Category 1: Parisi and D’Angelo Retain Title 

With two home wins in the Alpi Orientali and Elba Storico for 2018 champions Antonio Parisi and Giuseppe D’Angelo (Porsche 911S) have enough points to be declared 2019 FIA EHSRC Category 1 Champions. Despite only having a seven-point advantage over their British rivals Ernie and Karen Graham (Ford Escort Twin Cam), because only the best six scores count towards the championship, the most that the British crew can score is 5 points. If they win and take 20 points, they have to drop their lowest score, which is 15 points, so they can only close the gap by five, which is not enough.  The third placed crew of Elias Kivitila and Timo Tuominen (BMW 2002 Ti) are on 83 points and will also be unable to catch the Graham’s Ford Escort.  

Category 2: Mylle Leads with Six Crews Split by Only 7 Points

Carlo Mylle (Porsche 911 RSR) still holds the lead in the Category 2 Drivers title race. The Belgian driver is on 78 points, an advantage of just two over Paolo Pasutti (76 pts), three ahead of Maurizio Pagella (75 pts), four ahead of Rally Elba winner Anders Johnsen (74pts), five ahead of Peter Magoss (73pts) and seven ahead of Laszlo Mekler (71pts).

In the co-driver championship, Carlo Mylle’s teammate has varied during the season, so Paolo Pasutti’s teammate Giovanni Campeis is leading on 76 points.  Maurizio Pagella’s co-driver Roberto Brea is on 75 points, Ingrid Johnsen on 74, Laszlo Ronay on 73 and Edit Mekler-Miko on 71.

With drop scores all of the leaders can still increase their total by 19, with the exception of Pagella, who can take the maximum 20 points, and Magoss, who can only increase his score by a maximum of 9 points.

The Category 2 titles will go down to the last stage in Hungary with a win by any of the top six crews giving them the 2019 title.

Category 3: Wagner Back in Front but Only Just

Reigning champions Karl Wagner and Gerda Zauner (Porsche 911 SC) have taken three wins this season and head to the final round with a four-point advantage on 100 points.  Lahti Historic Rally overall winners Esa Peltonen and Jyrki Saarto (Toyota Starlet 1300) are on 96 points with Pentti Veikkanen and Timo Jaakkola (Porsche 911 SC) on 93.

‘Zippo’ is fourth in the driver standings on 92 points after three wins this season, including in Elba earlier this month.  With ‘Zippo’ also switching teammates, the fight for the co-driver’s championship title will be between Zauner, Saarto and Jaakkola in Hungary.

With only the best six scores counting towards the title, the maximum Karl Wagner can increase his score is by another 9 points making a total of 109, Peltonen can only score an extra 5 points (105),  Veikkanen an extra 7 points (100 points), while Zippo can drop a 1 point score and increase his total by 19 points with a win in Hungary, with a potential of 111 points. 

Category 4: Will Graham Leads after Win in Elba

After securing his second Category 4 win of the season on the Rally Storico, Will Graham (BMW M3) holds a two-point lead in the drivers’ championship after ‘Lucky’ (Lancia Delta Integrale) retired with an engine issue.  With Graham on 96 points and ‘Lucky’ on 94, the battle for the title will be between these two competitors.  After retiring on SS7 in Elba Mats Mysell travels to Hungary on 70 points, which means he is no longer in contention for the title.

With dropped scores Will Graham can increase his total by another 8 points with a win in Hungary, while ‘Lucky’ has the possibility to add a further 19 points.

‘Lucky’s’ teammate Fabrizia Pons is leading the Co-driver championship on 94 points, with Graham’s teammate Michael Johnston on 82 points after missing the first two events of the 2019 season.  

However, it is still mathematically possible for the British competitor to finish ahead at the end of the Mecsek Rallye as a win for the British crew would increase his score by the maximum 20 points while Pons has potentially an extra 19 points.

Team Trophy: Three Team – Four Points

If the driver and co-driver championships looked tight, the battle for the FIA EHSRC Team Trophy is just as intense. Rododendri Historic Rally head to Hungary with 204 points, just two ahead of long-time championship leaders Historic Rally Club Finland (202).  Keeping up with the two leaders are FlexiFly.co.uk Rally Team on 200 points and all three teams have a great opportunity to secure the Team Trophy in Hungary.

CLICK HERE for the current championship classifications after Round 8.

Round 9 of the 2019 FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship is the Mecsek Rallye in Hungary on the 11/13 October.