ERC
Remembering when… Brynildsen was crowned ERC King of Scandinavia
With a handful of days to go until the fourth running of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, here’s a recap of some of what happened when the FIA European Rally Championship visited Sweden last year.
The winners: With Jørn Listerud co-driving, Eyvind Brynildsen became a first-time winner in the ERC after he came out on top of a thrilling battle on Sweden’s high-speed gravel stages. Taking the crown previously held by Oliver Solberg, who won in 2023 and 2024, Brynildsen fended off a stern challenge from home hero Isak Reiersen for victory after 17 stages and 184 kilometres of intense fast-paced gravel action in the Värmland region.
Brynildsen went on a full attack to win in the ERC
© ERC
Armed with a Pirelli-equipped Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Brynildsen triumphed by 4.9sec with Finn Roope Korhonen snatching second in an MRF-shod Yaris. Korhonen won the final Power Stage to take second away from Reiersen – who had been locked in a dramatic fight with Brynildsen – and take the championship lead.
Brynildsen hadn’t rallied since the previous January and considered himself a part-time competitor to the extent he joined Rally.TV as an expert commentator on the ERC season opener in Spain. But he let his driving do the talking in no uncertain times on his ‘home’ event.
Second for Korhonen gave the Finn the points lead
© ERC
Pirelli-shod Andrea Mabellini demoted Frank Tore Larsen for fourth on the penultimate stage to bank 23 points in his pursuit of the ERC title. Mabellini was second fastest on the Power Stage behind Korhonen, while Jon Armstrong, Larsen and Brynildsen mopped up the remaining bonus points.
Reigning Junior ERC champion Mille Johansson impressed on his way to sixth place ahead of Miko Marczyk and Mads Østberg, who finished eighth after tyre damage dropped him out of the victory fight on leg one’s penultimate stage.
Opening super special stage winner Simone Tempestini claimed his first ERC finish of the season in ninth with Armstrong fighting back to 10th after tyre damage ruled out another strong finish from the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver. Jakub Matulka placed 11th followed by Stéphane Lefebvre and leading FIA ERC3 trio Tymek Abramowski, Ville Vatanen and Tristan Charpentier.
Henning Solberg overcame a two-minute time penalty to win Master ERC ahead of Martin Vlček and Hungary winner Sasa Ollé. Jos Verstappen elected not to restart after rolling out of the lead on Friday's final stage. Sweden's Victor Hansen won FIA ERC4.
Hansen restarted to win ERC4 on home soil
© ERC
Turning point: Brynildsen started the deciding leg with a narrow advantage of 5.1sec over Reiersen. With Reiersen going fastest on two of the morning’s four stages, Brynildsen’s lead was a slender 3.8sec heading into this afternoon’s final four runs. And his advantage was trimmed to 2.8sec after Reiersen outpaced him by 1.0sec through the first pass of the 20.06-kilometre Royal Forest test. But having saved a fresh set of Pirelli tyres for the closing loop, Brynildsen was able to respond with the fastest time of all through SS15, despite a two-wheeled moment on the same left-hand corner where Reiersen also dropped onto two wheels. By completing the penultimate stage 7.0sec in front, Brynildsen maintained his lead through the Power Stage for a famous and hugely popular victory.
How did it feel? “It is amazing,” Brynildsen said. “It has been such a hard battle and it took a lot of energy. It is a big effort from both of us [co-driver Jørn Listerud] and I’m so relieved. The last few kilometres were a real struggle. I’m a boy from next door [Norway] and I drive a rally car every half year, it is something special.”
Miracle man: Lucas Karlsson was back competing again after undergoing heart surgery last year. Had it not been for tyre damage he could have challenged for victory alongside Mads Østberg but settled for the Colin’s Crest award after guiding his Norwegian driver to a 43-metre leap in their Michelin-equipped Citroën C3 Rally2.
Reiersen led his home round of the ERC but settled for third
© ERC
Shining through: While his star qualities were never in doubt, Isak Reiersen, a 21-year-old car mechanic from Karlstad – the event’s home city – came of age with a stunning drive that could have – and so easily did – net a maiden ERC victory. “It is amazing,” he said. “It is weird before this [final] stage I wasn’t nervous but I’m so grateful I had the chance to do this. I want to thank everyone who made it possible. I don’t say this much but I’m actually proud of myself.”
Early setback: There was heartbreak for Mads Østberg when the Norwegian dropped out of the podium fight after he completed 11 kilometres of SS8 with a damaged right-rear tyre on his Citroën. Østberg started the stage 3.0sec off the lead but completed leg one 40.1sec behind leader Brynildsen. “I’m hugely disappointed but it’s like that, nothing to do. It can happen to anyone, unfortunately it happens a lot to me.”
Having gone quickest on SS4, Jon Armstrong started SS5 with high hopes of making more progress in his bid for a first ERC podium of the season. But 3.2 kilometres into the stage, the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver was forced to stop to change a damaged front-right tyre, dropping him out of contention.
Qualifying Stage winner Philip Allen was fifth overall after four stages only to go off the road on a slippery Tarmac section 8.2 kilometres into SS5.
Verstappen was a fan of the Swedish stages but crashed
© ERC
Jos Verstappen was leading the Master ERC category after eight stages but rolled into retirement on the second Colins run. The ex-Formula One driver was 6.8 kilometres from the start of the 9.01-kilometre test when he slid wide on a left-hand corner and overturned. He elected not to restart on day two.
The fourth running of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia runs from 22 - 24 May.
