ERC
Korhonen wins ERC Rally Hungary
Roope Korhonen survived a demanding Sunday to claim a debut FIA European Rally Championship victory on ERC Staff House Rally Hungary.
The Finnish pair of Korhonen and co-driver Anssi Viinikka, driving an MRF-equipped Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, navigated through incredibly rough gravel stages, that tested crews and machines to their limits. The duo took the win by 30.1sec from Mads Østberg, piloting a Michelin-tyre shod Citroen C3 Rally2.
Miko Marczyk benefitted from a day of high drama to claim the final podium place, 31.4sec adrift, behind the wheel of his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Marczyk was only 1.3s away from snatching second from Østberg.
“[It] feels amazing I have to say. This last one [stage] was really rough. Thank you to my sponsors. Also one important thing; Happy Mothers' day,” said Korhonen.
Korhonen produced an impressive drive throughout winning five of the 13 stages, but the run to victory wasn’t without drama. Korhonen ended Saturday 10.6sec behind leader Andrea Mabellini, before winning the trio of Sunday morning stages to reduce the gap to the Italian to a tantalising 1.9sec.
Mads Østberg claimed his first ERC podium since winning in Hungary 2023
© ERC
However, the wind was taken out of Korhonen’s charge when the Clerk or the Course handed the Finn a 10-second penalty for hitting a chicane in Stage 10 [Nagylőtér, 15.54km]. Although, Korhonen immediately bounced back, moving into the lead on the next test [Iszka] where the rally was turned on its head. Mabellini dropped 26.2sec after suffering tyre damage, handing Korhonen a 0.7sec lead despite the latter also knocking a tyre off the rim.
Unfortunately, the damage sustained to the suspension on Mabellini’s Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 in Stage 11 forced the Italian, who led the rally throughout Saturday, into retirement. It ended an impressive drive from Mabellini and a thrilling battle for victory. Mabellini enjoyed a stunning Saturday with the only blemish being a hard landing from a jump that caused co-driver Virginia Lenzi some back pain, that required treatment from the on-site physio.
"We had a big impact, it was impossible to avoid because just after the jump there was a big rock and we caught it and had a big, big impact," said Mabellini. "We are really sorry for what’s happened because there are many, many people behind us who are doing the maximum to help us], especially the team. That’s not the end we would like to have also, [co-driver] Virgi did a great job yesterday after she got injured and she continued to fight."
It feels amazing I have to say. This last one [stage] was really rough
Mabellini’s exit handed Korhonen a relatively healthy 37.0sec lead over Østberg to take into the Power Stage - a second pas through the rough and rutted Iszka test. Korhonen managed to avoid further drama to claim a memorable victory in what proved to be a rally of attrition.
Østberg had been locked in a fight for fourth with Marczyk for much of the rally, but that became third on Sunday morning when Simone Tempestini hit trouble. Tempestini, last year’s winner, led the rally after winning Friday night’s Super Special stage but dropped back to third through Saturday. The Romanian’s podium hopes were shattered after suffering tyre damage in Stage 10, before a broken steering arm forced him off the road and into retirement on Stage 11.
After stage eight Østberg and Marczyk couldn’t be split, sharing identical overall times, although it was the former that ultimately came out of the battle on top to take a first ERC podium since winning in Hungary in 2023.
"Very pleased to be honest. It's been many tough rallies, I was on the edge of retiring last year," said Østberg. “First rally this year was full of trouble. We had the pace to fight at the top. I have a lot of experience in these situations and try to stay relaxed. I was maybe a bit too careful here."
Isak Reiersen came home in fourth [+2min41.5sec] despite being among those to suffer tyre damage on Sunday afternoon’s stages, driving a Hankook-shod Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Gábor Német was the top Hungarian driver in fifth, ahead of Romania’s Norbert Maior.
Sasa Ollé finished seventh and claimed the Master ERC Championship class from Jos Verstappen by 26.2sec, whose hopes were derailed by an overshoot on Stage 10. Verstappen went on to finish the rally in eighth overall ahead of Hungary’s Norbert Herczig.
M-Sport-Ford’s Jon Armstrong rounded out the top 10 after recovering from a double wheel change in Saturday’s Stage 6 [Kislőtér 2]. Armstrong had been sitting third when the drama struck, that cost him six minutes.
Long time leader Andrea Mabellini retired after stage 11
© @World / Red Bull Content Pool
Philip Allen claimed the Power Stage honours by 1.9sec from Armstrong. Marczyk, Østberg and Korhonen completed the top five.
Max McRae also endured a dramatic top class ERC debut that ultimately ended in retirement from 10th position due to a collapsed rear suspension on his Citroen C3 Rally2 after the penultimate stage. McRae had charged up to 10th having dropped to 63rd after picking up 3min10sec of penalties induced by damage caused to the rear of his car in Friday night’s super special stage.
Fan favourite Miklós Csomós retired after four stages, having run out of replacement tyres. Csomós rejoined restarted.
Igor Widłak claimed the ERC3 class from Márton Bertalan by 17.2sec after long time leader Tristan Charpentier dropped 13 minutes in stage 10, when his fire extinguisher went off towards the end of the test. ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team's Calle Carlberg clinched the Junior ERC and ERC4 wins by a comfortable 4min35.7sec from Victor Hansen.
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