ERC
ERC stars all set for a high-speed gravel ride
The FIA European Rally Championship switches to gravel and shifts up another gear in Sweden this week with the fourth running of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia.
Rallying’s equivalent of a high-speed rollercoaster ride due to its fast, flowing and undulating stages, BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, which is based in Karlstad from 22 - 24 May, is big on commitment behind the wheel and even bigger in terms of entries.
An event-record 60 crews have signed up to chase points across the ERC1, ERC3, ERC4 and Junior ERC categories, further highlighting the popularity and appeal of the world’s oldest rally championship, which ran for the first time in 1953.
Teemu Suninen, a three-time FIA World Rally Championship podium finisher, heads the entry as he prepares to battle on roads he’s only driven on in the thick of winter when Rally Sweden was based in the Värmland region.
Suninen is among the favourites to finish first in Sweden
© ERC
“From snow to summer the roads will change completely so no chance to use any old knowledge,” said the Pirelli-equipped Finn. “The fight in the ERC is really tight but that makes me excited and that’s why I’m competing here to see the level of the locals and to see the level we have to take to be on par with them.”
Suninen will switch from the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 that powered him to WRC2 glory on Vodafone Rally de Portugal earlier this month to the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 he used to finish fourth on last month’s 43rd Andalusia Rally - Sierra Morena - Córdoba World Heritage Site, his ERC comeback after a break of 11 years.
“They are both top cars but they behave differently, brake pedals, throttles, steering response, everything is very different,” The Racing Factory driver, 32, explained. “I wish the win would happen but in my mind there are seven possible winners if not more. That’s really exciting, but I will need to push the bar higher because it will be a really tight fight.”
ERC champion Marczyk has ground to make up in the title chase
© ERC
Among those aiming to battle Suninen in Sweden are Michelin-supplied Miko Marczyk, the defending ERC champion, MRF-shod Mārtiņš Sesks, a stage winner in the WRC, Hankook-equipped home hero Isak Reiersen, third on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia last season, plus Lancia-powered Andrea Mabellini. Other leading contenders include Eyvind Brynildsen, last year’s winner, Sweden’s Calle Carlberg, the 2025 Junior ERC champion, plus multiple Romanian champion Simone Tempestini.
Tempestini has gravel-driving pedigree in abudance
© ERC
Marczyk is in fightback mode after crashing out of the Spanish ERC season opener, while Reiersen will start BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia on a high after he won the Swedish championship-counting Rally Nyköping last weekend.
“Honestly this has been the perfect shakedown for us,” Reiersen said. “We won almost every stage; we just got beaten on the Power Stage at the end, but we have a long week ahead of us and it’s important that the car is in one piece. To take the win was fantastic.”
Of the 60 ERC priority drivers in action this weekend, 29 will compete in pacesetting Rally2 cars in the FIA ERC1 category, 13 will be at the wheel of Rally3 machines in FIA ERC3, 17 will count on Rally4 technology in FIA ERC4 – including 16 in the Hankook-supplied FIA Junior ERC Championship, which begins in Sweden – with a lone Rally5 contender also in action in the front-wheel-drive division. Ten ERC3 contenders are registered for the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, while a total of 24 nationalities are represented on the entry list.
Hakalehto is the ERC4 driver to beat following his Spanish victory
© 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
Ex-ERC3 champion Widłak is fast in a Ford Fiesta Rally3
© ERC
