2015 European Rally Championship (ERC)

ERC REVEALS A 30 PER CENT INCREASE IN TV AUDIENCE

Posted: February 10, 2016 9:20 AM

A cumulative audience of 318.9 million viewers watched the FIA European Rally Championship in 2015, a 30 per cent increase on the previous year, according to a report produced for ERC promoter Eurosport Events by global sports research consultancy Repucom.

The report also shows that there were 1081 hours of dedicated broadcasts for the ERC in 2015, across 81 different channels worldwide.

Of the total viewers, the Eurosport network provided 107 million, and there will be continued television coverage of the ERC across the Eurosport platform during 2016.

Jean-Baptiste Ley, the ERC General Co-ordinator, said: "We're delighted that the popularity of the ERC has continued to rise each year since Eurosport Events took over the promotion of the championship in 2013. While they are already well known on Eurosport, ERC TV programmes are now broadcast on more than 80 other channels in 160 countries. Competing in the ERC at every level requires investment and the fact that a cumulative audience of 318.9 million watched the ERC in 2015 only helps drivers and teams in their efforts to take part, while also providing an excellent return to the ERC's partners MICHELIN and Pirelli, as well as all the individual rally organisers. More than ever, the media exposure remains one of the biggest assets of this international championship."

The 2016 ERC season gets underway on Gran Canaria with 40th Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Ingles from 10-12 March.

STATEMENT BY EUROSPORT EVENTS REGARDING TOUR DE CORSE

Posted: February 7, 2015 6:48 PM

Tour de Corse (France) - 1-4 Oct 15

Unfinished business in 2015 for Breen.

Posted: December 22, 2014 1:57 PM

Craig Breen, who has spearheaded the PEUGEOT Rally Academy since its creation, will next year look forward to not only another FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) campaign where his objective will be to secure the 2015 title but also seven WRC-2 outings all behind the wheel of his 208 T16.

Along with co-driver Scott Martin, he earned the 208 T16’s first major international success when he won the 2014 Acropolis Rally in Greece. For 2015, the crew and car have a programme of nine ERC rounds, since only the trip to Cyprus doesn’t figure in the pair’s diary.

“I’m delighted to be continuing with PEUGEOT Sport in 2015 when our priority will be the ERC title, ” says 24-year old Craig. “Last year wasn’t easy. We were down on luck and it was the 208 T16’s debut season but now all the ingredients are in place. The car combines speed and reliability and I know the team well, since this will be my third year as part of the official line-up. It’s going to be an exciting but busy year because my programme also includes, with PEUGEOT Sport support, seven WRC-2 outings in the 208 T16 with the same team.”

The PEUGEOT Rally Academy’s 2015 campaign with the 208 T16 and 208 promises to be particularly busy, beginning with its first competitive appearance on next month’s European Rally Championship opener, the Jännerrallye.

Craig’s FIA ERC 2015
January 4-6: Jännerrallye (Austria)
February 6-8: Rally Liepaja (Latvia)
April 2-4: Circuit of Ireland:
June 4-6: Rallye Açores (Portugal)
June 25-27: Ypres Rally (Belgium)
July 17-19: Rally Estonia
August 28-30: Barum Czech Rally Zlin
October 9-11: Rally of Greece
November 5-7: Tour de Corse

Craig’s WRC 2015
Monte-Carlo 22 - 25 January
Portugal 21 - 24 May
Poland 02 - 05 July
Finland 30 July - 02 August
France 01 - 04 October
Spain 22 - 25 October
Great Britain 12 - 15 November

NEW PRIZE FUND FOR ERC PRIVATEERS

Posted: December 21, 2014 5:19 PM

FIA European Rally Championship promoter Eurosport Events has created a prize fund totalling 200,000 Euros in partnership with several key stakeholders to assist drivers without manufacturer support competing in the ERC.

It is the first time in recent history that a major international rally championship has offered a season-long prize fund and is another example of how Eurosport Events is assisting drivers and teams contesting the ERC, having previously introduced a number of measures to reduce the cost of competition.

The round-by-round prize fund of 20,000 Euros will be allocated to the seven highest-placed eligible drivers according to the final official classification:

First position: €7000
Second position: €5000
Third position: €3000
Fourth position: €2000
Fifth position: €1000
Sixth position: €1000
Seventh position: €1000

To be eligible, drivers must register for the ERC, receive no manufacturer support*, use tyres from one of the three ERC partner companies (Michelin, Pirelli and Yokohama) and not compete in a Regional Rally Car.
*Eurosport Events will determine privateer status in consultation with the manufacturer in question.

All surfaces, all action for 2015 ERC calendar

Posted: November 8, 2014 7:24 PM

Crews contesting the 2015 FIA European Rally Championship will demonstrate their skills on ice, snow, asphalt and gravel over an exciting 10-event schedule from January to November.

Eurosport Events, the ERC promoter under a long-term agreement with motorsport’s world governing body, the FIA, has announced a provisional calendar for next season following a meeting of the FIA Rally Commission on Wednesday. It takes in some of Europe’s best and most prestigious rallies with five events on asphalt and five on loose surfaces. Meanwhile, the FIA ERC Junior Championship will take in six rounds (see calendar below).

The 2015 ERC season kicks off on the ice-coated roads of the Jännerrallye from 4-6 January. Uniquely, the event will start on Sunday and finish on Tuesday to take in the Austrian Bank Holiday weekend. From Upper Austria, the ERC heads north to Latvia for Rally Liep?ja (6-8 February), a high-speed snow spectacular through the Baltic forests.

It’s back to asphalt for the Circuit of Ireland Rally, one of the oldest events on the international calendar, from 2-4 April prior to a short break as the ERC crews recharge their batteries following an all-action start to the season. The competition resumes with one of the most spectacular gravel events of all, SATA Rallye Açores (4-6 June), before a return to asphalt for Belgium’s Geko Ypres Rally from 25-27 June.

auto24Rally Estonia, a hit new addition to the ERC schedule for 2014, retains its mid-summer slot with crews set to fly over the gravel jumps and crests from 17-19 July. The all-asphalt Barum Czech Rally Zlín is next up from 28-30 August with the Cyprus Rally scheduled for 25-27 September, one week later than 2014 to allow teams more travel time. Discussions are taking place to offset the cost of travel to Cyprus and Açores.

The ERC remains on gravel for Rally of Greece, previously the Acropolis Rally, from 9-11 October having run in March this season, but it’s back to asphalt for the season-closer, the iconic Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse from 5-7 November.

“Once again we have put together an exciting schedule of emerging and established events in all four corners of Europe,” said Jean-Baptiste Ley, the ERC General Co-ordinator. “With rallies on ice, snow, asphalt and gravel, crews can experience serious competition on a variety of surfaces.”

Events will be run over a competitive distance of between 200-230 kilometres as part of ongoing cost-cutting measures, which also include restrictions on testing and tyre use.

The provisional FIA European Rally Championship calendar for 2015 will now be submitted to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for final ratification at its meeting in Doha, Qatar on 3 December.

Provisional FIA European Rally Championship calendar for 2015

Posted: November 8, 2014 7:23 PM

Round 1: Jännerrallye (Austria, asphalt/ice/snow): 4-6 January 2015
Round 2: Rally Liep?ja (Latvia, gravel/ice/snow): 6-8 February 2015 (J)
Round 3: Circuit of Ireland Rally (Northern Ireland, asphalt): 2-4 April 2015 (J)
Round 4: SATA Rallye Açores (Portugal, gravel): 4-6 June 2015 (J)
Round 5: Geko Ypres Rally (Belgium, asphalt): 25-27 June 2015 (J)
Round 6: auto24 Rally Estonia (gravel): 17-19 July 2015 (J)*
Round 7: Barum Czech Rally Zlín (Czech Republic, asphalt): 28-30 August 2015 (J)
Round 8: Cyprus Rally (gravel): 25-27 September 2015
Round 9: Rally of Greece (gravel): 9-11 October 2015*
Round 10: Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse (France, asphalt): 5-7 November 2015

(J) Indicates FIA ERC Junior Championship round *Subject to signing of ERC Promoter agreement

ERC revamped for 2015

Posted: June 18, 2014 11:36 AM

The FIA European Rally Championship will undergo several changes for the 2015 season designed to reduce costs for competitors and strengthen the series.

From 2015, the ERC will be contested over a maximum of 10 events with drivers, co-drivers and teams being required to register with the FIA, as is the case with the WRC support championships, to be eligible for European championship points.

In other changes proposed by ERC promoter Eurosport Events Ltd and approved by the FIA Rally Commission at a meeting in Paris on 28 May, it was agreed that there would be modifications to the ERC structure to closely mirror the format used in the WRC.

The overall ERC title will be earmarked for drivers, co-drivers and teams using R5, Regional Rally Cars and Super 2000 cars. A maximum of eight scores will be taken into account, four from the first half of the season and four from the second half.

The new ERC2 category will be for traditional Group N and R4 cars with prolonged FIA homologation for three years, while ERC3 will cater for two-wheel-drive machinery conforming to FIA Regional Rally Regulations.

ERC Junior, introduced to great acclaim for the 2014 season, will continue albeit known as Junior ERC for consistency purposes but with drivers counting their best four scores from six nominated events rather than the current seven. As is currently the case, Junior ERC drivers will be restricted in age and must use R2-specification cars on MICHELIN tyres. Junior ERC drivers will enrol in a training programme and chase a prize drive in an R5 car on ERC events, full details of which will be announced in the coming months.

There will be awards for drivers, co-drivers and teams in ERC2 and ERC3, with ERC2 drivers counting four scores in each half of the season. ERC3 competitors can score points on six occasions (three in each half of the season). Junior ERC drivers, co-drivers and teams will be eligible for ERC3 points. However, there will only be a drivers’ classification in Junior ERC.

In addition, the total stage length for each round will be reduced to 220 kilometres, unless agreed otherwise by Eurosport Events Ltd, while tyre quantities will be further restricted following consultation with the tyre manufacturers. The championship registration fee payable to the FIA has yet to be set but it will be kept to a reasonable level.

A proposal document detailing all the changes will be presented to the FIA Rally Commission for final approval when it meets at the end of August.

Jean-Bapitste Ley, the ERC Co-ordinator, said: “Adapting the ERC to the current market conditions but at the same time maintaining the championship’s high standards is the priority of Eurosport Events Ltd. From engaging all ERC stakeholders through regular meetings, the clear message we have received is to consolidate the number of rounds and make the ERC more affordable for those taking part.

“The changes and cost-cutting measures proposed to the last FIA Rally Commission should be welcomed by drivers and teams, while Eurosport Events Ltd will maintain its promotional efforts in the ERC. Eurosport Events Ltd will also try to introduce prize money for independent teams to encourage a high number of entrants, including R5 customers. With four different R5 cars on the market next year, we expect serious competition ahead in the ERC as a stepping-stone to the WRC.”

ERC changes in short

*Maximum 10-round calendar from 2015
*New format to align ERC closer to WRC
*Drivers, co-drivers and teams register with FIA to be eligible for points
*Cost-cutting measures include limiting tyre quantities and total stage lengths
*Headlining ERC category for R5, RRC and S2000 cars
*ERC drivers, co-drivers and teams count eight best scores (four from each half of the season)
*ERC2 for Group N and R4 cars. Drivers, co-drivers and teams also count eight best scores (four from each half of the season)
*ERC3 for all 2WD cars with drivers, co-drivers and teams scoring on six events (three from each half of the season)
*ERC Junior renamed Junior ERC. Drivers count four best scores from six nominated events

Championship Website

Posted: June 18, 2014 11:35 AM

European Rally Championship (ERC) - fiaerc.com