European Rally Championship
Encyclopedia
The European Rally Championship is the European continental championship series in rallying
. It is organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
(FIA).
for manufacturers in 1973, and in particular with the drivers' World Championship being contested from 1979 on, the importance of the ERC began to decline.
Over many years, a typical ERC season featured around 40 rallies, and from 1974 on, the rallies were assigned different coefficients (1, 2, 3 or 4) that were multiplied with the championship points. This made it very tedious to follow the championship and keep an overview. Changing the coefficients to 2, 5, 10 and 20 did also not improve the situation. Thus, the ERC was more a series for event organizers than an interesting championship for drivers.
A first improvement was implemented for the 2004 season, where the number of events counting for the European Rally Championship were reduced to those with coefficient 20, while the other rallies became part of regional "European Rally Cups". A ERC season now featured around 10 events and was thus more structured. However, there was still the problem, that most rallies were dominated by local drivers. They had no interest in the championship, but took away points from the championship drivers.
The latest improvement thus came in 2007 with the driver registration. It means that only ERC registered drivers can score points. These drivers are also obligated to contest a certain number of events. This measure has proven to be a success, with the number of registered drivers growing continuously.
was the winner of 4 events and won the championship.
. Italian driver Luca Rossetti
claimed his third European championship title after winning 5 of the events. In total, 28 registered drivers from 7 different countries competed in the championship.
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
. It is organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
(FIA).
History
The European Rally Championship was first contested in 1953 and in the following year was one of the most prestigious rallying series. However, with the introduction of the World Rally ChampionshipWorld Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
for manufacturers in 1973, and in particular with the drivers' World Championship being contested from 1979 on, the importance of the ERC began to decline.
Over many years, a typical ERC season featured around 40 rallies, and from 1974 on, the rallies were assigned different coefficients (1, 2, 3 or 4) that were multiplied with the championship points. This made it very tedious to follow the championship and keep an overview. Changing the coefficients to 2, 5, 10 and 20 did also not improve the situation. Thus, the ERC was more a series for event organizers than an interesting championship for drivers.
A first improvement was implemented for the 2004 season, where the number of events counting for the European Rally Championship were reduced to those with coefficient 20, while the other rallies became part of regional "European Rally Cups". A ERC season now featured around 10 events and was thus more structured. However, there was still the problem, that most rallies were dominated by local drivers. They had no interest in the championship, but took away points from the championship drivers.
The latest improvement thus came in 2007 with the driver registration. It means that only ERC registered drivers can score points. These drivers are also obligated to contest a certain number of events. This measure has proven to be a success, with the number of registered drivers growing continuously.
2010 season
The 2011 ERC season featured 11 rallies. Luca RossettiLuca Rossetti
Luca Rossetti is an Italian rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 2008, 2010 and 2011.-IRC results:* * Season in progress.- External links :*...
was the winner of 4 events and won the championship.
2011 season
The 2011 ERC season started on 14 April 2011 and featured 11 rallies. It ended on 29 October with the Rallye International du ValaisRallye International du Valais
The Rallye International du Valais is a yearly rally in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It was founded by Philippe Simonetta, a local wine dealer in 1960. Since 1980 it is part of the European Rally Championship and in 2007 and 2008 it was an event of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. In...
. Italian driver Luca Rossetti
Luca Rossetti
Luca Rossetti is an Italian rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 2008, 2010 and 2011.-IRC results:* * Season in progress.- External links :*...
claimed his third European championship title after winning 5 of the events. In total, 28 registered drivers from 7 different countries competed in the championship.
List of champions
| Year | Driver | Car | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 |  Helmut Polensky |
Porsche 356 Coupé Fiat 1100 Fiat 1100 The Fiat 1100 is a compact automobile produced from 1937 to 1969, by the Italian car maker Fiat.- Fiat 508C Nuova Balilla 1100 :The Fiat 1100 was first introduced in 1937 as an updated version of the 508 "Balilla" with a look similar to the 1936 Fiat 500 "Topolino" and the larger 1500, with the... |
|
| 1954 | Walter Schlüter |
DKW 1000 | |
| 1955 | Werner Engel |
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL | |
| 1956 | Walter Schock |
Mercedes-Benz 220 Mercedes-Benz W180 The Mercedes-Benz W180 is a 6-cylinder sedan, coupé, and convertible made from 1954 to 1959. The models associated with the W180 chassis code were the 220a and 220S... Mercedes-Benz 300 SL |
|
| 1957 | Ruprecht Hopfen |
Borgward Saab 93 Saab 93 The Saab 93, pronounced ninety-three, is an automobile manufactured by Saab. It was announced on August 18, 1955, and was first presented on December 1, 1955. It was styled by Sixten Sason and had a longitudinally-mounted three-cylinder 748 cc Saab two-stroke engine giving 33 hp . The... |
|
| 1958 |  Gunnar Andersson |
Volvo PV444 Volvo PV544 |
|
| 1959 |  Paul Coltelloni |
Alfa Romeo Citroën ID 19 |
|
| 1960 | Walter Schock |
Mercedes-Benz 220 SE | |
| 1961 | Hans-Joachim Walter |
Porsche 356 Carrera Coupé | |
| 1962 | Eugen Böhringer |
Mercedes-Benz 220 SE | |
| 1963 | Gunnar Andersson |
Volvo 122 S Volvo PV544 |
|
| 1964 | Tom Trana Tom Trana Tom Trana, born in Kristinehamn, Sweden, on 29 November 1937, was a famous motor rally driver. This Värmland sportsman was Volvo's counterpart to Saab's Erik Carlsson... |
Volvo PV544 S | |
| 1965 |  Rauno AaltonenRauno Aaltonen Rauno August Aaltonen , also known as "The Rally Professor", is a Finnish former professional rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship throughout the 1970s. Before WRC was established Aaltonen competed in the European Rally Championship. He won the championship in 1965, with Tony... |
BMC Mini Cooper S | |
| 1966 | G1 | Lillebror Nasenius |
Opel Rekord Opel Rekord The Opel Rekord was a large family car/executive car which was built in several generations by the German car manufacturer Opel.-Naming:The Rekord name evolved into the main name of the model; at first the name was used in close relationship with the Opel Olympia name, which pre-dated the Rekord... |
| G2 |  Sobiesław Zasada |
BMC Mini Cooper S Steyr-Puch 650 TR |
|
| G3 | Günter Klass Günter Klass Günter "Bobby" Klass was a versatile German racing driver, competing in hillclimbing, rallying, and the World Sportscar Championship as factory driver for Porsche and the Scuderia Ferrari.-Career:... |
Porsche 911 Porsche 911 The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998... |
|
| 1967 | G1 | Sobiesław Zasada |
Porsche 911 S Porsche 912 Porsche 912 The Porsche 912 is a sports car that was manufactured by Porsche of Germany between 1965 and 1969 as their entry-level model. The 912 is a nimble-handling compact performance four-seat vehicle, delivering 90 SAE horsepower at 5800 rpm. It is capable of up to fuel economy. This combination is... |
| G2 | Bengt Söderström |
Lotus Cortina Lotus Cortina The Lotus-Cortina is a high-performance car, which was produced in the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1970 by the Ford in collaboration with Lotus Cars. The original version, which was based on the Ford Cortina Mark 1, was promoted by Ford as the "Consul Cortina developed by Lotus", with "Consul"... |
|
| G3 |  Vic ElfordVic Elford Victor Henry Elford is a former sportscar racing, rallying and Formula One driver from England. He participated in 13 World Championship F1 Grands Prix, debuting on 7 July 1968... |
Porsche 911 S | |
| 1968 | Pauli Toivonen Pauli Toivonen Pauli Toivonen was a Finnish rally car driver. He drove for Citroën, Lancia and Porsche and had many successes to his credit... |
Porsche 911 T | |
| 1969 | Harry Källström Harry Källström Harry "Sputnik" Källström was a Swedish professional rally driver who debuted in 1957 and competed in the World Rally Championship in the 1970s. Prior to the forming of the WRC, Källström won the RAC Rally in a Lancia Fulvia 1.6 Coupé HF in 1969 and 1970... |
Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.3 HF Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF |
|
| 1970 | Jean-Claude Andruet Jean-Claude Andruet Jean-Claude Andruet is a retired French professional rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship.Andruet took three WRC event wins during his career; 1973 Monte Carlo Rally, 1974 Tour de Corse and 1977 San Remo Rally. The 1973 Monte Carlo was the first ever rally in the FIA World... |
Alpine A110 1600 | |
| 1971 | Sobiesław Zasada |
BMW 2002 TI | |
| 1972 |  Raffaele PintoRaffaele Pinto Raffaele "Lele" Pinto is a former rally driver, who won the 1974 Rally Portugal.-Career:Pinto began rallying in 1968. In 1972, he won the European Rally Championship in a Fiat 124. The following year, the World Rally Championship was run for the first time, and Pinto competed with Fiat, winning... |
Fiat 124 Sport Spyder | |
| 1973 | Sandro Munari Sandro Munari Sandro Munari is a former motor racing and rally driver from Italy.-Career:Born at Cavarzere, Veneto, Sandro Munari began rallying in 1965 and won the Italian Rally Championship in 1967 and 1969, adding the European Rally Championship title in 1973. In 1972 he won the Targa Florio sports car... |
Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF | |
| 1974 | Walter Röhrl Walter Röhrl Walter Röhrl is a German rally and auto racing driver, with victories for Fiat, Opel, Lancia and Audi as well as Porsche, Ford and BMW.-Career:... |
Opel Ascona A | |
| 1975 | Maurizio Verini |
Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye | |
| 1976 | Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche is a French former rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 1976 and 1977 and the French Rally Championship in 1976 and 1978, each time behind the wheel of a Lancia Stratos... |
Lancia Stratos HF Lancia Stratos HF The Lancia Stratos HF, widely and more simply known as Lancia Stratos, is a car made by Italian car manufacturer Lancia. The HF stands for High Fidelity... |
|
| 1977 | Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche is a French former rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 1976 and 1977 and the French Rally Championship in 1976 and 1978, each time behind the wheel of a Lancia Stratos... |
Lancia Stratos HF Lancia Stratos HF The Lancia Stratos HF, widely and more simply known as Lancia Stratos, is a car made by Italian car manufacturer Lancia. The HF stands for High Fidelity... |
|
| 1978 | Tony Carello |
Lancia Stratos HF Lancia Stratos HF The Lancia Stratos HF, widely and more simply known as Lancia Stratos, is a car made by Italian car manufacturer Lancia. The HF stands for High Fidelity... |
|
| 1979 | Jochi Kleint |
Opel Ascona B Opel Kadett GT/E |
|
| 1980 |  Antonio Zanini |
Porsche 911 SC Ford Escort RS1800 |
|
| 1981 | Adartico Vudafieri |
Fiat 131 Abarth | |
| 1982 | "Tony" Antonio Fassina Antonio "Tony" Fassina is a former rally driver from Italy. He won the Italian Rally Championship in 1976 and 1979 driving a Lancia Stratos, and then again in 1981 behind the wheel of an Opel Ascona. In 1982, he drove the Ascona to victory in the European Rally Championship... |
Opel Ascona 400 | |
| 1983 | Miki Biasion |
Lancia Rally 037 | |
| 1984 | Carlo Capone Carlo Capone Carlo Capone was an Italian rally racing driver. He claimed the European Rally Championship in 1984 with a Lancia 037 in front of the late Henri Toivonen in a Porsche 911.-References:... |
Lancia Rally 037 | |
| 1985 | Dario Cerrato |
Lancia Rally 037 | |
| 1986 | Fabrizio Tabaton Fabrizio Tabaton Fabrizio Tabaton is an Italian former rally driver.-European Rally Championship:Competing for the H.F. Grifone team, he had his biggest successes in the European Rally Championship, which he won with a Lancia Delta S4 in 1986, and with a Lancia Delta Integrale and a Delta HF 4WD in 1988... |
Lancia Delta S4 Lancia Delta S4 The Lancia Delta S4 is a Group B rally car that competed in the World Rally Championship in 1985 and 1986, until Group B cars were banned from competition by the FIA. The car replaced and was an evolution of the Lancia 037 Monte Carlo. The S4 took full advantage of the Group B regulations, and... |
|
| 1987 | Dario Cerrato |
Lancia Delta HF 4WD | |
| 1988 | Fabrizio Tabaton Fabrizio Tabaton Fabrizio Tabaton is an Italian former rally driver.-European Rally Championship:Competing for the H.F. Grifone team, he had his biggest successes in the European Rally Championship, which he won with a Lancia Delta S4 in 1986, and with a Lancia Delta Integrale and a Delta HF 4WD in 1988... |
Lancia Delta HF 4WD Lancia Delta Integrale |
|
| 1989 | Yves Loubet |
Lancia Delta Integrale | |
| 1990 |  Robert Droogmans |
Lancia Delta Integrale 16V | |
| 1991 | Piero Liatti Piero Liatti Piero Liatti is an Italian rally driver. His speciality was driving on Tarmac rallies like Monte Carlo, Catalunya, Corsica and the San Remo Rally.-Biography:... |
Lancia Delta Integrale 16V | |
| 1992 | Erwin Weber |
Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 was the range-topping version of Mitsubishi Motors' Galant model, available in the sixth , seventh and eighth generations of the vehicle... |
|
| 1993 | Pierre-César Baroni |
Lancia Delta HF Integrale Ford Escort RS Cosworth Ford Escort RS Cosworth The Ford Escort RS Cosworth was a sports derivative of the Ford Escort. It was available from 1992-96 in very limited numbers.It was instantly recognisable due to its large "whale tail" rear spoiler... |
|
| 1994 | Patrick Snijers |
Ford Escort RS Cosworth Ford Escort RS Cosworth The Ford Escort RS Cosworth was a sports derivative of the Ford Escort. It was available from 1992-96 in very limited numbers.It was instantly recognisable due to its large "whale tail" rear spoiler... |
|
| 1995 | Enrico Bertone |
Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | |
| 1996 | Armin Schwarz Armin Schwarz Armin Schwarz is a German rally driver. He competed in the World Rally Championship from 1988 to 2005, winning the 1991 Rally Catalunya and taking six other podium finishes... |
Toyota Celica GT-Four Toyota Celica GT-Four The Toyota Celica GT-Four is a high performance model of the Celica liftback, with a turbocharged 3S-GTE engine, and full-time AWD. It was created to compete in the World Rally Championship, whose regulations dictate that a manufacturer must build road-going versions of the vehicle in sufficient... |
|
| 1997 | Krzysztof Hołowczyc |
Subaru Impreza 555 | |
| 1998 | Andrea Navarra |
Subaru Impreza 555 | |
| 1999 | Enrico Bertone |
Renault Mégane Maxi | |
| 2000 |  Henrik Lundgaard |
Toyota Corolla WRC | |
| 2001 | Armin Kremer |
Toyota Corolla WRC | |
| 2002 | Renato Travaglia |
Peugeot 206 WRC Peugeot 206 WRC Peugeot 206 WRC is a World Rally Car based on the Peugeot 206. It was used by Peugeot Sport, Peugeot's factory team, in the World Rally Championship from 1999 to 2003. The car brought Peugeot the manufacturers' world title three years in a row from 2000 to 2002... |
|
| 2003 | Bruno Thiry Bruno Thiry Bruno Thiry is a Belgian rally driver. He was born in St. Vith, Province of Liège.He began his career as an amateur in 1981, driving a Simca, and quickly became very successful in the Belgian Rally Championship. In 1994, he joined the Ford team to contest the World Rally Championship, driving a... |
Peugeot 206 WRC Peugeot 206 WRC Peugeot 206 WRC is a World Rally Car based on the Peugeot 206. It was used by Peugeot Sport, Peugeot's factory team, in the World Rally Championship from 1999 to 2003. The car brought Peugeot the manufacturers' world title three years in a row from 2000 to 2002... |
|
| 2004 | Simon Jean-Joseph |
Renault Clio S1600 | |
| 2005 | Renato Travaglia |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII Renault Clio S1600 |
|
| 2006 | Giandomenico Basso Giandomenico Basso Giandomenico Basso is an Italian rally driver.-Rally career:After competing in karting from 1981, Basso has been rallying since 1994 Basso has driven Fiats throughout his rallying career. He made his World Rally Championship debut on Rallye Sanremo in 1998, in a Fiat Seicento... |
Fiat Punto Abarth S2000 | |
| 2007 2007 European Rally Championship season The 2007 European Rally Championship season was the 55th season of the FIA European Rally Championship. French driver Simon Jean-Joseph won his second European rally championship title despite not winning any of the 10 events.-Calendar and winners:... |
Simon Jean-Joseph |
Citroën C2 S1600 Citroën C2 R2 |
|
| 2008 2008 European Rally Championship season The 2008 European Rally Championship season was the 56th season of the FIA European Rally Championship. Italian driver Luca Rossetti won 4 of the 9 rallies to claim his first European rally championship title.-Calendar and winners:... |
Luca Rossetti Luca Rossetti Luca Rossetti is an Italian rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 2008, 2010 and 2011.-IRC results:* * Season in progress.- External links :*... |
Peugeot 207 S2000 Peugeot 207 S2000 The Peugeot 207 S2000 is Super 2000 rally car developed by Peugeot Sport. It is based upon the Peugeot 207 road car. Drivers Enrique García Ojeda, Nicolas Vouilloz and Kris Meeke won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers' title in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively in a Peugeot 207 S2000.... |
|
| 2009 2009 European Rally Championship season The 2009 European Rally Championship season was the 57th season of the FIA European Rally Championship. The season had 11 rallies, of which Giandomenico Basso won 7 and thus claimed his second European rally championship title.-Calendar and winners:... |
Giandomenico Basso Giandomenico Basso Giandomenico Basso is an Italian rally driver.-Rally career:After competing in karting from 1981, Basso has been rallying since 1994 Basso has driven Fiats throughout his rallying career. He made his World Rally Championship debut on Rallye Sanremo in 1998, in a Fiat Seicento... |
Abarth Grande Punto S2000 | |
| 2010 2010 European Rally Championship season The 2010 European Rally Championship season was the 58th season of the FIA European Rally Championship. The season had 11 rallies, beginning with Rally 1000 Miglia on 22 April. The championship was contested by 24 drivers from 6 countries... |
Luca Rossetti Luca Rossetti Luca Rossetti is an Italian rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 2008, 2010 and 2011.-IRC results:* * Season in progress.- External links :*... |
Abarth Grande Punto S2000 | |
| 2011 2011 European Rally Championship season The 2011 European Rally Championship season was the 59th season of the FIA European Rally Championship, the European continental championship series in rallying.. The season consisted of eleven rallies, beginning with Rally 1000 Miglia on 14 April 2011 and concluding with the Rallye International... |
Luca Rossetti Luca Rossetti Luca Rossetti is an Italian rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 2008, 2010 and 2011.-IRC results:* * Season in progress.- External links :*... |
Abarth Grande Punto S2000 | |