ERC
Junior ERC round-up: Pace and progress in Ceredigion
Plenty of progress was made when the FIA Junior ERC Championship returned to JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion after a one-year break last weekend. Here’s a recap.
McBride makes good with first podium
Kyle McBride scored his first Junior ERC podium by finishing third in the Hankook-supplied category on JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion. “It has been a really good weekend and we are really happy with the result, our first Junior ERC podium,” said the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver, who won the Stellantis Cup IRE/UK in 2025. “The class has been really competitive and we are really happy with our pace. The car and pacenotes worked well all weekend.”
Tom Heindrichs
© ERC
Heindrichs on his Ceredigion heartbreak
Tom Heindrichs remains in contention for the Junior ERC title despite crashing out in Wales while firmly in the battle to make it three wins running. “It was just a small mistake that happened quickly on these incredibly demanding stages,” the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team driver explained. “That made the impact all the greater. It’s a shame, because everything had been going well up to that point; we’d been enjoying the battle with Timo [Schulz] and were back on the pace.”
It was just a small mistake that happened quickly on these incredibly demanding stages
Sebastian Dallapiccola
© ERC
Dallapiccola dedicates best result to lost friend
Sebastien Dallapiccola dedicated his best Junior ERC finish so far to Stefano Sappracone, who lost his life while co-driving on Rally Val d'Aveto in Italy last weekend. “We finish P4, it’s the best result all year on our last rally on Tarmac,” Dallapiccola said. “I feel well with the car and the tyres, it worked well. It was not an easy rally because for what happened for one of my friends. I want to celebrate him with my P4.”
Francesco Dei Ceci
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Consistent Dei Ceci makes up for Pesavento woe
Francesco Dei Ceci was on hand to score points for Lancia Corse HF on his first appearance in Wales after team-mate Davide Pesavento crashed out from third place on the opening night. Reunited with co-driver Daiana Darderi, Dei Ceci has now finished fifth three events running to underline his consistency. “I am not happy with my confidence but I’m happy to finish the race and happy to be here so thank you to all the people for believing in me,” Dei Ceci said.
Claire Schönborn
© ERC
Schönborn shines on Junior ERC return
Claire Schönborn was pleased with her speed as she returned to Junior ERC duty after missing Barum Czech Rally Zlín due to a clash of schedules. The ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team driver said: “It was the most difficult rally I’ve done so far but also one of my best rallies when I look to the gap per kilometre. I was 1.1sec per kilometre [from the fastest time] at the end of the rally so I’m happy. After Poland I had a deep down, I didn’t find any rhythm at all. Here it was more challenging than in Poland, but good times came up and I’m happy with my rhythm.”
The 2026 FIA Junior ERC Championship will be decided on Rally Six Cities North of Portugal from 23 - 25 October. Follow the build-up and find out more about Colin Dünker’s heroics and heartache in Wales at FIAERC.com.
