European Rally Championship
The European Rally Championship (officially FIA European Rally Championship) is an automobile rally competition held annually on the European continent and organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The championship has been organized since 1953 and have disputed in different European countries, alternating between rallies on asphalt and gravel. It was the first supranational rally championship that was organized in the world and therefore the oldest one. In 2012 it had 60 editions and in 2013 it was renewed with the merger with the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
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Category | R5 Super 2000 Group N |
---|---|
Country | Europe |
Inaugural season | 1953 |
Drivers | Varies |
Teams | Varies |
Drivers' champion | ![]() |
Official website | fiaerc.com |
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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 Championship 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.[1]
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.[1]
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". An ERC season now featured around 10 to 12 events and thus had a clearer structure.[1]
Between 2007 and 2011, the driver had to register for the European championships and thus only registered drivers could score ERC points, keeping the local drivers from taking up all ERC points despite not participating in the championship. The registered drivers were also obligated to contest a minimal number of events.[1]
Since 2013, French-based broadcaster Eurosport is the promoter of ERC, and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), previously organized and promoted by Eurosport, was discontinued.
Recent seasons
2010 season
The 2011 ERC season featured 11 rallies. Luca Rossetti 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 Valais. 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.
2012 season
The 2012 season started in January with a new event, the "Jänner Rallye" in Austria. As an important change, drivers no longer had to register for the championship. Finnish driver Juho Hänninen won the championship.
2013 season
The 2013 season is the first after the merger between IRC and the old ERC, and also the first after Eurosport became the championship's promoter. The season started with the Jänner Rallye in Austria on 3 January 2013, and ended with the Rallye du Valais on 9 November. Czech driver Jan Kopecký won the championship.
2014 season
The 2014 season started with the Jänner Rallye in Austria on 3 January 2014, and ended with the Tour de Corse on 8 November. Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi won the championship and the new Asphalt Masters trophy, while Polish drivers Robert Kubica and Kajetan Kajetanowicz won the Ice Masters and Gravel Masters, respectively. French driver Stéphane Lefebvre won the ERC Junior championship.
2015 season
The season started with the Jänner Rallye in Austria on 4 January 2015, and ended with the Rallye International du Valais on 7 November. For this year the drivers had to register for the championship, and the categories have been renamed into ERC 1 (for S2000, R5 and RRC (last year) cars), ERC 2 (category for R4 production cars (previously titled N4)) and ERC 3 (for R1, R2 and R3 cars). Polish driver Kajetan Kajetanowicz won the championship.
Champions

Season | Driver | Car | |
---|---|---|---|
1953 | ![]() |
Porsche 356 Coupé Fiat 1100 | |
1954 | ![]() |
DKW 3=6 F91 Sonderklasse | |
1955 | ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL | |
1956 | ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 220 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL | |
1957 | ![]() |
Borgward Isabella Saab 93 | |
1958 | ![]() |
Volvo PV444 Volvo PV544 | |
1959 | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo Giulietta TI Citroën ID 19 | |
1960 | ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 220 SE | |
1961 | ![]() |
Porsche 356 Carrera Coupé | |
1962 | ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 220 SE | |
1963 | ![]() |
Volvo 122 S Volvo PV544 | |
1964 | ![]() |
Volvo PV544 S | |
1965 | ![]() |
BMC Mini Cooper S | |
1966 | G1 | ![]() |
Opel Rekord |
G2 | ![]() |
BMC Mini Cooper S Steyr-Puch 650 TR | |
G3 | ![]() |
Porsche 911 | |
1967 | G1 | ![]() |
Porsche 911 S Porsche 912 |
G2 | ![]() |
Lotus Cortina | |
G3 | ![]() |
Porsche 911 S | |
1968 | ![]() |
Porsche 911 T | |
1969 | ![]() |
Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.3 HF Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF | |
1970 | ![]() |
Alpine A110 1600 | |
1971 | ![]() |
BMW 2002 TI | |
1972 | ![]() |
Fiat 124 Sport Spider | |
1973 | ![]() |
Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF | |
1974 | ![]() |
Opel Ascona A | |
1975 | ![]() |
Fiat Abarth 124 Rally | |
1976 | ![]() |
Lancia Stratos HF | |
1977 | ![]() |
Lancia Stratos HF | |
1978 | ![]() |
Lancia Stratos HF | |
1979 | ![]() |
Opel Ascona B Opel Kadett GT/E | |
1980 | ![]() |
Porsche 911 SC Ford Escort RS1800 | |
1981 | ![]() |
Fiat 131 Abarth | |
1982 | ![]() |
Opel Ascona 400 | |
1983 | ![]() |
Lancia Rally 037 | |
1984 | ![]() |
Lancia Rally 037 | |
1985 | ![]() |
Lancia Rally 037 | |
1986 | ![]() |
Lancia Delta S4 | |
1987 | ![]() |
Lancia Delta HF 4WD | |
1988 | ![]() |
Lancia Delta HF 4WD Lancia Delta Integrale | |
1989 | ![]() |
Lancia Delta Integrale | |
1990 | ![]() |
Lancia Delta Integrale 16V | |
1991 | ![]() |
Lancia Delta Integrale 16V | |
1992 | ![]() |
Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 | |
1993 | ![]() |
Lancia Delta HF Integrale Ford Escort RS Cosworth | |
1994 | ![]() |
Ford Escort RS Cosworth | |
1995 | ![]() |
Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | |
1996 | ![]() |
Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205 | |
1997 | ![]() |
Subaru Impreza 555 | |
1998 | ![]() |
Subaru Impreza 555 | |
1999 | ![]() |
Renault Mégane Maxi | |
2000 | ![]() |
Toyota Corolla WRC | |
2001 | ![]() |
Toyota Corolla WRC | |
2002 | ![]() |
Peugeot 206 WRC | |
2003 | ![]() |
Peugeot 206 WRC | |
2004 | ![]() |
Renault Clio S1600 | |
2005 | ![]() |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII Renault Clio S1600 | |
2006 | ![]() |
Fiat Punto Abarth S2000 | |
2007 | ![]() |
Citroën C2 S1600 Citroën C2 R2 | |
2008 | ![]() |
Peugeot 207 S2000 | |
2009 | ![]() |
Abarth Grande Punto S2000 | |
2010 | ![]() |
Abarth Grande Punto S2000 | |
2011 | ![]() |
Abarth Grande Punto S2000 | |
2012 | ![]() |
Škoda Fabia S2000 | |
2013 | ![]() |
Škoda Fabia S2000 | |
2014 | ![]() |
Škoda Fabia S2000 | |
2015 | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta R5 | |
2016 | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta R5 | |
2017 | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta R5 | |
2018 | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta R5 | |
2019 | ![]() |
Skoda Fabia R5 |
2WD champions
Season | Driver | Car |
---|---|---|
2013 | ![]() |
Honda Civic Type-R R3 |
2014 | ![]() |
Honda Civic Type-R R3 |
2015 | ![]() |
Opel Adam R2 |
2016 | ![]() |
Opel Adam R2 |
2017 | ![]() |
Opel Adam R2 |
2018 | ![]() |
Opel Adam R2 |
2019 | ![]() |
Peugeot 208 R2 |
Sources:[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] |
Production Cup
Season | Driver | Car |
---|---|---|
2013 | ![]() |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI R4 |
2014 | ![]() |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X R4 |
2015 | ![]() |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
2016 | ![]() |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI N15 |
2017 | ![]() |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X |
2018 | ![]() |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X |
2019 | ![]() |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X |
Sources:[9][10][11][12][13][14][15] |
Ladies champions
Season | Driver | Car | |
---|---|---|---|
1958 | ![]() |
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1960 | ![]() |
||
1962 | ![]() |
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1964 | ![]() |
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1965 | ![]() |
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1989 | ![]() |
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References
- "The history of the European Rally Championship". European Rally Championship. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- eWRC-results.com. "2013 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2014 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2015 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2016 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2017 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2018 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2019 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2013 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2014 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2015 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2016 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2017 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2018 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- eWRC-results.com. "2019 Season rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.