ERC
Best yet to come as Kowalczyk looks back on breakthrough ERC3 season
Hubert Kowalczyk reckons the “best is yet to come” after he finished second in the 2025 FIA ERC3 Championship – his first full season at international level.
The 21-year-old claimed a maiden victory in the Rally3-based category and finished on the podium on four more occasions at the wheel of the Chmielewski Motorsport-run Renault Clio Rally3 he shared with co-driver and fellow Pole Jarosław Hryniuk.
“How would I assess the 2025 rally season? It was a really busy, very demanding, exciting year,” Kowalczyk said. “Today, I can also describe it as a breakthrough year – both in terms of sport and my private life.
“Looking back, we had our ups and downs. There were moments of great euphoria and few moments when thoughts of giving up swirled in my head. But in the end, I can say without hesitation that I am happy with where we are. I am happy with how much I have been able to learn. It was a good start to our ‘full-time’ European adventure and our plans to conquer the European Rally Championship.
“I should divide the past months into two completely different parts. We started quite promisingly – I felt great in Spain, driving from corner to corner through the hills of Córdoba clearly suited me. But our luck quickly ran out, a punctured tyre on the penultimate stage knocked us out of the fight for victory.
Rally Sierra Morena brought driving joy but late heartbreak
© ERC
“In Hungary, despite the podium, we were not as competitive. We ended our visit to Scandinavia on the roof, and in [Poland] we were unable to spread our wings.
“The turning point was our trip to the Eternal City, where we took second place and turned the coin. That’s how our pursuit began. We made up points and returned to the fight for the title, which seemed simply... impossible. On top of that, we achieved our first victory at
Barum. It was nice to be the underdog at one point, because no one in their right mind could bet on us after the first four rounds.
Young Pole Kowalczyk on a charge in Croatia
© ERC
“Meanwhile, we found ourselves dangerously close to Tymoteusz [Abramowski] and Jakub [Wróbel], taking advantage of their mistakes and few bad moments. When it seemed that the titles would be decided in August, we dragged the competition to the final metres of the October finals. Until the very last moment, it was unclear who would win the FIA ERC3 category.
“This is the most valuable lesson of this season, and perhaps the most important conclusion in my adult life. I have the slogan ‘Never Give Up’ on my gloves. We didn't give up, and that's what I'm most proud of. Today, I strongly believe that the best is yet to come.”
Kowalczyk is expected to announce details of his 2026 campaign early in the New Year.
