Azores Airlines Rallye - 22-24 Mar 18

R5 X 35 FOR AZORES ERC SEASON OPENER!

Posted: March 12, 2018 2:57 PM

A staggering 35 R5 cars are entered for the Azores Airlines Rallye, the opening round of the FIA European Rally Championship from 22-24 March.

Underlining the popularity of the ERC, the R5 entry marks a seven-car increase over last season’s Azores Airlines Rallye and is just two shy of the 2017 record of 37 R5 cars, which was set on Barum Czech Rally Zlín in Central Europe during the summer.

In addition, 12 drivers are entered for the ERC Junior Under 28 Championship, which caters for young stars in R5 cars, while 11 will line up in ERC Junior Under 27 for drivers in R2 cars on Pirelli tyres.

Among the leading names taking part are Bruno Magalhães, the 2017 ERC runner-up and last year’s Azores winner, ERC Junior Under 28 and ERC Junior Under 27 champions Marijan Griebel and Chris Ingram, ERC event winner Alexey Lukyanuk, German title winner Fabian Kreim, Portuguese champion Carlos Vieira, multiple Azorean champion Ricardo Moura and Hungarian champion Norbert Herczig.

Azores Airlines Rallye 2018 entry: key facts and figures

35: R5 cars entered
12: drivers in ERC Junior Under 28
11: drivers in ERC Junior Under 27
60: entries for international event
55: registered ERC drivers
22: nationalities represented
9: cars from nine manufacturers in action

Jean-Baptiste Ley, the ERC Co-ordinator, said:
“Attracting such a big entry, particularly from drivers in R5 cars and in the ERC Junior categories, demonstrates the appeal of the FIA European Rally Championship. While the Azores is one of the most spectacular rallies on the international calendar, its mid-Atlantic Ocean setting makes taking part somewhat of a logistical challenge. Despite this and the earlier date, drivers and teams have entered the rally and registered for the ERC in big numbers. The prospects for a highly competitive and exciting start to the 2018 ERC have increased significantly.”

Entry List

Posted: March 12, 2018 2:27 PM

Azores Airlines Rallye - 22-24 Mar 18 - ENTRY LIST

AZORES AIRLINES RALLYE TO OPEN 2018 ERC SEASON

Posted: November 29, 2017 9:00 AM

The 2018 FIA European Rally Championship will fire into life on the Azores Airlines Rallye from 22-24 March with the finale set for Rally Liep?ja from 12-14 October.

Six events will take place in between, including Rally Islas Canarias from 3-5 May, with the full calendar due to be announced following the meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 6 December.

It will mean the ERC’s successful switch to an eight-round format, first tried in 2017, will continue with the schedule including an even mix of asphalt and gravel rallies.

Jean-Baptiste Ley, ERC Co-ordinator, said: “We’re delighted to announce preliminary details of the ERC calendar for 2018 and look forward to releasing the full eight-event schedule in due course. Opening the ERC in the Azores for the first time back in March this year was a big success and we’re very pleased that we can build on that success and ensure we get the new ERC season off to the best possible start on one of the most spectacular events of them all. We’re also very pleased Rally Liep?ja will conclude what’s already shaping up to be a very exciting ERC season number 66.”

Rally Islas Canarias will continue to occupy its traditional early May slot as the second round of the season and the first on asphalt. Rally Liep?ja will run one week later than it did in 2017 to ensure there are no clashes between the FIA World and European championship calendars.

Having successfully staged the 2017 season closer when five FIA European titles were settled, Rally Liep?ja will once again host the championship showdown in 2018.

Promoted by Eurosport Events under a 10-year agreement with motorsport’s world governing body and run first in 1953, the FIA European Rally Championship is the ultimate training ground for young hopefuls aiming for the top. Providing a clear path of progression from national level to the world stage, the oldest international rally series in existence is also open to all-comers, meaning age is no barrier to competing.

Event Website / Details

Posted: November 29, 2017 9:00 AM

Azores Rallye