ERC
Why ERC returnee Maior is happy but still dreaming
Norbert Maior makes his second FIA European Rally Championship start of the season in Croatia this week “really happy” but dreaming of more.
The 2023 Junior ERC champion stepped up to Rally2 level for this season after an event-winning Junior WRC campaign in 2024.
He made his top-tier ERC debut on ERC Staff House Rally Hungary in May and impressed by finishing sixth overall.
ERC1 debut in Hungary back in May netted sixth place
© ERC
The 27-year-old returns for the season-deciding Croatia Rally, fresh from finishing runner-up to Simone Tempestini on the Romanian championship-counting Raliul Vâlcii last weekend.
“I am really happy to be back in the ERC,” Maior said. “At the beginning of the year the plan was to do more rounds, but after Hungary it became clear how difficult it would be to secure the budget. It took a lot of hard work to make it to the start in Croatia, but I really wanted to be here. I know some of these roads from last season when I competed in Junior WRC, and I believe that experience, combined with all the kilometres I did this year in Romania, will help us push for a good result.
Maior is dreaming of a full ERC campaign in 2026
© ERC
“This has also been my first year with a Rally2 car, and adapting to the Citroën was not easy. I had to change my driving style a lot and learn stage by stage. It has been a real learning curve, but now I finally feel we have the pace to fight. At the Vâlcea Rally last weekend, even though it was on gravel, we were battling for the lead which is a sign of how much progress we have made.”
As always, Maior will be co-driven by his sister Francesca on Croatia Rally. They’ve made 15 ERC starts to date and are targeting a full campaign in 2026.
“Francesca and I are really excited to be back in the ERC family for the last round of the season,” said Maior. “Our dream is to do a full campaign in the championship, to fight regularly on this stage, but we know it will not be easy. Croatia is an important step in that direction, and we hope to prove that we belong here and that with the right support we can continue this story next year.”
The Maior siblings on route to Junior ERC glory on Rally Hungary in 2023
© ERC
