Hayden Paddon is defending his title in the European Rally Championship (ERC). This season, the ERC is introducing several changes, including new events, drivers, teams, cars, and rules. The first stage of the eight-event ERC season, the V-Híd Rally Hungary, will take place in the city of Veszprém from April 12 to 14. Previously with asphalt stages, this rally is now a fully gravel event. In addition to contributing to the overall ERC standings, the V-Híd Rally Hungary will also be part of the schedules of FIA ERC3, FIA ERC4, FIA Junior ERC, and the newly introduced Fiesta Rally3 Trophy. The FIA European Rally Championship for Tyre Manufacturers will feature the participation of the four ERC tire partners: Hankook, Michelin, MRF, and Pirelli. Eight manufacturers, including Citroën, Hyundai, M-Sport-Ford, Opel, Peugeot, Škoda, Toyota, and Volkswagen, will be represented in the FIA rally category cars.
The top three performers of the 2023 ERC season, Hayden Paddon, Mārtiņš Sesks, and Mads Østberg, are all returning to compete for more success in the European championship. Defending champion Paddon, alongside co-driver John Kennard, has signed with the BRC Racing Team equipped with Pirelli tires to drive a Hyundai i20 N Rally2. Paddon expects tougher competition this year, but is excited to improve his performance in events where he now has experience.
Latvian driver Sesks will continue his partnership with MRF tires, but will switch from the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 to the brand new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Sesks anticipates a learning curve as the team adapts to the new car and prepares for the increase in asphalt stages throughout the season. However, he is committed to thorough preparation and hard work to ensure a strong season.
The Norwegian driver Østberg, representing the TRT Racing team, will use Michelin tires on his Citroën C3 Rally2. After winning the last stage of the season at Rally Hungary in 2023, Østberg intends to carry that momentum into the 2024 season. He expresses his love for the ERC, highlighting the high level of competition and the exciting TV coverage. Østberg is thrilled to participate in the championship once again.
In addition to Paddon, Sesks, and Østberg, there are several other drivers expected to compete for success in the ERC. Jon Armstrong, Hungarian driver Miklós ‘Mixi’ Csomós, Mathieu Franceschi, Mikko Heikkilä, Efrén Llarena, Andrea Mabellini, Miko Marczyk, Filip Mareš, Simone Temestini, and Simon Wagner are among the drivers who are likely to be at the forefront of the competition at the V-Híd Rally Hungary.
