The 2026 ERC season kicks off at the Sierra Morena Rally this weekend, with four French crews entered.

Alors que le WRC And with the CFR in full swing these days, the European Rally Championship also kicks off this weekend in Spain with the Sierra Morena Rally (Andalusia). Originally, the event was supposed to be the second round of the season, but the cancellation earlier this year of the Rally The Hungarian Rally, which was supposed to open the championship, has reshuffled the deck. 73 crews will start the event this Friday, April 17th, for the Shakedown, then later that day for the official start of the race with a spectacular special stage in the host city of Córdoba. A total of 203,80 kilometers will be covered across 13 special stages, divided into two sets of two loops of three stages each. The reigning European Champion, Miko Marczyk (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), will be present but will face stiff competition from top-tier rivals. Among the legitimate favorites, Teemu Suninen (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), Fabrizio Zaldivar (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), Andrea Mabellini (Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale), and Erik Cais (Hyundai i20N Rally2) to mention only them.

France well represented at the opening of the ERC

But there will also be a strong French presence at this Sierra Morena Rally. Firstly, the duo Pierre Ragues – Julien Pesenti will be there with their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. After several seasons in the French Gravel Rally Championship, the Norman driver has chosen to move towards theERC This year, he is also bringing another crew with him, composed of the young Paul Evrard and Maxime Roulland. The two men will be driving a Lancia Ypsilon Rally4. Two other notable entries are the winners of the 2025 Clio Trophy France Junior, Lucas Zielinski and Ewen Leenhardt, who will be competing in the second rally of their official program there after Le Touquet – Pas-de-Calais. Their performance in Spain will determine whether or not they continue in this championship. Finally, as recently announced, Tristan Charpentier will be present with Loris Pascaud as his co-driver. The two will be driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 entered by Team Orsak Rally Sport.

ALSO READ > Tristan Charpentier is stepping up his game in the ERC