ERC – Marijan Gabriel entered with Peugeot

Marijan Gabriel will play at least six rounds of theERC at the wheel of a Peugeot 208 T16 R5. The German champion of the U28 category last year, co-driven by Stefan Kopczyk, received the support of Peugeot Deutschland to finance his program. The protégé of former European champion Armin Kremer will have a busy year with no less than 14 entries planned in an R5 including the Rally of Germany (August 16-19) and several events of the German Rally Championship.

“I'm constantly trying to improve my experience on the R5s and I now have the support of a manufacturer with Peugeot, which is important, commented Marijan Griebel. The aim is to make these six rounds in the ERC and, after finishing second and third last year, to win a European Championship rally. I will then aim for the title. Compared to my four participations in 2017, I will be in a much better position. »

Marijan Griebel plans to be at the start of the Azores Rally (Portugal, March 22-24), the Acropolis (Greece, June 1-3), the Rally di Roma (Italy, July 21-22), the Barum Rally Zlin (Czech Republic, August 24-26), Rally Poland (September 21-23) and Rally Liepaja (Latvia, October 12-14). The German will be unlikely to take part in the Canary Islands Rally and Cyprus Rally, with both events clashing with rounds of the German Rally Championship.

“It was very hard for me to drive an R5 with a completely private program, added Marijan Griebel. Fortunately it only lasted a year and I have the chance to evolve now with Peugeot Deutschland and the Romo-Motorsport team with whom I competed in the last round of the German Championship in 2017 when everything was working well . I really plan to prove what I'm worth after working so hard to get this steering wheel. »