ERC
Brynildsen crowned ERC King of Scandinavia with thrilling victory
Eyvind Brynildsen is a first-time winner in the FIA European Rally Championship after he came out on top of a thrilling battle for BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia glory today (Saturday).
Taking the crown previously held by Oliver Solberg, who won in 2023 and 2024, Brynildsen fended off a stern challenge from home hero Isak Reiersen for victory after 17 stages and 184 kilometres of intense fast-paced gravel action in Sweden’s Värmland region.
Armed with a Pirelli-equipped Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Brynildsen triumphed by 4.9sec from Finn Roope Korhonen – the winner of the last round in Hungary – in an MRF-shod Yaris. Korhonen won the final Power Stage to snatch second away from Reiersen, who had been locked in a dramatic fight with Brynildsen.
“It is amazing. It has been such a hard battle and it took a lot of energy," said 37-year-old Brynildsen. "It is a big effort from both of us [co-driver Jørn Listerud] and I’m so relieved. The last few kilometres were a real struggle. I’m a boy from next door [Norway] and I drive a rally car every half year, it is something special.”
Podium celebrations at the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia
© ERC
Brynildsen, who hadn’t rallied since January and considers himself a part-time competitor to the extent he joined Rally.tv as an expert commentator on the ERC season opener in Spain last month, excelled on the high-speed gravel stages.
Co-driven by fellow Norwegian Jørn Listerud, Brynildsen started Saturday’s deciding leg with a narrow advantage of 5.1sec over Reiersen.
With Reiersen, a 21-year-old car mechanic from Karlstad – the event’s home city – going fastest on two of this morning’s four stages, Brynildsen’s lead was a slender 3.8sec heading into this afternoon’s final four runs.
And his advantage was trimmed to 2.8sec after Reiersen outpaced him by 1.0sec through the first pass of the 20.06-kilometre Royal Forest test.
Having saved a fresh set of Pirelli tyres for the closing loop, Brynildsen responded with the fastest time of all through SS15, despite a two-wheeled moment on the same left-hand corner where Reiersen also dropped onto two wheels.
By completing the penultimate stage 7.0sec in front, Brynildsen maintained his lead through the Power Stage. Reiersen was unable to fend off Korhonen on the Power Stage and had to settle for third behind the Finn, who moves to the top of the title standings.
Reiersen claimed his first ERC podium at his home event
© ERC
"It is amazing. It is weird before this [final] stage I wasn’t nervous but I'm so grateful I had the chance to do this. I want to thank everyone who made it possible. I don’t say this much but I’m actually proud of myself," said Reiersen.
Behind, Pirelli-shod Andrea Mabellini demoted Frank Tore Larsen for fourth on the penultimate stage to bank 23 points in his pursuit of the ERC title. Mabellini was second fastest on the Power Stage behind Korhonen, while Jon Armstrong, Larsen and Brynildsen mopped up the remaining bonus points.
Larsen finished fifth with reigning Junior ERC champion Mille Johansson impressing on his way to sixth place ahead of Miko Marczyk. The Michelin-equipped Pole heads to his home round of the ERC next month, having slipped to second in the championship standings, three points behind new leader Korhonen.
After tyre damage dropped him out of the victory fight on Friday’s penultimate stage Mads Østberg finished eighth with new co-driver Lucas Karlsson, who is back competing again after undergoing heart surgery last year. Østberg also leapt furthest over the Colin’s Crest jump, the Michelin-equipped Citroën C3 Rally2 driver recording a 43-metre leap.
Simone Tempestini claimed his first ERC finish of the season in ninth with Armstrong fighting back to 10th after tyre damage ruled out another strong finish from the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver. Jakub Matulka placed 11th followed by Stéphane Lefebvre and leading FIA ERC3 trio Tymek Abramowski, Ville Vatanen and Tristan Charpentier.
Henning Solberg overcame a two-minute time penalty to win Master ERC ahead of Martin Vlček and Hungary winner Sasa Ollé. Jos Verstappen elected not to restart after rolling out of the lead on Friday's final stage. Sweden's Victor Hansen won FIA ERC4.
ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland is next up in the FIA European Rally Championship from 13 - 15 June, the third and final gravel event of the 2025 ERC season.
