ERC
Graffin, Kačírek go for 2 in ERC3
Second place is at stake in the FIA ERC3 Championship with Kalum Graffin and Petr Kačírek preparing to go head-to-head for honours on Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal this weekend.
Graffin and Kačírek are nine points apart in third and fourth positions respectively after six all-action rounds of the Rally3-based category.
And with current second-placed driver Casey Jay Coleman stepping up to Rally2 level for Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal, the stage is set for Graffin and Kačírek to battle it out to finish runner-up behind champion Ville Vatanen, who also makes his ERC1 debut this weekend.
Like Graffin, Kačírek has excelled during his maiden ERC season
© ERC
Irishman Graffin, 20, has twice finished on the ERC3 podium this season, his first campaign at international level and was one of five drivers nominated for the ERC Rookie of the Year award. He prepared for Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal by finishing second in class on the Bushwhacker Rally, a gravel event held in Northern Ireland last month.
He said: “Final round of the season and we’re seeded as the first Rally3 on the road. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and aiming to finish the year on a high.”
Ex-karter Kačírek, who turned 20 last month, is in his first season competing outside his native Czech Republic and scored a breakthrough ERC3 podium on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia in May. Like Graffin, he was also nominated for the ERC Rookie of the Year award to further underline his potential.
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT NG drivers Rio Ogata and Kanta Yanaguida complete the ERC3 entry on Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal having finished first and second respectively in the final Finnish SM2 championship standings last month.
Ogata makes his ERC3 debut as a Finnish champion
© Toyota Gazoo Racing
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.
Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal: the key numbers
Stages: 17
Competitive distance: 181.10 kilometres
Total distance: 733.73 kilometres
