Season - 2013 | A Dawn of a New ERA!

In the history of Rally series, European Rally Championship is one major and popular series, which dates back to early 1950's, when the sport was still evolving. With the merger of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge series into the series which has rich history, the glamour of the former series makes it a real treat for everyone involved, actively or passively. FIA brought in the change with the merger to get the costs under control and keep the integrity of the sport as well as to reduce the confusion among both different, yet which were sharing the geographical & competition in each of them.

Season 2013 - being the 61st edition of the series, is going to kick start just on the fourth day of the new year, which just adds for the cheering revelry to the fans & friends alike. The series was normally a spread over 11 rallies in the previous season, but it is going to be a 13 rally series from this year to accommodate the IRC pattern. Starting from Internationale Janner Rallye (in about a week) and ending with International Rallye du Valais (early November), the season is going to be one to watch & celebrated too!

Internationale Janner Rallye, is the opening event is going to be much like the famous Rallye Monte Carlo, over Asphalt in wintery colds, where ice/snow covered roads is expected. The national champions of Austria, Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, would be the few competitors who are aiming to glory that the newly clubbed season has to offer.

Jan Kopecký, the Czech champion in 2012, heads the entry in his ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 along with French legend François Delecour, the winner of the Romanian National Championship the concluded season, and seeded third in a Peugeot 207 S2000.

Raimund Baumschlager, who claimed yet another Austrian crown in 2012, will compete in a Fabia with Kajetan Kajetanowicz, who secured a third consecutive Polish title during the season just gone, taking part in a Subaru Impreza R4 STI.

Other notable names taking part includes former Rallye Monte-Carlo winner Bryan Bouffier, 2011 IRC 2WD Cup champion Jean-Michel Raoux, leading Czech drivers Vaclav Pech (MINI John Cooper Works S2000), Antonin Tlusťák and Pavel Valoušek, plus former World Rally Champion, Stig Blomqvist in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.

“The entry list for the new-look FIA European Rally Championship in 2013 is building up day by day and some of the drivers that were not able to be ready for the Jänner Rallye due to the early start to the season will join in Latvia or the Canary Islands,” said ERC General Co-ordinator Jean-Pierre Nicolas. “But we are delighted the first round of the ERC has attracted such a strong entry and congratulations to the event organisers for their efforts. The entry features a perfect blend of established stars and rising talents and we look forward to some serious competition ahead in Austria in January.”

Season - 2013 | Calendar

1. Internationale Jänner Rallye, 04 – 05 Jan 12
2. Rally Liepāja-Ventspils, 01 – 03 Feb 12
3. Circuit of Ireland Rally, 28 – 30 Mar 12
4. SATA Rallye Açores, 25 - 27 Apr 12
5. Tour de Corse, 16 – 18 May 12
6. Croatia Rally, 06 – 08 Jun 12
7. Geko Ypres Rally, 27 – 29 Jun 12
8. Rally San Marino, 11 – 13 Jul 12
9. Sibiu Rally Romania, 25 – 27 Jul 12
10. Barum Rally Zlín, 30 Aug – 01 Sep 12
11. Rally Poland, 27 – 29 Sep 12
12. Rallye Sanremo, 10 – 12 Oct 12
13. International Rallye du Valais, 07 – 09 Nov 12

We are really looking forward for the new season in new flavour and recite in this series exclusive channel. Stay tuned!! For more details about ERC, check this article in wikipedia here.