ERC
Star Solans aims to shine on ERC return
Jan Solans is determined to finish his 2026 campaign on a high when he contests the FIA European Rally Championship season-deciding Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal from 23 - 25 October.
The Spanish star has been restricted to a single FIA WRC2 Challenger Championship podium this season and was a non-finisher on last weekend’s Rally Italia Sardegna finale.
He’s therefore hoping to bounce back on the Fafe-based ERC season showdown by challenging for a top result.
“That’s the plan,” the 28-year-old said. “Portugal is one of my favourite events [in the WRC], of course this is a different rally but it’s a similar area, similar surface. In Rally Portugal this year we were leading during Friday and Saturday. Unluckily on Sunday we couldn’t achieve the result that we wanted as I went off the road but let’s try to win this one.
Finishing the year on a happy note is the plan for Solans
© ERC
“For me it’s very important. Last week I was in Sardinia, also one event that I really like, and I was hoping to get a good result. But on Friday we had to retire because we damage the suspension and then on Saturday we went off the road so I don’t want to end the season like this, mainly because of my sponsors and everyone around that is making a big effort for my career, so I am very focused to give a good result for them in the last rally of the season.”
I am very focused to give a good result in the last rally of the season
Given its late October date, inclement weather remains a possibility on Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal, not that Solans is concerned.
“In Rally Portugal there was huge rain so worse than this can be difficult, always can be worse but this year in Portugal we had really bad conditions with the weather so I think I can be well prepared for that.”
Solans, who will compete under the PH.PH banner for Calm Competició, has singled out the famous Pedra Sentada jump nearing the finish of the Lameirinha stage, which will be used twice on the final day of the ERC season, as one of the main even highlights.
The chance to jump high in Fafe holds big appeal WRC2 ace
© ERC
“For me it was a super-special moment in 2024 as I was jumping on that jump and 100 metres later, I just won my first WRC2 event,” Solans said. “It was an amazing feeling to be jumping there in front of all the crowd and also winning my first WRC2 event. It’s a moment I will never forget.”
Solans has made two appearances to date, the most recent coming on Rally di Roma Capitale in July 2025 when he finished 17th overall.
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