ERC
ERC Expert View: Wild Prediction for 2026
Throughout this week at FIAERC.com, five members of the FIA European Rally Championship broadcast team have been offering their opinions on a range of topics during the annual ERC Expert View.
Analysist Eyvind Brynildsen, presenters Hayley Edmonds and Julian Porter, commentator Becs Williams and stage-end reporter Peter MacKay were asked to select their Driver of the Year, Event of the Year, Unsung Hero of the Year, Personal Moment of the Year and Wild Prediction for 2026.
Following on from Monday’s Driver of the Year selection, Tuesday’s Event of the Year, Wednesday’s Unsung Hero of the Year and yesterday’s Personal Moment of the Year, these the Wild Predictions for 2026 according to FIAERC.com’s five experts.
Eyvind Brynildsen: Philip Allen to win an ERC round. He’s got the speed, the spark and the momentum. If he can learn to control his speed, then why not?
Philip Allen
© ERC
Hayley Edmonds: Philip Allen to win an ERC round. When throwing everything at it bears fruit for once.
Peter MacKay: Lancia to win Rally di Roma Capitale. Lancia return to the top class of the European Rally Championship for the first time in decades in 2026. The new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale has been developed by some of the finest Tarmac talents in the world including Yohan Rossel, Yoann Bonato and Andrea Crugnola. Four-time Italian champion Crugnola is tipped to pilot one of the new Lancias in 2026 and will very likely be present at Rally Roma di Capitale. Even with the likely wave of WRC2 stars descending on Roma to prepare for the event’s inclusion in the 2027 World Rally Championship, my prediction is that Crugnola’s event knowledge and the Lancia Ypsilon’s potential performance will make the Italian firm favourite for a third Roman triumph.
New Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale has undergone extensive testing
© Stellantis
Julian Porter: Maybe not a wild prediction but a personal hope that in 2026 we continue to see young drivers battling it out at the front in the ERC. The ERC is known as the stepping stone to the WRC. Right now, and hopefully into the future, this couldn’t be more true with so many young talents out there gracing the ERC.
Becs Williams: Each competitive category being decided on their respective final rounds. And a four-way battle for the main ERC title.
Results:
All ERC titles to be decided on Rally Five Cities North of Portugal: 1 vote
Philip Allen to win an ERC round: 2 votes
Lancia to win Rally di Roma Capitale: 1 vote
ERC EXPERT VIEW WILD PREDICATION FOR 2026: Philip Allen to win a round of the ERC.
