Live and a Power Stage in 2022

While the last round of theERC in the fold of Eurosport will be raced in the Canaries (November 20-21), the future is underway. WRC Promoter, which already takes care of the promotion of the WRC and WRX, will inherit that of the ERC from 2022. It intends to draw on its experience acquired in the elite to make the European championship more attractive. This should result in the same process as in the World Cup, that is to say All Live and the live broadcast of all the specials. In order to give this competition a chance to attract fans, and to avoid competitors being forced to choose, the ERC will not take place on a weekend where the WRC is scheduled, which Eurosport has long tried to do. . As for appointments, it appears that contracts had already been signed and will be honored.

This should result in a calendar very close to 2021. As was announced last August, Ypres should regain a place in the ERC... unless the Belgian round is requisitioned by the WRC for the available slot (August 18-21), but not yet designated. This bridge between the two competitions will be one of the areas of work for Jona Siebel, director of WRC Promoter, in the years to come. Similarities should already occur in 2022 with a single distribution of points compared to two today, including one at the end of each stage which unnecessarily complicates the calculations. The principle of the Power Stage, which pleases the promoter and the FIA, should make its appearance. According to the pyramidal organization of rallies, the ERC must become a reservoir of destinations, but also of competitors for the WRC.

If the Junior WRC will be run with 3-wheel drive Ford Rally4s, the Junior ERC will remain on Fiesta Rally4s (2WD). The goal is for him to play the role of first step towards the elite. Until this year, Eurosport offered attractive scholarships to young winners to enable them to move to the next level. Will the new bosses be as generous? How will they contribute to the rise of hopes? This remains to be defined. What is certain is that Europe will not succumb to the principle of a single manufacturer and will see confrontation between several brands (Pirelli, Michelin, MRF, Hankook, etc.). Although the arrival of Rally2 hybrids is not expected for a few years, the promoter is considering the introduction of a low-emission fuel from 2023. If the new managers of this competition seem to have fairly clear ideas as to the direction that If they want to follow, they will have to wait for approval from the Rally Commission.