Hayden Paddon is defending his European Rally Championship (ERC) title. This season, the ERC is introducing numerous changes, including new events, drivers, teams, cars, and rules. The first round of the eight-event ERC season, V-Híd Rally Hungary, will take place in the city of Veszprém from 12-14 April. Previously featuring asphalt stages, this rally is now an all-gravel event. In addition to contributing to the overall ERC standings, V-Híd Rally Hungary will also be part of the FIA ERC3, FIA ERC4, FIA Junior ERC, and the newly introduced Fiesta Rally3 Trophy schedules. The inaugural FIA European Rally Championship for Tyre Suppliers will see participation from the ERC’s four tyre partners: Hankook, Michelin, MRF, and Pirelli. Eight manufacturers, including Citroën, Hyundai, M-Sport-Ford, Opel, Peugeot, Škoda, Toyota, and Volkswagen, will be represented in the FIA rally category cars.
The top three performers from the 2023 ERC season, Hayden Paddon, Mārtiņš Sesks, and Mads Østberg, are all returning to compete for more success in the European championship. Defending champion Paddon, alongside co-driver John Kennard, has signed with the Pirelli-equipped BRC Racing Team to drive a Hyundai i20 N Rally2. Paddon anticipates a tougher competition this year but is excited to improve his performance on the events he now has experience in.
Latvian driver Sesks will continue his partnership with MRF Tyres but will switch from the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 to the all-new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Sesks expects a learning curve as the team adapts to the new car and prepares for the increased number of Tarmac stages throughout the season. Nonetheless, he is committed to thorough preparation and hard work to ensure a strong season.
Norwegian driver Østberg, representing TRT Racing Team, will use Michelin tyres on his Citroën C3 Rally2. After winning the season closer in Rally Hungary in 2023, Østberg aims to carry that momentum into the 2024 season. He expresses his love for the ERC, highlighting the strong level of competition and the exciting TV coverage. Østberg is thrilled to participate in the championship once again.
Apart from Paddon, Sesks, and Østberg, there are several other drivers expected to contend for success in the ERC. Jon Armstrong, Hungarian driver Miklós ‘Mixi’ Csomós, Mathieu Franceschi, Mikko Heikkilä, Efrén Llarena, Andrea Mabellini, Miko Marczyk, Filip Mareš, Simone Temestini, and Simon Wagner are among the drivers who are likely to be at the forefront of the competition in V-Híd Rally Hungary.