Magalhaes gives up the game against Lukyanuk

Alexey Lukyanuk is on track to win his first title in ERC. The 37-year-old Russian will be crowned this weekend at the end of the Rally of Poland following the withdrawal of Bruno Magalhaes, his only rival in the race for the coronation. The leader of the European Rally Championship has a 35-point lead over the Portuguese with two events remaining in the season.

“It's a big disappointment because I would like to finish the season and, of course, try to fight for the title, commented the Portuguese winner of the Acropolis Rally. Spending two seasons trying to find money race after race is very difficult. After 14 rallies in a row, I knew that one day it wouldn't be possible (to find one), and that day has come. »

Bruno Magalhaes does not intend to give up on the ERC and hopes to find the funds to start a new program in 2019.

“I am now focusing on next year, added the Portuguese. I will try to continue in the ERC because it is a championship that I love. The last two years have been the best of my career and I have achieved very important results. The atmosphere was very, very good these two years and I will do everything to keep it that way. »

Alexey Lukyanuk has dominated the 2018 ERC season, winning three times in the six rallies contested so far. Norbert Herczig, the opponent in 3rd place in the ranking, is 88 points behind and can therefore no longer claim the title.