ERC
ERC3 battle tightly poised heading to Rome
The FIA ERC3 Championship’s top six drivers will start Rally di Roma Capitale, which hosts the third round of the Rally3-based series this week, separated by 15 points.
With two rounds run, Lucas Zielinski tops the provisional order by two points ahead of Ville Vatanen and Casey Jay Coleman, who are level on 43 points. Petr Kačírek is seven points further back, while Maximilian Lichtenegger and Kalum Graffin are firmly in the fight, six points down on Kačírek.
David Auto Compétition-run Zielinski’s tenure at the top of the title order is the result a debut victory for the Michelin-equipped Renault Clio Rally3 driver on 43rd Andalusia Rally - Sierra Morena - Córdoba World Heritage Site in April and sixth place in class on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia the following month.
“After a more than positive start to the season, we will have a heart to start discovering this new rally with the ambition to continue scoring big points while gaining experience,” said Frenchman Zielinski.
We start discovering this new rally with the ambition to continue scoring big points while gaining experience
Ville Vatanen
© ERC
Having finished seventh on the Spanish season opener, Vatanen triumphed in the Swedish forests aboard his Pirelli-supplied KMS Racing Ford Fiesta Rally3. He warmed up for Rally di Roma Capitale by finishing second in the Rally3 section of Rally Internazionale del Casentino last weekend, 0.8sec behind the winner.
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-backed Coleman was also in action on Rally Internazionale del Casentino, finishing one place behind Vatanen in an identical Pirelli-shod Fiesta. Coleman was runner-up to Zielinski on 43rd Andalusia Rally - Sierra Morena - Córdoba World Heritage Site before coming home fourth on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia.
Casey Jay Coleman
© ERC
Ex-karter Kačírek makes his Rally di Roma Capitale debut fresh from his breakthrough ERC3 podium in Sweden and a class victory on Agrotec Petronas Rally Hustopeče in his native Czech Republic earlier this month.
Lichtenegger was on course to extend his ERC3 podium run in Sweden but was forced to retire from the opening leg with damage. He showed pace on his return and also impressed by winning his class on the recent Italian championship-counting Rally Due Valli. Graffin also brings class-winning pedigree to the ERC3 line-up on Rally di Roma Capitale.
Peter Kačírek
© ERC
Cian Caldwell, Robert Proudlock, Craig Rahill and Charlie Tuthill will also be in the hunt for ERC3 success in Rome, along with Sebastian Butyński, Błażej Gaza, Alexandra Teslovan and Igor Widłak, who are back in action after skipping BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia. Rahill completed the Junior ERC podium on Rally di Roma Capitale last season, while Caldwell finished fifth in the Rally3 section of Rally Internazionale del Casentino.
FIA WRC3 Championship regulars Matteo Fontana, the 2025 champion, and Nicolas Otto compete in ERC3 for the first time with Fontana following in the footsteps of father Corrado and grandfather Luigi and Otto benefit from the co-driving expertise of Hugo Magalhães.
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.
Maximilian Lichtenegger
© ERC
Rally di Roma Capitale 2026: the key numbers
Stages: 11
Competitive distance: 197.02 kilometres
Total distance: 1084.76 kilometres
