FIA European Rally Championship

Launched in 1953, the FIA European Rally Championship turns 70 in 2023 with an eight-round calendar made up of events on asphalt and gravel.

While the ERC remains a target destination for drivers of varying ages and levels of experience, it’s firmly established as the ultimate training ground for young talents aiming for the top of the sport.

With a clear path of progression from national level to the world stage to mirror the FIA Rally Sporting Pyramid, career-focused competitors can climb the ranks by getting their first taste of international competition in either Rally5 or Rally4 machinery before progressing to Rally3 and then to the ERC’s headlining Rally2 category.

Although the WRC is very much the next step for aspiring world champions, who can switch to WRC3 or WRC2 depending on their level of knowledge and financial resources, the ERC serves as a platform for all-comers to compete in an international environment and benefit from extensive live broadcasting.

Several sub-categories exist, and the points allocation is specifically designed for more drivers to be rewarded more often.

Titles up for grabs

*FIA European Championship for Drivers

*FIA European Championship for Co-Drivers

*FIA European Championship for Teams

*FIA ERC3 Championship for Drivers

*FIA ERC3 Championship for Co-Drivers

*FIA ERC4 Championship for Drivers

*FIA ERC4 Championship for Co-Drivers

*FIA Junior ERC Championship for Drivers

What’s new for 2023?

*Teams’ championship points awarded to the top 15 overall eligible finishers, rather than being based on separate two- and four-wheel-drive classifications as was the case in 2022

*Only the types of tyres specified in the list published by the FIA are authorised for use and it is the duty of the FIA-nominated tyre suppliers to maintain an up-to-date list of barcodes and matching tyre types, including the compound

*For Tarmac rounds, each FIA-nominated tyre supplier can designate in the list published by the FIA one specification of dry tyre supplied in three compounds but in the same pattern. In addition, each FIA-nominated tyre supplier can designate in the list published by the FIA one specification of wet tyre

*On gravel-based rounds, each FIA-nominated tyre supplier can designate in the list published by the FIA one specification of gravel tyre supplied in three compounds but in the same pattern

*Each supplier is entitled to substitute one Tarmac tyre and one gravel tyre across the season on the understanding that any decision to replace a tyre is irreversible and must be notified one month in advance

*FIA ERC4 Junior is renamed FIA Junior ERC to bring consistency with the FIA World Rally Championship’s young driver category, the FIA Junior WRC Championship. ERC Junior is for drivers aged 27 and under on January 1, 2023, competing in Rally4 or Rally5 cars

*Hankook follows Pirelli as the FIA Junior ERC Championship’s official tyre supplier

More information:

Click HERE for the Sporting Regulations and click HERE for the official ERC website