ERC – Sylvain Michel attacks the Canaries

It was at the wheel of a 5C Competition Skoda Fabia R2 that Sylvain Michel will face the elite of the European Rally Championship at the beginning of May, on the roads of Rally Islas Canarias, second round of the 2017 season.

Crowned on the national scene with the Czech R5 last year, Sylvain Michel will be entered in the U28 category, reserved for drivers born on or after January 1, 1989, and whose reward at the end of the season for the winner is an entry offered on a European round WRC in 2018.

"TheERC quickly showed itself as the only possible choice in a logic of evolution after the national title. The WRC-2 requires too high budgets and we have to race against the factory teams, underlines Sylvain Michel.

We didn't manage to be at the start of the first round in the Azores but it seemed inconceivable to me to miss the Canaries, the first asphalt meeting of the season.

Even if it is my favorite surface, I still have a lot to learn and the “Canaries” will undoubtedly be an essential step in my development. Particularly in the management of my Michelin tires on a course with a lot of grip.

I'm also going to discover a new profile and the special stages but I'm not putting any pressure on myself. We will be “rookies” against the other drivers and the level announced will be impressive. I'm really looking forward to competing against the best drivers in this championship.

We intend to give the best of ourselves with Jérôme Degout to thank all the people behind this project and try to convince new ones to hope to continue the adventure... »

Just before the reconnaissance of the event, Sylvain Michel will be entered in the 24H Off Road in Morocco in order to perfect his physical condition.