ERC
ERC questions answered by… Filip Šipoš
Ahead Barum Czech Rally Zlín, the closest it gets to a home round of the FIA European Rally Championship, Slovakian Filip Šipoš, 25, answers FIAERC’s 10 questions.
Why did you choose the ERC for 2026? “Joining the ERC is a dream come true. Since the beginning of my rally career, I have always looked up to this championship, although until the very last moment I hardly believed this opportunity would become reality. I have great memories of attending Barum Czech Rally Zlín with my father, admiring the crews and imagining what it would be like to be in their position one day. The ERC brings together some of the most demanding and prestigious events in rallying, as well as the strongest level of competition in Europe. We are proud and excited to become part of this championship and to join such a talented group of young drivers in the Junior ERC. To be the first Slovak driver is a huge privilege as well.”
What target have you set yourself for this season? “It may sound a bit conservative, but our main goal is to learn and gain valuable experience. As we are only planning to compete in selected ERC events, our focus is not necessarily on scoring championship points, but rather on experiencing the atmosphere and level of competition that the ERC has to offer. Of course, we will do our best to show our true pace and be as competitive as possible. At the same time, we want to approach the season with a sensible mindset, complete all the events we have planned, and avoid any unnecessary damage to the car – or to ourselves. We expect the competition to be extremely strong, and we are very curious to see where we stand compared to the talented young drivers competing in the championship. Our goal is simple: to enjoy the experience, drive fast, gain as much knowledge as possible, and put on a good show for the rally fans.”
Slovak star is relying on Peugeot power in Junior ERC
© ERC
What are you hoping to learn from competing in the ERC? “What I’m looking forward to the most is experiencing the incredibly high level of competition and taking on some of the toughest conditions currently found anywhere in Europe. It will be a huge challenge and, without a doubt, the biggest test of my career so far.Fortunately, I have a very experienced co-driver by my side, Zdeněk Omelka, who has previously competed in this championship and brings a wealth of ERC experience. I believe we can use that knowledge to our advantage throughout the season. ERC will be a learning experience in every possible aspect. Even during the preparation for this season, I have already faced countless new challenges and responsibilities that I had never had to deal with before. The level of professionalism and preparation required is on a completely different scale. So what do I expect to learn? Everything. And that is exactly why we chose the ERC. It represents the ultimate opportunity to develop ourselves, gain experience at the highest European level and continue growing as competitors.”
Who’s your rallying hero and why? “If I had to choose someone from the modern era, it would be Ott Tänak. In many ways, he reminds me of Kimi Räikkönen, especially in terms of his mindset and personality. Both of them strike me as quiet killers – not overly talkative or extravagant, but incredibly talented and exceptionally fast. They let their performances do the talking. Their calm and composed approach, combined with their natural speed and determination, is something I have always admired. If we were to go back in time, my choice would be either Carlos Sainz or Colin McRae. Sainz is a living legend of the rally world and someone whose achievements have inspired generations of drivers. McRae, on the other hand, is the driver who, in my opinion, possessed the greatest raw speed I have ever seen. His commitment, natural talent, and spectacular driving style made him truly unique. I also have enormous admiration for Michèle Mouton. What she achieved in an era dominated by male competitors was extraordinary, and she remains one of the most iconic figures in our sport’s history.”
First Junior ERC points were scored in Poland
© ERC
What’s your greatest achievement in rallying/motorsport so far? “The clear highlight was winning the FIA European Rally Trophy in 2025. It was my first full season competing in international events. It was an extremely demanding year in which we met many new people, gained valuable experience in different countries, and compared ourselves against strong local competition across Europe. We travelled extensively, and the whole journey brought a huge amount of learning and personal development. The cherry on top was the FIA Awards ceremony in Tashkent – an evening I will never forget and will always look back on with the best possible memories. The European Rally Trophy really opened my eyes to what competing abroad is like. It taught me a lot, not only about rallying at an international level, but also about myself and what it takes to perform outside my home environment.”
Looking back to your first rally, when was it and where, what car did you drive and what happened? “My first rally was Rally Bohemia in the Czech Republic in 2020. It served as a so-called rally school event required to obtain my competition licence. It was a beautiful but very demanding rally – honestly, we couldn’t have chosen a better event for a debut. Because I didn’t have any prior motorsport background, the beginning was quite challenging and relatively slow as well. I was also very lucky that my first competition car was the Peugeot 208 R2. I still miss its naturally aspirated engine and the character it had, even though modern cars are clearly faster and you have to move with the times. Looking back, it was a perfect starting point for my career, even if the learning curve was quite steep from the very beginning.”
Šipoš can look forward to almost a home event in Zlín
© ERC
Looking to the future, where do you hope to be in five years from now? “I hope I will still be competing in rally in the future, or at least remain involved in motorsport in some way. At the same time, I try to stay realistic and understand that rallying is more of a passion for me than a full-time profession. If I am still driving, I will be very happy. But even if my path eventually goes in a different direction, I will always have many memories to look back on and things I can be proud of. Like every driver’s dream, I also hope to be competing in either WRC or ERC within the next five years, ideally in a higher category of car. On a personal level, my main goal is to stay healthy and happy, and to focus on the people and things that give me meaning and positive energy.”
If you weren’t a rally driver, what sport would you like to do? “Before rally, I spent a few years playing football, and then over 10 years I competed professionally in squash. However, neither of these sports ever fulfilled me in the same way as rallying and motorsport. At the same time, I always wanted to try ice hockey as well, especially the role of a goaltender. And honestly, if competitive mini golf were a serious sport at top level, there is a good chance I might have ended up doing that instead of rallying.”
Rally di Roma Capitale marked the start of the Slovak's ERC adventure
© ERC
When you are not competing what do you do to keep busy? “Alongside racing, I work full time as a key account manager for Toyota in Bratislava. Last year, I also successfully completed my university degree in Strategic Management while balancing my studies with my rally programme. Outside motorsport, I enjoy spending time with my family and my girlfriend. I love travelling and discovering new places around the world, and I have a real passion for good food and quality dining experiences. Unsurprisingly, cars remain a big part of my life even when I’m not competing. I enjoy spending time in the garage, taking our classic cars out for a drive on weekends, and attending automotive events whenever I can. For me, it’s all about finding the right balance between work, motorsport and the people and activities that I enjoy most.”
Tell us something interesting about yourself? “When I was a little kid, I used to tell everyone that I had been born in America and had spent my first years living there. Unfortunately, my first toy car didn’t last very long, mainly because nobody had explained to me that cars are supposed to drive on their wheels rather than on their roof. I also remember going to hillclimb races with my father, where we would try to identify cars just by the sound of their engines. Looking back, the direction my life would eventually take was already pretty obvious. Outside motorsport, I am a multiple-time Slovak Junior Squash champion. At the age of 17, I finally made it to America for real, spending a year there on a language exchange programme. One of my long-term dreams is to own a showroom filled with classic and unique cars – a place where I can combine my passion for automobiles with smart investments and, in a way, bring some of my and others childhood dreams to life.”
Šipoš, the winner of the FIA European Rally Trophy in 2025, is co-driven by Czech Zdeněk Omelka in a Hankook-equipped Peugeot 208 Rally4 run by the Sparrow Racing outfit.
