Marcel Neulinger
Austria
·
ERC 4
Key Facts
Nationality
Austria
Date of Birth
12.04.2005
Team
Baumschlager Rallye & Racing
Co-Driver
Jürgen Heigl
Car
Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF
Tyres
Hankook
ERC 2025
N/A (makes ERC debut in 2026)
Why did you choose the ERC for 2026? “I chose the European Rally Championship because I want to gain international experience and compete against the best drivers from all over Europe”
What target have you set yourself for this season? “My target for this season is to collect as many kilometres as possible and improve from rally to rally”
What are you hoping to learn from competing in the ERC? “I hope to improve my driving on gravel and, of course, also become stronger on asphalt”
Who’s your rallying hero and why? “My rally hero is Sébastien Ogier because he is extremely ambitious, plans everything perfectly and is also one of the most talented drivers in the world”
What’s your greatest achievement in rallying/motorsport so far? “My greatest achievements so far are becoming a two-time junior national champion and winning the Central European Rally in the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup”
Looking back to your first rally, when was it and where, what car did you drive and what happened? “My first rally was the Mühlstein Rallye in 2023. I drove a near-production Ford Fiesta ST. It was so much fun and after that event I knew I wanted to do more rallying”
Looking to the future, where do you hope to be in five years from now? “In five years I hope to have become Junior ERC champion, compete in the Rally2 category and fight for the Austrian Rally Championship title”
If you weren’t a rally driver, what sport would you like to do? “If I wasn’t a rally driver, I would probably do motocross”
When you are not competing what do you do to keep busy? “When I’m not competing, I stay busy with working, running, rowing, playing on the simulator, meeting friends and riding motocross
Tell us something interesting about yourself? “Something interesting about me is that rallying is a real family passion – my brother, my father and I all compete in rallying”
