ERC
Suninen brings WRC pedigree to ERC with The Racing Factory
Teemu Suninen is gearing up for the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship with The Racing Factory in an exciting boost for the ERC and the frontrunning Portuguese squad.
Suninen, a podium finisher in the FIA World Rally Championship with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, has joined Aloísio Monteiro’s Portugal-based squad for the seven-event season, which gets under way with the 43rd Andalusia Rally - Sierra Morena - Córdoba World Heritage Site from 17 - 19 April.
According to The Racing Factory, 32-year-old Suninen’s arrival is “another sign of The Racing Factory’s ambition to strengthen its position in the international arena”.
Rally return after 18 months netted WRC2 podium in Sweden
© Red Bull Content Pool
A team communication read: “After several seasons of sustained growth and regular involvement in highly competitive programmes, the team is now taking a further step by bringing in a driver with proven credentials in both WRC2 and the top tier of the World Rally Championship.
“Throughout his career, Teemu Suninen has built an impressive path in international rallying. The Finn first stood out in the junior categories before establishing himself as one of the most competitive names of his generation. With spells at leading works and semi-works teams, he gained experience behind the wheel of several top-level cars, competing on some of the most demanding stages in the sport. His career, marked by speed, consistency, and adaptability, makes him a major signing for The Racing Factory’s 2026 ERC campaign.
“The partnership between both parties therefore represents the combination of the international experience of a driver accustomed to the highest levels of competition and the ambition of a team that continues to expand its footprint in European motorsport”.
Hyundai stint was Suninen's last as a factory WRC driver
© Red Bull Content Pool
Finn Suninen made a one-off ERC start in Estonia in 2015 and finished runner-up in WRC2 on Rally Sweden last month, despite having not competed since Rally Finland in August 2024. He said: “I am very pleased to join The Racing Factory for the 2026 ERC season. In this team, I found a structure that is highly motivated, ambitious, forward-looking and genuinely eager to grow on the international stage.
The ERC is extremely competitive and demands a great deal from drivers and teams, so it will be a very interesting challenge
“The ERC is an extremely competitive championship and demands a great deal from both drivers and teams, so I believe it will be a very interesting challenge. I am motivated to begin this work and to contribute my experience so that we can achieve strong results.”
The Racing Factory helped Mabellini fligh high in the ERC
© ERC
Aloísio Monteiro, CEO of The Racing Factory, which was formed in 2018, said: “The arrival of Teemu Suninen is an important milestone for The Racing Factory. He is a driver with internationally recognised credentials, experience at the highest level, and the ability to add both sporting and technical value to our project. This partnership for 2026reflects the ambition we have been demonstrating and our clear desire to continue growing on the European stage. We are very pleased to have Teemu with us for this new chapter.”
Mikko Heikkilä and Andrea Mabellini are among the drivers to have tasted ERC success with The Racing Factory.
