PRESS KIT. EKO Acropolis Rally 31 May-3 June FIA European Rally Championship Round 3 of 8

Transcription

1 PRESS KIT EKO Acropolis Rally 31 May-3 June 2018 FIA European Rally Championship Round 3 of 8

2 EVENT ESSENTIALS The rally in 100 words... For more than 60 years, the Acropolis Rally has made heroes and broken hearts. Throughout that time, its legendary status has remained undiminished with the 2017 edition offering the usual mix of triumph (for Kajetan Kajetanowicz) and despair (for Nikolay Gryazin, who was leading when his car was gutted by fire). An ERC regular until 1968, the event returned to the European championship in 2014 when Loutraki on the banks of the Gulf of Corinth hosted the 60th running, a mixed-surface affair. Now run in partnership with the OMAE Greek federation on gravel only, Lamia has been home since Event eligibility: FIA European Rally Championship 2018, round 3 of 8 Also counting for... FIA ERC2, FIA ERC3, FIA European Rally Championship for Teams ERC Nations' Cup, ERC Ladies' Trophy Previous winners: 2017: Kajetan Kajetanowicz/Jarek Baran (Ford Fiesta R5) 2016: Ralfs Sirmacis/Arturs Šimins (ŠKODA Fabia R5) 2015: Kajetan Kajetanowicz/Jarek Baran (Ford Fiesta R5) 2014: Craig Breen/Scott Martin (Peugeot 208 T16) 2013: Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (Volkswagen Polo R WRC)* *World championship event Starts: 11h00, Friday 1 June, Acropolis, Athens Finishes: 15h04, Sunday 3 June, Service Park, Lamia National Trade Fair, Lamia Headquarters: Service Park, Lamia National Trade Fair, Georgiou Gennimata str., 35100, Lamia (located 230 kilometres north of Athens Airport) ERC appearances (since 2004 restructuring): 4 ( ) Stages: 12 Stage distance: kilometres ( kilometres leg one, kilometres leg two) Liaison: kilometres Total: kilometres Surface: Gravel

3 Free Practice (for priority drivers): 14h00-16h00, Thursday 31 May (3.70 kilometres, Lamia area) Qualifying Stage (for priority drivers): 16h48 Thursday 31 May (3.70 kilometres, Lamia area) Shakedown (for all drivers): 17h45-19h15, Thursday 31 May (3.70 kilometres, Lamia area) Start order selection: 19h00, Thursday 31 May, Service Park, Lamia Rally start: 11h00, Friday 1 June, Acropolis, Athens MEDIA INFORMATION Media accreditation (Lamia): Location: Building A, Service Park, Lamia National Trade Fair, Georgiou Gennimata str., 35100, Lamia Opening hours: Wednesday 30 May: 10h00-20h00 Thursday 31 May: 10h00-21h00 Friday 1 June: 09h30-21h00 Saturday 2 June: 08h30-19h00 Media accreditation (Athens): Location: Olympic Athletic Center of Athens (OAKA) / Velodrome, 37 Kifisias Ave. (entrance from Spyrou Loui str.), Marousi Athens Opening hours: Wednesday 30 May: 10h00-18h00 Thursday 31 May: 10h00-18h00 Media Centre (Lamia): Location: Building A, Service Park, Lamia National Trade Fair, Georgiou Gennimata str., 35100, Lamia Opening hours: Wednesday 30 May: 10h00-20h00 Thursday 31 May: 10h00-21h00 Friday 1 June: 08h00-23h00 Saturday 2 June: 08h00-23h00 Sunday 3 June: 07h30-23h00 Television coverage: Daily highlights, rally review and Inside ERC magazine show on Eurosport and Eurosport Player, plus additional coverage on a number of other channels around the world

4 ERC Radio: Live throughout the event at FIAERC.com or through the ERC app Results, standings, live timing and text commentary: Rights-free images: Register at Event media contact: Panos Diamantis, (Accreditations Officer: Eirini Moustakaia: ) MEDIA EVENTS THURSDAY 31 MAY Pre-rally press conference: 12h00, Media Centre, Service Park, Lamia National Trade Fair, Lamia Free Practice (for priority drivers): 14h00-16h00 (3.70 kilometres, Lamia area) Qualifying Stage (for priority drivers): 16h48 (3.70 kilometres, Lamia area) Shakedown (for all drivers): 17h45-19h15 (3.70 kilometres, Lamia area) Start order selection: 19h00, Service Park, Lamia National Trade Fair, Lamia FRIDAY 1 JUNE Photocall: 10h15, Philopappos Monument, Athens ( Activity subject to confirmation Ceremonial start: 11h00, Acropolis, Athens SATURDAY 2 JUNE End-of-leg press conference: TBA, Service Park, Lamia National Trade Fair, Lamia SUNDAY 3 JUNE Post-rally press conference: 16h15, Media Centre, Lamia National Trade Fair, Lamia

5 EKO ACROPOLIS RALLY IN NUMBERS: 19: A total of 19 top-of-the-range R5 cars are set to line up at the start in the Greek capital Athens. 18: Of the list of registrations, 19 nationalities are represented. 12: This year s EKO Acropolis Rally, which starts from under the ancient Acropolis citadel in Athens, features 12 stages over timed kilometres, making it the longest of the ERC season so far : The famous Thiva stage is the longest of the Lamia-based rally at kilometres. In contrast, SSS Hippodrome in Markopoulo is the shortest at 2.60 kilometres. 5: Since returning to the European championship roster in 2014, the Acropolis Rally has been ever-present on the ERC schedule and this year celebrates its fifth running in the modern era of the ERC in : Greek Haris Kaltsounis will turn 70 this September making him the oldest driver in the field. He s also started the event more times than any of rivals with this year s running marking appearance number 33. FAST FACTS: *The Acropolis Rally was a regular on the ERC schedule up until 1968, the year when British hero Roger Clark took his Ford Escort to victory, one year after Paddy Hopkirk had triumphed in a Mini Cooper S. *Indeed, British drivers have a strong record on the Acropolis with Colin McRae winning the event a record five times and Richard Burns once. *The 2014 Acropolis Rally was the setting of the first event win for the PEUGEOT 208 T16 with Irishman Craig Breen, co-driven by Scott Martin, coming out on top for the French make. Since then there has been wins for the Ford Fiesta R5 (2015 and 2017) and ŠKODA Fabia R5 (2016). *Evidence from archaeological excavations suggest Lamia s first inhabitants arrived in the Bronze Age. *Essential ingredients for the perfect Greek salad are tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, feta cheese and Kalamata olives seasoned with salt, oregano and dressed with olive oil. Best served with warm pita bread. Lemon juice is optional.

6 EVENT PREVIEW BIG HISTORY, BIG CHALLENGE: EKO ACROPOLIS RALLY TO TEST ERC STARS IN GREECE *European championship leader Lukyanuk among 19 drivers in R5 cars *Multiple national champions in action on legendary event *Eighteen nationalities set to be represented at Athens start For more than 60 years, the Acropolis Rally has made heroes and broken hearts. Throughout that time, its legendary status has remained undiminished with last season s edition offering the usual mix of triumph for winner Kajetan Kajetanowicz and despair for Nikolay Gryazin, who was leading when his car was gutted by fire, thankfully without injury to the young Russian and his co-driver Yaroslav Fedorov. This year s event, round three of the all-action FIA European Rally Championship, is set to be no different as crews negotiate demanding gravel stages in the Region of Central Greece. Factor in punishing ambient and ground temperatures, the prospect of rain in the build-up to the event, plus the presence of just shy of 20 R5 cars, and the stage is set for a thrilling contest. With two ERC wins from two starts, Alexey Lukyanuk will be the driver in the ascendency when the exciting entry is flagged away from the ceremonial start below the remains of the ancient Acropolis citadel a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Greek capital Athens on Friday morning (1 June). It s one of the toughest rallies of the year for the cars and the crews, said Russian Lukyanuk. I did it two years ago with a different co-driver [to Alexey Arnautov] but we finished early with broken suspension due to the wrong pacenotes in one place. More than half of the rally will be new for me and it will be interesting to start with a long stage on Friday evening. Following a blast around the SSS Hippodome superspecial at the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre, which was built for the Summer Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, crews head north to the fast and famous Thiva stage, the rally s longest at kilometres. As well as offering an early test of ability, strategy will be much in evident. Drivers will balance running lower down the order to benefit from a more stable road surface with selecting a higher starting position following Thursday s Qualifying Stage in order to stave off the threat of driving in dust clouds, which can be a factor on gravel stages run later in the day when there is typically less wind to disperse hanging dust. It will be really tricky to get the proper starting position and there is always the possibility of being behind a slow crew or one with some issues, Lukyanuk said. That means you can lose a lot of time straight away. But it s the competition and we ll play it. It should be an exciting weekend. An ERC regular until 1968, the Acropolis Rally returned to the European roster in 2014 when Loutraki on the banks of the Gulf of Corinth hosted the 60th running, a mixed-surface affair. Now run in partnership with the OMAE Greek federation on gravel only, Lamia has been home since And following the Thiva stage at 17h29 local time on 1 June, crews will reach the university city for first service from 19h44. Saturday s action is centred south of Lamia with three stages repeated once for a competitive distance of kilometres. Crews head north on Sunday for two repeated stages covering timed kilometres with the finish held in the grounds of the Lamia National Trade Fair from 15h04.

7 ERC2: Newcomers boost class entry to season high A season-high seven crews will battle for honours in the category for showroom cars headed by championship leader Sergei Remennik, from Russia, and featuring newcomers Petros Panteli (Cyprus) and Vassilios Drymoussis (Greece). Argentina s Juan Carlos Alonso, Hungary s defending ERC2 champion Tibor Érdi Jr and Menderes Okur (Turkey) are also entered. ERC3: Falcón set for Acropolis first, Ghosh and Muradian begin ERC bids Canary Islander Emma Falcón will make her EKO Acropolis Rally debut as she bids for more ERC Ladies Trophy points. Category regular Artur Muradian (Russia) begins his 2018 ERC campaign after tackling four events in Chrysostomos Karellis was a class winner in the national section of the Acropolis last season but switches from a PEUGEOT 208 R2 to a Citroën DS3 R3T. Indian prospect Amittrajit Ghosh will be Ford Fiesta R2-powered when he begins his ERC campaign but eager to gain experience rather than chase rapid stage times on only his second event outside his homeland. And in other news *Bruno Magalhães will be playing catch-up in the title fight in his ARC Sport ŠKODA Fabia after mechanical issues restricted him to seventh overall on Rally Islas Canarias at the start of May. *Four-time Hungarian champion Norbert Herczig starts his third new event in a row for MOL Racing Team. *Former national title holder Grzegorz Grzyb arrives in Greece, where he finished third last season, two weeks after missing out on victory on a rally in his native Poland by 0.3s. *Łukasz Habaj, who succeeded Kajetan Kajetanowicz as the Polish rally champion in 2015, will make his Acropolis Rally debut. *Norway s Eyvind Brynildsen has previous Acropolis experience to count on from his stint in the world championship and is targeting a podium with Veronica Engan, who last co-drove him 10 years ago. *Promising Cypriot Alexandros Tsouloftas belied his lack of experience to finish fourth overall on his Acropolis debut in *Albert von Thurn und Taxis was heading for a points finish on his Acropolis debut in 2017 only to roll into retirement on the final stage. Frank Christian will co-drive for the first time. *Young Pole Hubert Ptaszek is showing big promise in the ERC Junior Under 28 Championship, which doesn t include the Acropolis Rally on its event schedule. *Greek champion in 2016, George Philippedes made his first start in an R5 car on last year s Acropolis but a crash on the closing stage ruled out an unlikely podium. He continues to compete under the Team Greece banner in a ŠKODA Fabia, also the car of choice for compatriot Efthimios Halkias and Ukrainian Yuriy Protasov, who will both be in action on the main international event albeit not chasing ERC points. *Belgian-Greek Jourdan Serderidis has spent the last few seasons competing at world level but starts his first Acropolis since *After finishing second overall on the ERC-counting Cyprus Rally last season, multiple Cypriot champion Simos Galatariotis is trying the Acropolis Rally for size having upgraded to a ŠKODA Fabia R5. *Paulo Nobre s last Acropolis start was in The charismatic Brazilian returns this year as part of his season-long campaign with Motorsport Italia. *Portugal s Aloísio Monteiro makes his second ERC appearance of 2018, while Orhan Avcioglu from Turkey, winner of the FIA Balkan Rally Trophy in 2017, remains an ever-present for Toksport WRT. *Finn Juuso Nordgren, 21, is part of ŠKODA Motorsport s factory team in the world championship and will be one to watch as he makes his ERC debut in what is an experience-building mission. Watch and listen Highlights from both legs will be shown on Eurosport and available on Eurosport Player. ERC Radio will broadcast live from stage finishes and selected service park visits.

8 EKO ACROPOLIS RALLY: PRE-EVENT QUOTES Eyvind Brynildsen (ERC1, Ford Fiesta R5): On the gravel I will be really disappointed if we can t match [Alexey] Lukyanuk. On Rally Islas Canarias I was prepared mentally not to be at [his pace] but I was hoping all the time. But in Acropolis I should be on the same level even with the lack of driving and training. I was close to being second in PWRC [on the Acropolis in 2008] on but I blew the engine before the ramp when I was fighting with [Toshi] Arai, [Juho] Hänninen and [Andreas] Aigner. It s a really tough rally but we will prepare as good as we can, build the car like a tank, try to survive and hope we can be on the podium there and win. Amittrajit Ghosh (ERC3, Ford Fiesta R2): It is a proud moment to be competing in the ERC. Our aim will be to gather valuable miles and experience through this year in preparation for an all-out assault in the next. I want to thank RRPM for getting us here and our new sponsor, Pana Education, for coming on board at this important juncture of our career. Norbert Herczig (ERC1, ŠKODA Fabia R5): I ve never been to this rally before but it s the same with all rallies, they are all new to me because I am the new boy in the championship. I have no real info about the event, just some onboard videos but my team, Baumschlager Rallye & Racing tell me that many things have changed from last year. Alexey Lukyanuk (ERC1, Ford Fiesta R5): It s one of the toughest rallies of the year for the cars and the crews. I did it two years ago with a different co-driver [to Alexey Arnautov] but we finished early with broken suspension due to the wrong pacenotes in one place. More than half of the rally will be new for me and it will be interesting to start with a long stage on Friday evening. It will be really tricky to get the proper starting position and there is always the possibility of being behind a slow crew or one with some issues. That means you can lose a lot of time straight away. But it s the competition and we ll play it. It should be an exciting weekend. Bruno Magalhães (ERC1, ŠKODA Fabia R5): This rally for sure is a tough one. It s different from last year, some stages are in the opposite direction and there is one that s completely new. This rally is very famous because everybody knows it s a difficult rally with very rough stages. You need to be fast but, at the same time, you need to try to avoid the problems. It s very hot, more or less 30 degrees, so you need to manage the car, the conditions, the tyres, the driver, so everything is difficult in this rally. It s very challenging and everybody knows the Acropolis is one of the most famous rallies in the world. Aloísio Monteiro (ERC1, ŠKODA Fabia R5): In the Azores we showed a good evolution throughout the event. But the competition in the European championship is very strong, so we have to make a competent rally and be aware of our limitations on the level of knowledge of the route. I think we can get out of Greece with a good result if we can manage the mechanics along the hard special stages. Me and André Couceiro [co-driver] will have to make an extra effort during the recce and rally to be able to successfully complete this challenge.

9 Juuso Nordgren (ERC1, ŠKODA Fabia R5): First of all, it is all about to get more experience and to learn. I know this ERC event is really demanding and tough. Being aware there will be quick and experienced drivers, I will first of all focus on finishing the rally, an iconic rally. I am regularly following the ERC. It is a highly competitive championship, a good platform for young drivers. The promoter does a good job, which means for all drivers a very good option to get more into the public awareness. The mixture of experienced drivers and young talents makes the ERC even more interesting. Sergei Remennik (ERC2, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X): This rally is very difficult, one of the hardest rallies in terms of surface, with sharp stones and ruts. Finishing here and saving the car on the road is not an easy task. Production class cars work well at the races with half the distance of the European round, but it s much more difficult to drive the rally completely without breakdowns in a N4 category car. We go to the Acropolis Rally as the leaders in our class, but there are more participants and this is only an intermediate result. But we do not feel any mental load and of course [leading] is pleasant.

10 ERC EXPLAINED Welcome to the 2018 FIA European Rally Championship, 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. Calendar 2018 Contested over eight events from March to October, the ERC schedule has been structured in response to calls from drivers and teams who were keen to cap their number of competitive outings at between six and eight events. The calendar includes three rallies on asphalt and five on gravel (three on each surface for ERC Junior Under 27 and ERC Junior Under 28). And in a further cost-cutting measure, drivers chasing overall honours count their best six scores only. Route to the top As in 2017, ERC Junior, the established training ground for factory WRC drivers, will be split into two separate divisions based on driver age and experience and car performance. FIA ERC Junior Under 27 Championship ERC Junior U27 is for drivers under the age of 27 at the start of 2018 competing in R2 cars on Pirelli tyres. With the best four rounds from six counting, the winner will receive a career progression fund worth 100,000 euros to use in ERC Junior U28 in FIA ERC Junior Under 28 Championship ERC Junior U28 offers the next step on the rallying pyramid for drivers under the age of 28 ahead of Again totalling six rounds with the best four scores counting, drivers use R5 cars. The champion will receive a drive on a European round of the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship as a P1 driver in a 2016-specification World Rally Car, although the prize could be adapted at the winner s request. The following are a selection of drivers with ERC experience competing in the World Rally Championship. Craig Breen: ERC runner-up 2015 > factory Citroën WRC driver 2018 Juho Hänninen: ERC champion 2012 > factory Toyota WRC driver 2017 Jari Huttunen: ERC Junior U27 runner-up 2017 > factory Hyundai WRC2 driver 2018 Jan Kopecký: ERC champion 2013 > APRC champion 2014, factory ŠKODA WRC2 driver 2018 Esapekka Lappi: ERC champion 2014 > factory Toyota WRC driver 2018 Jari-Matti Latvala: ERC driver 2003 > factory Toyota WRC driver 2018 Stéphane Lefebvre: ERC Junior champion 2014 > factory Citroën WRC driver 2018 Kris Meeke: ERC event winner 2009 > factory Citroën WRC driver 2018 Andreas Mikkelsen: ERC event winner 2012 > factory Hyundai WRC driver 2018 Thierry Neuville: ERC event winner 2011 > factory Hyundai WRC driver 2018 Hayden Paddon: ERC driver 2013 > factory Hyundai WRC driver 2018 Ott Tänak: ERC event winner 2014 > M-Sport WRC driver 2017, new Toyota signing for 2018

11 ERC Junior Experience One of the most comprehensive young driver training programmes in motorsport will shift up another gear in Drivers registering for the FIA ERC Junior Under 27 Championship will now be automatically enrolled into the ERC Junior Experience training programme rather than applying separately and paying an additional fee, which was the case previously. There will be four ERC Junior Experience training events held in conjunction with rounds of ERC Junior U27. However, there will now be two optional packages for drivers to select in addition to the core package included in the registration fee. The training packages available are as follows. Drivers not registered for ERC Junior U27 can also apply: Yellow: Included in ERC Junior U27 registration fee and covering media relations, TV interviews and the production process, pacenote preparation, tyre management, first aid and championship organisation and administration. Green (optional package): ERC Junior U27 drivers will receive training on social media dos and don ts, car set-up and tyre changing. They will also take part in a test session on Tarmac with an expert coach providing driving tips. Blue (optional package): ERC Junior U27 drivers will be enrolled into workshops covering sponsorship acquisition, physical training and vision training. They will also take part in a test session on gravel accompanied by an expert driving coach. FIA European Rally Championship for Teams Registered teams can nominate a maximum of three cars from ERC-registered drivers, in either four- or two-wheel drive configuration or a combination of both, to score points on each event. The results of the two highest-placed cars from a team count, with teams tallying their best six scores from a possible eight. And with points distributed according to the four- and two-wheeldrive classifications of the rally, a team could score a maximum of 50 points per event with 25 on offer in 4WD and 25 also up for grabs in 2WD. There s a prestigious FIA title up for grabs for the winning team. ERC Nations Cup New for 2018, the ERC Nations Cup is for teams supported by a national motorsport federation or automobile association. The results of the two highest-placed cars from a team count, with teams tallying their best six scores from a possible eight. A maximum of three cars, in either fouror two-wheel-drive configuration or a combination of both, can chase points on each event, although it s the results from the two highest-placed drivers on each event that will count. And with points distributed according to the four- and two-wheel-drive classifications, a federation or association can score a maximum of 50 points (25 points for 4WD, 25 points for 2WD) per event. The eligible teams on Rally Islas Canarias are: ACCR Czech Team, ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and Rally Team Spain.

12 ERC Ladies Trophy ERC promoter Eurosport Events is committed to encouraging the participation of women in motorsport and has revamped the ERC Ladies Trophy accordingly. Rather than recognise the achievements of women when competing against other women drivers, to promote gender equality, drivers will score points based on where they appear in the final four- or two-wheel-drive order using a new scoring system. All rounds of the ERC are included in the ERC Ladies Trophy with all classes (ERC1, ERC2 and ERC3) eligible. Drivers count their best four scores. The scoring system is as follows: 1 = 100;; 2 = 90;; 3 = 80;; 4 = 75;; 5 = 70;; 6 = 65;; 7 = 60;; 8 = 55;; 9 = 50;; 10 = 45;; 11 = 43;; 12 = 41;; 13 = 39;; 14 = 37;; 15 = 35;; 16 = 33;; 17 = 31;; 18 = 29;; 19 = 27;; 20 = 25;; 21 = 23;; 22 = 21;; 23 = 19;; 24 = 17;; 25 = 15;; 26 = 13;; 27 = 11;; 28 = 9;; 29 = 7;; 30 = 5;; all remaining positions = 1 point.

13 THE CALENDAR March: Azores Airlines Rallye (Portugal, gravel) ERC Junior 3-5 May: Rally Islas Canarias (Spain, asphalt) ERC Junior 31 May-3 June: EKO Acropolis Rally (Greece, gravel) June: Cyprus Rally (Cyprus, gravel) July: Rally di Roma Capitale (Italy, asphalt) ERC Junior August: Barum Czech Rally Zlín (Czech Republic, asphalt) ERC Junior September: Rally Poland (Poland, gravel) ERC Junior October: Rally Liepāja (Latvia, gravel) ERC Junior

14 THE RALLIES IN 100 WORDS Azores Airlines Rallye (22-24 March) Based on the mid-atlantic archipelago s largest island of São Miguel, the rally celebrated its half-century in 2015 and remains one of the most spectacular events on the international calendar. Stages criss-cross breath-taking scenery and lush countryside and are characterised by their sandy surface and narrow and undulating nature. And because the timed tests are often no wider than the width of a car, there is simply no margin for error, particularly on the Sete Cidades test along the rim of a volcanic crater lake. Changeable weather is also a factor with conditions switching from sunshine to showers and fog patches. Rally Islas Canarias (3-5 May) With the stages climbing and descending at a frequent rate, drivers pay close attention to corner speed and lines to ensure optimal momentum is maintained, while precise car set-up and pacenote accuracy are vital. One of the notable features of the sealed stages is the abrasive surface, constructed partly from volcanic lava. It means grip levels are high and remain constant if it rains, although tyre wear can increase. However, with the opportunity to take cuts through corners limited, the roads remain relatively debris-free. Returning to the ERC schedule in 2016, it s a rally big on challenge and spectator numbers. EKO Acropolis Rally (31 May-3 June) For more than 60 years, the Acropolis Rally has made heroes and broken hearts. Throughout that time, its legendary status has remained undiminished with the 2017 edition offering the usual mix of triumph (for Kajetan Kajetanowicz) and despair (for Nikolay Gryazin, who was leading when his car was gutted by fire). An ERC regular until 1968, the event returned to the European roster in 2014 when Loutraki on the banks of the Gulf of Corinth hosted the 60th running, a mixed-surface affair. Now run in partnership with the OMAE Greek federation on gravel only, Lamia has been home since Cyprus Rally (15-17 June) Since 1970, the Cyprus Rally has put car and crew to a significant test. And while the current format is a little less taxing than it once was, underestimating the challenging nature of this rallying heavyweight would be a big mistake. To mark its return to the ERC roster in 2014 for the first time since 1999, a ground-breaking street stage through the United Nations-controlled Buffer Zone between Nicosia s Greek Cypriot and Turkish inhabited areas was organised and generated considerable interest. Although fundamentally a gravel rally, Tarmac sections feature while the June date makes for punishing ambient and ground temperatures. Rally di Roma Capitale (20-22 July) The progression of this exciting asphalt event, organised and promoted by Motorsport Italia, has been remarkable. Having run for the first time in 2013, Rally di Roma Capitale made its ERC debut in 2017 as Italy returned to the European championship for the first time since 2013 when Rallye Sanremo was on the calendar. It proved a big hit with a driving parade through the centre of Rome, a spectacular spectator stage around the Palazzio della Civiltà del Lavoro in the EUR district, followed by two days of action-packed rallying on stages to the east and south-east of the capital.

15 Barum Czech Rally Zlín (24-26 August) Ever-present in the ERC since the championship s streamlining in 2004, Barum Czech Rally Zlín is based in the South Moravian university city, 300 kilometres south of the Czech capital Prague. It is a Tarmac test like no other due to the bumpy and sometimes broken nature of the road surface. To add to the challenge, several stages feature high-speed blasts through forests and intermittent showers are always possible. While the weather might be hard to predict, huge numbers of fans follow the action, especially on the opening night-time Zlín superspecial stage. The rally has a long-term contract with the ERC. Rally Poland (21-23 September) One of the world s oldest rallies is back on the ERC calendar in 2018 after a five-year break as Rally Poland replaces Rally Rzeszow as the country s round of the European championship for its 75 th edition. First run in 1921, Rally Poland s home since 2005 has been Mikołajki in the picturesque Mazurian lake district, a three-hour drive north from the capital Warsaw, where high-speed all-gravel stages are commonplace. And it was in Mikołajki where Kajetan Kajetanowicz first emerged as a major force in the ERC, taking the win in 2013 prior to beginning his record-breaking title treble sequence in Rally Liepāja (12-14 October) The brainchild of rally driver turned promoter Raimonds Strokšs and first run to great acclaim in 2013, Rally Liepāja was originally a winter event but switched to the autumn for The new date effectively made for an all-new rally as crews adjusted to gravel stages free of snow and ice. Although the time of year had changed, the high-speed stages in western Latvia continued to thrill drivers and spectators alike. And with its new format now firmly established, this forward-thinking rally serves as a fitting season finale with Liepāja proving to be a popular destination for fans and competitors.

16 THE DRIVERS 1: ALEXEY LUKYANUK (RUSSIA) ERC1 Date of birth: 12 December 1980 Co-driver: Alexey Artaunov (Russia) Team: Russian Performance Motorsport Car: Ford Fiesta R5 Who is he? Fast and spectacular in equal measure, Russian Lukyanuk has forged a reputation for being unbeatable one minute, crash-happy the next. But there s much to the St Petersburg speed merchant as his dominant victories on the seasonopening events in the Azores and Gran Canaria attest. Stunning start: The Russian burst onto the ERC scene when he battled rallying legend François Delecour for a podium in Latvia in 2013 in his production-spec Mitsubishi Lancer. That earned him the Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy, something he was awarded again when he was second on Rally Estonia in 2014 in the same car. He went one better in Estonia the following season incredibly in a production-based Lancer won again in Switzerland and started and finished 2016 with wins in Spain and Cyprus. Money woes: Lukyanuk s budgetary issues a regular problem in the past blighted a planned graduation to WRC2 for 2017 making the ERC his focus instead. Tough times: However, it was a truncated campaign. After dominating Rally Islas Canarias in early May, Lukyanuk was seriously injured in a testing crash in his native Russia and missed the rallies in Greece and Cyprus. Heroic return: His return on Rally Rzeszow ended in a dramatic accident while battling for the lead, making his brave second place on Barum Czech Rally Zlín (he spent much of the event suffering considerable pain in his left foot whenever he had to brake heavily) crucial in his bid to get his season firmly back on track. Sadly, further crashes while leading in Italy and an electrical fault while ahead in Latvia meant his campaign rather petered out.

17 2: BRUNO MAGALHÃES (PORTUGAL) ERC1 Date of birth: 10 July 1980 Co-driver: Hugo Magalhães (Portugal) Team: ARC Sport Car: ŠKODA Fabia R5 Who is he? Magalhães was the reference when it came to Portuguese rallying thanks to his trio of domestic titles between International action followed for 2010 with an IRC campaign, which included a dramatic win in the Azores. Then what? A hefty crash on Rallye Monte-Carlo at the start of the 2011 IRC season hit hard both in terms of impact and form and it wasn t until the 2014 European championship that he was able to put a package in place to compete outside Portugal on a regular basis again. A lion no more: Having rallied Peugeots for much of his career, Magalhães has since sampled Ford and from 2017 ŠKODA power. Czech mate: Run by top Portuguese outfit ARC Sport, Magalhães drove one of the Czech machines to second place in the 2017 ERC standings, beginning the year with a third Azores win. (SEA)JET(S)-powered: Magalhães unlikely title challenge Azores 2017 was intended as a one-off was made possible through support from Greek island ferry operator SEAJETS, which remains a key partner in 2018.

18 3: NORBERT HERCZIG (HUNGARY) ERC1 Date of birth: 21 September 1975 Co-driver: Ramón Ferencz (Hungary) Team: MOL Racing Team Car: ŠKODA Fabia R5 Who is he? Herczig will step up to the ERC as a four-time Hungarian champion after clinching his third consecutive national crown in MOL s man: Having landed support from oil company MOL Hungary, the 42-yearold will drive a ŠKODA Fabia R5 under the MOL Racing Team banner and run by leading Austrian outfit Baumschlager Rallye & Racing, which guided him to domestic honours last season on the back of three wins and two podiums. Years of planning: We have been preparing for years to show internationally what we are able to achieve, Herczig explained. But without proper backing we did not have the opportunity for that. So I am proud that one of the biggest companies in Hungary and many more of our partners decided to support me to achieve our common goals. I ensure everyone that we will do everything to finish the championship with the best result. Setting the standard: Herczig has been using MOL Racing Fuel RST (Rally Standard) since And what was initially a supply deal developed into a fullyfledged partnership when MOL became his title sponsor the following year. Big plans: Herczig s programme is set to include all eight rounds of the 2018 European champinoship, while Ramón Ferencz, also from Hungary, has signed up as Herczig s new co-driver.

19 4: GRZEGORZ GRZYB (POLAND) ERC1 Date of birth: 7 September 1976 Co-driver: Jakub Wróbel (Poland) Team: Rufa Sport Car: ŠKODA Fabia R5 Who is he? Grzyb is an experienced and successful driver from Poland, although it s over the border in Slovakia where he s tasted most success in his 20-year career, winning the national title there on four occasions. But he s also triumphed at home He finished second in the Polish series in 2014 (behind Wojciech Chuchała) before capturing the top prize in and in more ways than one: Grzyb also finished third on Rajd Rzeszow that season as the event in his home city celebrated its 25 th anniversary edition by joining the ERC roster for the first time. Big achievements: As well as his numerous championship wins, Grzyb lists his wins on Rally Rzeszow in 2008 and 2009 among his biggest achievements. Keeping busy: Grzyb clearly likes competing on rallies. In 2017 he contested no fewer than 18 events. Six appeal: A six-event ERC schedule is in the planning for 2018, starting with Rally Islas Canarias at the start of May.

20 5: ŁUKASZ HABAJ (POLAND) ERC1 Date of birth: 29 April 1975 Co-driver: Daniel Dymurski (Poland) Team: Rallytechnology Car: Ford Fiesta R5 Who is he? Habaj, who started rallying in 2003 and won the Polish Peugeot Cup in 2006, graduated to the ERC in 2016 as the reigning Polish champion after he beat Bryan Bouffier to the crown by a single point in Different drives: He won his Polish title driving a Ford Fiesta R5 but it was in a Peugeot 208 R2 that he dominated ERC3 on the 2016 season-opening Rally Islas Canarias. He was back behind the wheel of his Fiesta to finish sixth on Rally Estonia and fourth on Rally Rzeszow. Action stations: A moment on two wheels during Rally Liepāja earned Habaj inclusion in the FIA Action of the Year video poll as the ERC s nominee. Title pickings: Habaj embarked on a six-event ERC bid in 2017 with Daniel Dymurski, who co-drove Wojciech Chuchała to ERC2 glory in 2016, navigating. Strong finish after tough start: They placed third on the year-closing Rally Liepāja following a double DNF at the start of the year, the second of which was a crash in Free Practice on Rally Islas Canarias that resulted in Habaj needing a replacement Fiesta R5.

21 6: EYVIND BRYNILDSEN (NORWAY) ERC1 Date of birth: 14 January 1988 Co-driver: Veronica Engan (Norway) Team: Autotek Motorsport Car: Ford Fiesta R5 Who is he? A regular in the world championship s second tier for several seasons, Brynildsen is embarking on a major ERC assault in 2018 armed with a Ford Fiesta R5 from Ken Skidmore s Autotek Motorsport stable. Why the change? The ERC is the best for me at the moment, says Brynildsen. It s a championship with some of the best rallies of the year and the best fans and a championship I was very keen to try out after nearly 50 starts in the WRC. Duty called: Upon announcing his ERC campaign, Bynildsen revealed he would have contested season-opening Azores Airlines Rallye had it not been for a new addition to the family. My wife gave birth to our third child. Puzzle pieces: A class title winner in Norway last season, Brynildsen s programme will include Rally Islas Canarias, the EKO Acropolis Rally and the Cyprus Rally. Then if all the pieces in the puzzle fall into the right places we will continue the championship and go on with Rally di Roma Capitale, Brynildsen explains. Plenty to learn: The 30-year-old s switch to the ERC will put him on a learning curve in terms of untried events, not that he s fazed by the prospect. I m maybe not young and promising anymore, only promising! I have done quite a few rallies in my career and for many years I drove a truck and trailer in our family business, so my memory for roads is not too bad. I like the challenge with new rallies and it just motivates me to prepare myself better than anyone else. New co-driver: After Torstein Eriksen co-drove Brynildsen on Rally Islas Canarias, Veronica Engan has been called up for the Acropolis. They last worked together 10 years ago.

22 7: ALEXANDROS TSOULOFTAS (CYPRUS) ERC1 Date of birth: 6 February 1992 Co-driver: Antonis Chrysostomou (Cyprus) Team: Alexandros Tsouloftas Car: Citroën DS3 R5 Who is he? Tsouloftas only began rallying in 2015 and has mainly competed on home soil in national events including the Cyprus Speed Rally Championship. Flying to fourth: He made his European championship debut on the 2017 Acropolis Rally with the vastly experienced Denis Giraudet co-driving. Despite using his appearance primarily to test out his new Citroën DS3 R5 for the subsequent Cyprus Rally his home round of the ERC Tsouloftas finished and impressive fourth overall. Overwhelmed: That result left Tsouloftas overwhelmed. He added at the time: It s much more than what I expected. This is the first full year that I am driving, it s the first time with this car, the first time on the Acropolis, the first time with this codriver, I only came here to learn the car because we haven t done a lot of testing and absolutely the placing was unexpected so I am really, really happy. Unlikely hero: I wasn t into motorsports whatsoever, he says. I only started rallying [two years ago] and I had no idea what this was before then. But I m really happy with my progress, it looks like a promising future. Home pain then gain: Tsouloftas was in a strong second place after nine stages of the 2017 Cyprus Rally when he suffered a double puncture on the kilometre Cytanet Avdelero on the final morning, losing more than 10 minutes and any hopes of a podium finish. There was a big rock in the road and we got two punctures, he explained afterwards. It was a sharp stone in the line, I couldn t avoid it, it could have cost us our lives. Tsouloftas was handed the Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy for his efforts in ninth overall and was also the top local on the Love Cyprus Golden Stage to pick up a cheque for 7,000 euros.

23 8: ALBERT VON THURN UND TAXIS (GERMANY) ERC1 Date of birth: 24 June 1983 Co-driver: Frank Christian (Germany) Team: Baumschlager Rallye & Racing Car: ŠKODA Fabia R5 Who is he? Previously a competitor in the FIA GT1 World Championship, the Bavarian is the 12 th Prince of Thurn and Taxis, the family credited with the invention of the postal system in Europe. Not that you would know: Von Thurn und Taxis is a master of disguise when it comes to his family heritage, never one to flaunt his celebrity, his humble and unassuming nature means he s quick to blend into the crowd. Full marks: A self-confessed rallying fan, the hugely likeable Rome resident embarked on a full ERC campaign in 2017 and learned plenty along the way. Operation progress: After driving a ŠKODA Fabia R5 for Wevers Sport in 2017, von Thurn und Taxis has switched to Baumschlager Rallye & Racing for 2018 when more progress is the target. There has to be improvements absolutely, he says. Not necessarily in terms of position, not necessarily in terms of classification but in terms of seconds per stage kilometre we are really looking at comparing and we need to see improvements. So far, thank God that is the case. But there are so many things that need to be improved, that is the incredible thing. We still have a lot to improve in the notes and in driving, and in understanding set-up data. There is a lot of homework. Not the best memories: Von Thurn und Taxis was heading for a points finish on his Acropolis debut in 2017 only to roll into retirement on the final stage.

24 9: HUBERT PTASZEK (POLAND) ERC1 Date of birth: 5 July 1993 Co-driver: Maciej Szczepaniak (Poland) Team: TRT Krezus Rally Team Car: ŠKODA Fabia R5 Who is he? Ptaszek has rallied extensively at world championship level. But after an accident curtailed his 2017 programme, he s hoping a season in the European championship will get his career firmly back on track. Ever-present: Aged 24, Ptaszek is planning a full eight-event ERC campaign in 2018 in a Tagai Racing Technology ŠKODA Fabia R5. Strong start: The young Pole is making the most of his ERC opportunity by claiming his first outright stage win on an international rally in the Azores and placing fifth in the highly competitive ERC Junior Under 28 category on Rally Islas Canarias. Rapid rise: Ptaszek was in his third full season of rallying when he tried the world championship for size, completing the top three in his class on Rally GB in Is it a bird, is it a plane? With his surname loosely translated as little bird, Ptaszek carries the Birdman moniker on the front of his car.

25 10: GEORGE PHILIPPEDES (GREECE) ERC1 Date of birth: 13 March 1977 Co-driver: Allan Harryman (Great Britain) Team: Team Greece Car: ŠKODA Fabia R5 Who is he? The 2016 Greek champion, Philippedes is one of his country s fastest and most experienced drivers. From zero His outing on last year s Acropolis was his first in an R5 car and was compromised when torrential rain delayed his pre-event test: It was a bit of a lastminute arrangement to try to find a suitable replacement venue, Philippedes said prior to the event last season. It s very different to what we use in the Greek championship, which is a Group N car. I was hoping it would be easier to adapt. to almost hero: Despite his lack of car knowledge, Philippedes came close to an unlikely home podium only to go off the road on the final stage and retire. Different Accent: Now competing in a ŠKODA Fabia R5, Philippedes once rallied a Hyundai Accent WRC although his outings have been somewhat limited since his Acropolis crash in 2017 with just two starts to his name. The one to win: With the Acropolis having been around for 60 or more years it s the dream of every Greek driver to win, Philippedes says. Even though we are not lucky enough to still have it in the world championship I think the ERC has reached a level of competition with great drivers. People will really enjoy it.

26 11: Aloísio Monteiro (Portugal) Co-driver: André Couceiro (Portugal) ERC1 ARC Sport / ŠKODA Fabia R5 Monteiro is targeting a six-event ERC campaign in 2018 following a successful season in the Iberia section of the European Clio R3T Trophy, when he finished runner-up to Spaniard Fran Cima Artime. He will continue his partnership with ARC Sport with team-mate and compatriot Bruno Magalhães providing driving tips. 12: Orhan Avcioglu (Turkey) Co-driver: Burcin Korkmaz (Turkey) ERC1 Toksport WRT / ŠKODA Fabia R5 Avcioglu graduates to the European championship after winning the FIA Balkan Rally Trophy in He will form part Toksport WRT s three-car European campaign in a ŠKODA Fabia R5. 14: Paulo Nobre (Brazil) Co-driver: Gabriel Morales (Brazil) ERC1 Palmeirinha Rally / ŠKODA Fabia R5 Nobre, a regular in the world championship and cross-country events in the past, is back competing at international level for the first time since 2012, the year of his last Acropolis start. During that time, he s kept busy masterminding the revival of his beloved football team Palmeiras in his role as Club President following a period of decline. With his job complete, Nobre is returning to his hobby and will drive a ŠKODA Fabia R5 for Motorsport Italia on all eight rounds of the ERC. 15: Jourdan Serderidis (Greece) Co-driver: Frédéric Miclotte (Belgium) ERC1 ŠKODA Fabia R5 The Belgian-Greek and successful businessman has spent the last few seasons competing at world level but starts his first Acropolis since : Simos Galatariotis (Cyprus) Co-driver: Antonis Ioannou (Cyprus) ERC1 ŠKODA Fabia R5 After finishing second overall on the ERC-counting Cyprus Rally last season, multiple Cypriot champion Simos Galatariotis is trying the Acropolis Rally for size having upgraded to a ŠKODA Fabia R5.

27 29: Juuso Nordgren (Finland) Co-driver: Tapio Suominen (Finland) ERC1 Wevers Sport / ŠKODA Fabia R5 The 21-year-old is the latest young talent to choose the ERC to grow his experience of international competition. The outing, only his ninth in an R5 car, is part of his young driver development programme with ŠKODA Motorsport, which allows him to contest selected major events and is designed to test the emerging prospect on one of the world s toughest rallies. He was the Finnish federation s Future Rally Star of Finland for 2016 an award also won in the past by Jari Huttunen and Teemu Suninen and has tackled three world championship events under the ŠKODA Motorsport umbrella having enjoyed considerable success in two-wheel drive machinery. Nordgren tested his Wevers Sport Fabia R5 in Greece on Monday. 17: Sergei Remennik (Russia) Co-driver: Mark Rozin (Russia) ERC2 Russian Performance Motorsport / Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Remennik, whose Russian Performance Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X will continue to be co-driven by compatriot Mark Rozin, is set to tackle the Azores Airlines Rallye, Rally Islas Canarias, the EKO Acropolis Rally in Greece and Rally Liepāja in Latvia as a minimum commitment during his second ERC2 season. He will continue to work with driver coach and fellow Russian Alexey Lukyanuk after finishing third in the table in : Juan Carlos Alonso (Argentina) Co-driver: Juan Pablo Monasterolo (Argentina) ERC2 RMC Motorsport / Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Alonso embarked on a three-event ERC2 campaign in 2016, claiming a third, fourth and fifth in the category for standard production cars. His comeback began with victory on the Azores Airlines Rallye with fellow Argentine Juan Pablo Monasterolo co-driving his RMC Motorsport-run Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. 19: Tibor Érdi Jr (Hungary) Co-driver: György Papp (Hungary) ERC2 Érdi Rallye Team / Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Érdi Jr claimed the ERC s showroom category laurels in a thrilling final-round decider on Rally Liepāja last October when he pipped Zelindo Melegari to top honours. The Hungarian wants to become back-to-back champion and has targeted a five-event campaign in Although his title defence got off to a frustrating start when he retired from the Azores Airlines Rallye with broken suspension, he hit back

28 with a dominant class victory on Rally Islas Canarias. But it was close after a throttle problem twice left him stranded on the final run. He hung on to win but the fault ruled out a clean sweep of stage bests. 20: Tarik Menderes Okur (Turkey) Co-driver: Zafer Ufuk Uluocak (Turkey) Toksport WRT / Subaru Impreza After handing over his Subaru to Gilbert Bannout for Rally Islas Canarias, Okur returns to ERC2 action with the Turkish Toksport team. He placed fourth on his championship debut, the Azores Airlines Rallye back in March. 21: Zelindo Melegari (Italy) Co-driver: Andrea Marco Cecchi (Italy) ERC2 Movisport / Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Melegari had so much fun competing in last season s ERC2 that he s returning for more of the same in The Italian, who finished runner-up to Tibor Érdi Jr in last season s ERC2 standings, has a new co-driver for 2018 in Andrea Marco Cecchi although he s back behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer after the Subaru Impreza N14 he began the season with failed on both events he s contested to date. 22: Petros Panteli (Cyprus) Co-driver: Kyprianos Christodoulou (Cyprus) ERC2 Q8 Oils Rally Team / Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X A winner of seven rally titles in his native Cyprus, Panteli first competed on home soil in 2000 and has rallied regularly since He made his Cyprus Rally debut in 2001 when it counted as a round of the world championship his only outing that year and then tackled the same event when it was an IRC qualifier a decade later. He was eighth overall and third in the ERC Production Cup on the 2014 Cyprus Rally his ERC debut and ninth on the 2015 ERC-counting Acropolis Rally. He was disqualified from last year s event for a seatbelt-wearing violation. 23: Vassilios Drimoussis (Greece) Co-driver: Panaylotis Drimoussis (Greece) ERC2 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Drimoussis has made only sporadic appearances in a rallying career that began in But it s a career that has included two starts at ERC level the EKO Rally in 2005 and last year s SEAJETS Acropolis Rally where he finished a fine seventh. 24: Emma Falcón (Spain) Co-driver: Eduardo Delgado (Spain) ERC3, ERC Ladies Trophy ARC Sport / Citroën DS3 R3T