever win for Hyundai in ERC?

[Andre Oliveira]

With MRF Tyres? First time in Azores to Dani? No way...

[pantealex]

With MRF Tyres? First time in Azores to Dani? No way...

Gravel MRF is good tyre, just look recent results in Finland/Italy with it.

[mknight]

Sordo will do Azores, so...

I hope with new car? Might be difficult logostics wise since they will have 2 cars in Finland. Unless they make more cars by then.

[PLuto]

I hope with new car? Might be difficult logostics wise since they will have 2 cars in Finland. Unless they make more cars by then.

There is not so many new cars available...

[Jarek Z]

Bonato hasn't planted many trees, has he?
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc-star-bonato-launches-tree-planting-initiative/

[Tom K]

I've counted 16... not that bad.

[Jarek Z]

Oh really? Those wins must have been in France. Haven't seen any stage wins from him in ERC.

[Tom K]

Yes, indeed, but still he was able to plant something "By launching his project, 1 Victoire = 1 Arbre, Bonato has committed to planting a tree for every stage win he and Boulloud secure in the ERC and French championship in 2021"

[mknight]

https://www.fiaerc.com/tweaked-erc-start-order-selection-format-as-55th-azores-rallye-begins/



Previously, only the fastest 15 RC2 drivers on the Qualifying Stage would take part in the Start Order Selection. However, a waiver document has allowed organisers to include all RC2 drivers. This is an effort to end the practice of drivers recording slower Qualifying Stage times to avoid taking part in the Start Order Selection to benefit from a potentially advantageous lower road position on gravel events outside the top 15.


Well something like this should have been done already after Poland.
However I do see some issues. Often there are 30-40 RC2 cars. If the fastest drivers now pick start number 40 and you get lots of cancelled stages the notional times will be a big source of mess.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Fans will also have a big wait to watch the top guys go through and us following to see their times on each stage.

But I assume this is just on day one ?

[Lead]

It will be really strange if all top drivers will pick starting positions around 30-40 place.

[Jarek Z]

It will be really strange if all top drivers will pick starting positions around 30-40 place.

You almost guessed! Lukyanuk chose 21st, Mikkelsen 22nd and Marczyk 25th starting position!

[Co-driven]

On the other hand, they might get a stage blocked and get a notional time, which might affect their final results...

[vino_93]

I was looking at ERC classifications, and I've a few things I don't understand :
- why didn't Wagner score its leg points in Barum ? same for Oscar Solberg in Roma in ERC Junior ?
- why Erdi didn't score in ERC2 in Liepaja ?

[PLuto]

I was looking at ERC classifications, and I've a few things I don't understand :
- why didn't Wagner score its leg points in Barum ? same for Oscar Solberg in Roma in ERC Junior ?
- why Erdi didn't score in ERC2 in Liepaja ?

Wagner and Solberg didnt scored points because they didnt put their car to final parc ferme ; Erdi lost all points from Liepaja by decision of stewards

[Jarek Z]

Miko Marczyk won the ERC-MICHELIN Talent Factory competition. As a result he is going to get tyres for Rally Hungary and Rally Islas Canarias.
He is also second overall in ERC now. Good season for him.
https://www.fiaerc.com/erc-michelin-talent-factory-members-impress-on-rally-serras-de-fafe-e-felgueiras/

[mknight]

Any news on whether Canarias will actually take place?
(With Volcanic eruption on neighboring island)

[Tom K]

Airports are operating normally, so if situation is not worse, there shouldn't be any problem for rally. Between La Palma and Grand Canaria we have also Tenerife.

Itinerary and maps have been just published.

[106 sport]

Any news on whether Canarias will actually take place?
(With Volcanic eruption on neighboring island)

Gran Canaria is about 220 km from La Palma. No problem.

[Co-driven]

But I guess the question was related to local government using money and effort to recover from the damages and troubles caused by the volcano...

[Andre Oliveira]

New Hyundai i20 N Rally2 for Team MRF Tyres in Rally Hungary

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FCIXWi4XMAUurVc?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

https://mailchi.mp/c2a4261a8709/new-hyundai-i20-n-rally2-for-team-mrf-tyres-in-rally-hungary

[Jarek Z]

New Hyundai i20 N Rally2 for Team MRF Tyres in Rally Hungary

... and Islas Canarias too:
https://www.fiaerc.com/hungary-for-erc-solans-gets-late-call-up-from-team-mrf-tyres-in-hyundai-i20-n-rally2/

[Reis Eduardo]

autosport.pt says the ERC 2022 starts in Portugal with two rallies
March 10th to 12th - Rallye Serras de Fafe and Felgueiras
March 24th to 26th - Azores Rallye

https://www.autosport.pt/ralis/erc/provas-internacionais-em-2022-2-no-erc-e-europeu-de-montanha-regressa-o-wtcr-a-vila-real/

[RallyFan13]

Also Cyprus have chances to be back in the Calendar

[Jarek Z]

Also Cyprus have chances to be back in the Calendar

No, please, no. Never again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0G5iqgLKk

[RallyFan13]

https://youtu.be/6jnyeBVGQ1o
Same spot.Why other drivers didn’t face any same problem in that spot?Is not only surface.The driving style of Grayzin in that part of Stage was definitely wrong.

[Tom K]

..and during same edition drivers had also problem on the "proper" mountain stages. Kajetanowicz, Magalhaes and Bostanci crashed on the same corner. So i was not only about "desert" stages. Cyprus is nice and 2021 edition was whole in the mountains.

[mknight]

In Poland this year Gryazin was the only driver to fill the radiator with gravel on qualifying stage.

[Mirek]

No, please, no. Never again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0G5iqgLKk

Why? Cyprus can be epic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dj13W7dSk

[atsiotras79]

I so so so miss this IRC championship… indeed epic day that one Mirek…

[Jarek Z]

Why? Cyprus can be epic.

It's a car killer. I never liked such rallies.

[Mirek]

It's a car killer. I never liked such rallies.

That's very simplistic statement. The routes used in IRC days were no car killers. The roads were fast and very spectacular, often even with mixed asphalt/gravel surface. If they choose that type of roads, it will be a beautiful event just like it was in that time.

[RallyFan13]

Cyprus Rally 2019 in the roughest stages of Troodos Mountain 13 out of 17 R5 cars was in the finish Line.

[Jarek Z]

The winner of ERC3 Jean-Baptiste Franceschi had a very serious accident in Rallye du Var. He went off the road and hit a tree. He is now in hospital with several fractures. I hope he recovers soon!

[dupanton]

The winner of ERC3 Jean-Baptiste Franceschi had a very serious accident in Rallye du Var. He went off the road and hit a tree. He is now in hospital with several fractures. I hope he recovers soon!

He broke his pelvis with few other things. He had 2 surgeries but should make a full recovery.
https://www.facebook.com/MattFranceschi13/photos/a.635292763653102/1291560564692982/

[Mirek]

He broke his pelvis with few other things. He had 2 surgeries but should make a full recovery.
https://www.facebook.com/MattFranceschi13/photos/a.635292763653102/1291560564692982/

Sorry for off topic but do you know the conditions of Ludovic Gal and his co-driver?

[dupanton]

Sorry for off topic but do you know the conditions of Ludovic Gal and his co-driver?

Codriver is quite ok, 4 broken ribs and broken collar bone iirc
For Ludovic it's much worst. Few fractures but most importantly a head trauma. He is in a medically induced coma, the docters hope to wake him up soon and are quite positive about his chance of surviving.

[the sniper]

Was there anything particularly unusual involved or was the rally just unlucky to have such awful accidents?

[rp]

Was there anything particularly unusual involved or was the rally just unlucky to have such awful accidents?

Both hit a tree? Same place?

[TheFlyingTuga]

Both hit a tree? Same place?

No, different stages and different parts of the region.

And to reply to sniper, was just unlucky to have such awful accidents. Rally du Var as been raced in those stages for years and although is a "tough" rally, it's the first time that there are two big accidents

[dupanton]

Yeah, just bad luck. The stages are quite technical, so it's not a high speed rally (although there are obviously high speed section).