ERC 3
Growing popularity triggers rise in ERC3 entry numbers
A best-ever 17 competitors will line up for FIA ERC3 Championship honours on 43rd Andalusia Rally - Sierra Morena - Córdoba World Heritage Site from 17 - 19 April.
The sky-high entry number, which is six more than 12 months ago, not only underlines the popularity of the Rally3-based category, developed as a more accessible and more affordable route into four-wheel, it also reflects the growing level of competition in the series.
After finishing runner-up in 2025, Hubert Kowalczyk is going for title gold in 2026, reuniting with fellow Renault Clio Rally3-driving Poles Sebastian Butyński and Błażej Gazda at Chmielewski Motorsport. Unfortunately for Kowalczyk, a crash in testing yesterday is set to leave the youngster on the sidelines this weekend.
Butyński said: “ERC is a very interesting championship for me – diverse stages, new locations and a strong level of competition. We want to keep developing, and it’s the perfect environment to take the next step.”
ERC is a very interesting championship for me – diverse stages, new locations and a strong level of competition
Poland’s Former champion Igor Widłak returns to chase ERC3 and ERC Fiesta Rally Trophy success, as does Finn Ville Vatanen, who has switched from Renault to Ford power following his move to KMS Racing.
Igor Widłak is going for a second ERC3 title this season
© Greg Roslon Photography
Casey Jay Coleman, a podium finisher in 2025, and category newcomers Cian Caldwell and Craig Rahill, will carry the colours of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy. Kalum Graffin has also travelled from Ireland to make his first ERC appearance.
“I hope to compete at the sharp end of the ERC3 championship and ultimately the ERC3 title,” Coleman said. “I know this will not be an easy task, but we are working very hard to achieve this goal.”
After making his ERC3 debut on the 2025 Croatia Rally finale, Jan Pokos is back in 2026, while ex-kart racer Petr Kačírek Jr and former British Junior champion Robert Proudlock embark on their first ERC adventures. Spaniard Joan Socías is another ERC newcomer.
Lucas Zielinski’s reward for winning the 2025 Clio Trophy France Asphalte title is an ERC3 debut in Spain although the Frenchman is aiming to make further appearances at the wheel of a Clio Rally3, the car of choice for Bulgarian Aleksandar Tomov and Austria’s Maximilian Lichtenegger, who both have Junior ERC experience.
Romanian Teenager Alexandra Teslovan will make history as the first female ERC3 contender since the category switched to Rally3-only rules in 2022.
Cian Caldwell is new to ERC3 for 2026
© Greg Roslon Photography
What is ERC3?
Providing an accessible and more affordable route into four-wheel-drive competition at international level, ERC3 caters for Rally3 cars and continues to grow in strength and popularity as the FIA European Rally Championship’s established second tier.
While the ERC3 title had been awarded for several seasons previously, albeit for Rally4 machinery, it was in 2022 that the category became the exclusive home for Rally3 machinery.
Although they are not as technically advanced as their Rally2 counterparts, Rally3 cars became faster in 2022 after the size of the turbo restrictor was adjusted by 1mm from 30mm to 31mm, a power rise equivalent of approximately 15hp to the current 235bhp.
M-Sport Poland’s Ford Fiesta Rally3 and the Renault Clio Rally3 continue to battle for on-stage success in ERC3, while young talents have been choosing ERC3 to aid their career development in increasing number.
2025 champions: Tymek Abramowski/Jakub Wróbel (Ford Fiesta Rally3)
Did you know? Jon Armstrong, part of M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Rally1 driver line-up in the WRC, won the 2023 ERC3 title by claiming five wins from six starts.
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 Sierra Morena 2026: the key numbers
Stages: 13
Competitive distance: 203.80 kilometres
Total distance: 870.98 kilometres
