Full attack time as ERC gets Marczyk’s full focus for 2024

The Polish ace has announced an exciting season-long challenge aboard a Michelin-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 with ERC newcomer, Rally Silesia, an opportunity to compete in front of his home fans as the deciding event of his title campaign.  

Marcyzk will also showcase his considerable ability at global level with an entry on ORLEN 80th Rally Poland, his home round of the FIA World Rally Championship, in June. The event was the setting of his maiden ERC victory in 2022 when the gravel round formed part of the European schedule.  

“In 2024 we will take part in the full season of the FIA European Rally Championship and in selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship in the WRC2 category,” 28-year-old Marczyk explained. “We will begin the season with the first ERC round, Rally Hungary. Then we have Rally Islas Canarias on Tarmac and the conclusion of the gravel part of the season with BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia and Delfi Rally Estonia, which we know pretty well from the WRC.”

He continued: “Later this season we have well known Rally di Roma Capitale and one of my favourite events, Barum Czech Rally Zlín. We will finish the ERC season with brand new round, Rali Ceredigion and Rally Silesia, which I know perfectly well and have great memories from the past. In the meantime we will take part in some WRC events. We will compete in ORLEN Rally Poland in June and then in the Central European Rally. The icing on the cake will be Rally Barborka in the centre of Warsaw.   

“I am convinced that we will use our experience and fight for the highest places. I feel well prepared both mentally and physically, so I believe that we will achieve our goals.”

Gospodarczyk, who has co-driven Marczyk on all 20 of his ERC starts to date, said: “It is time for the new season, which means a return to the FIA European Rally Championship for us. Personally, I can’t wait for BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia. This is a gravel, summer edition of what we know as the winter Rally Sweden that took place in this area. It is a combination of rallies in Estonia and Finland, which I like very much.  

“In my opinion the most difficult event of the season will be Rali Ceredigion in Wales. The surprise is, that this is the Tarmac rally. Wales is known for the great gravel stages that previously hosted the WRC round. The conditions are always difficult there. We don’t know these roads, so it is going to be a real challenge. We have never been there before, and we know that there are going to be a lot of local drivers there.”

Marczyk made his ERC debut on Rally Poland in 2018, scored his first stage win on the event the following year and his maiden podium there in 2021. He won the ERC Michelin Talent Factory incentive programme in 2020 and finished third in the 2021 overall standings on the back of two late-season podium finishes.  

V Rally Hungary opens the upcoming 2024 ERC season from 12 - 14 April.