ERC
Chmielewski Motorsport’s ERC3 commitment remains as Kazaz returns
Leading Polish outfit Chmielewski Motorsport will continue its FIA ERC3 Championship adventure in Sweden this week with a changed line-up but an unchanged determination to succeed.
Since making its ERC debut in 2025, Chmielewski Motorsport has been a staunch supporter of the Rally3 category with a multi-car entry on most rounds.
For BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, round two of the seven-event season, the team run by ex-driver Jan Chmielewski has recruited double Turkish champion and former ERC3 frontrunner Kerem Kazaz for what will be a single-car entry due to its regular drivers being unavailable.
“It will be our first event of the season in the European Rally Championship, so it’s going to be a new challenge for us with a new car as well,” said Kazaz. “The main goal is to enjoy the rally, build a strong rhythm and have a good event overall. After that, we’ll focus on the next rallies and continue improving step by step.”
Kazaz, who is also contesting the FIA Junior WRC Championship in 2026, made six ERC3 appearances in 2024 and finished on the podium four times driving a Ford Fiesta Rally3. For his comeback, the 20-year-old from Türkiye will pilot a Renault Clio Rally3 among a talent-packed 13-car entry headed by points leader Lucas Zielinski from France.
Turkish talent Kazaz was third in ERC3 in Sweden two years ago
© ERC
“The level of competition in the ERC is extremely high,” said Kazaz, who will compete under the Team Petrol Ofisi banner alongside French co-driver Corentin Silvestre. “There are many very talented drivers and a lot of strong competition throughout the field. That’s why I believe it’s one of the best championships to improve yourself and develop.”
There are many very talented drivers and a lot of strong competition throughout the field
While learning and progressing are key targets for Kazaz, particularly given the strong opposition he’ll face, a victory on Sweden’s high-speed gravel stages isn’t out of the question for the second-generation competitor.
“Winning a round in the ERC would obviously mean a lot to me,” Kazaz said. “It would be a very special achievement personally, but also an important step for the future of my career and my development as a driver.”
Zielinski leads the ERC3 standings following his Spanish victory
© ERC
Aside from gravel novice Zielinski, Casey Jay Coleman, Ville Vatanen and Igor Widłak are expected to be among the contenders for victory on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia. Coleman topped the Rally3 category on the Swedish championship Rally Nyköping last weekend, Vatanen finished second on the Karlstad-based fixture season with former ERC3 champion Widłak just three places behind.
“We had a good weekend, perfect preparation for the ERC round,” Coleman said following his Rally Nyköping outing. “It has been 11 months since we drove on gravel so it took us a while to get back into things. With lots of stages and service breaks, we got to make plenty of changes to the car and explore set-up to give me more confidence on these incredibly fast Swedish roads.”
Other ERC3 drivers to watch include new-for-2026 contenders Cian Caldwell, Kalum Graffin, Petr Kačírek, Maximilian Lichtenegger, Jan Pokos, Robert Proudlock and Charlie Tuthill, who makes his category debut on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia.
Meanwhile, Craig Rahill prepared for his second ERC3 appearance by runner-up to KMS Racing team-mate Ville Vatanen on Kuljetus J. Kuusela Oy Ralli in Finland last weekend.
Vatanen finished on the Scandinavia ERC3 podium in 2025
© ERC
How to watch?
Fans across the globe can experience the excitement and drama of the ERC with every stage of every rally broadcast Rally.TV platform. In addition, the ERC is broadcast in a number of countries around the world and fans are advised to check local listings for details.
BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia 2026: the key numbers
Stages: 16
Competitive distance: 185.94 kilometres
Total distance: 982.89 kilometres
