ERC 4
Second would do nicely for ERC4 title contender Lloyd
Ioan Lloyd starts Croatia Rally knowing he’s the only driver who can prevent Calle Carlberg from becoming ERC4 champion for 2025 – even though he hopes it doesn’t come to that.
Lloyd, in his first season in the FIA European Rally Championship, trails Carlberg by 20 points ahead of this week’s Zagreb-based finale where 30 points are still up for grabs.
But Lloyd is mindful that it will need Carlberg to hit trouble if he’s to secure the Rally4-based crown.
“For us to win the ERC4 title in Croatia we’re more needing Calle to non-finish, which I don’t wish at all because he’s had an absolutely stunning year to be fair,” said Lloyd, who drives a TRT Rally Team-run Peugeot 208 Rally4 on Hankook tyres. “If we could have second in Junior ERC and ERC4 in our debut year I’d be absolutely delighted.”
Like Opel-powered Carlberg, who secured the FIA Junior ERC crown on Barum Czech Rally Zlín in August, Lloyd is a Croatia Rally rookie. However, should wet conditions prevail this weekend, the Welshman has more recent experience of driving in the rain on the Hankook tyres both drivers use following his winning run on JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion last month.
Carlberg can add ERC4 title honours to his Junior ERC crown
© ERC
“The rain on Sunday [on Rali Ceredigion] was a really good test for Croatia, as we haven't been on wet Tarmac for a long time,” said the recently-turned 23-year-old. “This was my first time on the Hankook wet tyres and they held up very well.
“Croatia looks a really tricky rally and quite low grip. From what I’ve seen in previous years, I think there will be quite a lot of pollution from the cuts. I think it’ll be quite tricky and there could be some mixed conditions at this time of the year. But I think after the mixed conditions we had on Rali Ceredigion, we’ve got a good feeling heading into Croatia.”
Swede Carlberg said: “The Junior ERC title is in the bag, but we still have another important event ahead of us to end the season on a high note. It has been a pleasure to drive for Opel for the past two years, and if this is my last event with the team, I want us all to have fond memories of it.”
Catherine Radulescu is in her first ERC4 season
© ERC
Carlberg and Lloyd head a packed Croatia Rally ERC4 entry, which features 12 cars and includes Germany’s Norman Kreuter, home hope Dario Merlać and Romanian Catherine Radulescu. Carlberg and Lloyd will also chase Junior ERC honours on the sealed-surface event. A separate Junior ERC preview will go online at FIAERC.com tomorrow (Thursday).
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.
Croatia Rally: the key numbers
Stages: 10
Stage distance: 172.36 kilometres
Total distance: 589.89 kilometres
