ERC
Five fantastic Franceschi ERC moments
Mathieu Franceschi, one of the fastest young talents to emerge from the FIA European Rally Championship in recent years, made the tough decision to call time on his driving career last month, aged 26.
Amid perennial financial struggles and having become a father, Franceschi’s life as a rapid rally driver is no more.
In a salute to the French ace, FIAERC.com has picked out five moments that underlined Franceschi’s star status.
First ERC stage win and podium came in Hungary
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Rolling with it in Hungary
Franceschi went from leading the gravel-based V-Híd Rally Hungary in April 2024 after banking his maiden ERC stage win, to rolling and then fighting back from 10th to the final spot on the podium after he claimed a further four stage wins – including the Power Stage.
French flier battled hard for the Canarias win
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Heaping the pressure on Bonato in Canarias
The former French Gravel champion proved he could ace it on asphalt as well when he pushed Yoann Bonato for victory on Rally Islas Canarias the following month. Franceschi, who led after three stages, clocked two stage wins during the final leg in his pursuit of first place behind his experienced countryman.
There were mixed fortunes for Franceschi in Sweden
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Charging through Colins in Sweden
BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia was a case of extasy to the agony after he rolled into retirement on the Power Stage. However, Franceschi had still been able to demonstrate his determination on Sweden’s fast-paced gravel roads in June 2024 with the fastest time on the repeat of the Colins stage.
Podium in Wales got ERC season back on track
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Battling back in Wales
After the despair of a double puncture-enforced retirement on Barum Czech Rally Zlín, Franceschi was back on the podium when the first ERC-counting JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion took place in September 2024, finishing a fine third.
Signing off from the ERC in Poland with fifth place
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Signing off in Silesia
What proved to be his ERC farewell ahead of an aborted WRC2 bid the following season, ended with fifth place on Rally Silesia, a result that ensured second place in the final European standings.
