Two hugely promising youngsters will prove their talent – and utilise the experience they gained challenging for FIA ERC Junior title success in 2018 – when they step up to the world stage this season.

Alexey Lukyanuk, the first Russian to win the FIA European Rally Championship, tried a ŠKODA Fabia R5 for size in Italy earlier today – then hinted he might be getting behind the wheel of Volkswagen’s all-new Polo GTI R5 before too long.

Nikolay Gryazin’s return to the Sigdalsrally in Norway this weekend will evoke happy memories for the young Russian.

The rise and rise of Mārtiņš Sesks, the 2018 FIA ERC Junior Under 27 champion, is the subject of a new short film, Champion at Nineteen.

FIA European Rally Championship talents Efrén Llarena and Sara Fernández enjoyed a royal appointment in Madrid earlier this week.

Spain’s motorsport federation RFEDA (Real Federación Española de Automovilismo) will continue its alliance with the FIA European Rally Championship in 2019 following confirmation of Efrén Llarena’s entry in the ERC3 Junior category.

Drivers from the Polish championship will once again take on their FIA European Rally Championship counterparts when they contest Rally Poland in June.

Simone Campedelli is working hard to secure the budget for an FIA European Rally Championship title attack in 2019.

Catie Munnings has attracted Red Bull backing for her FIA ERC3 Junior Championship bid, the first female driver from the United Kingdom to receive support from the energy drinks giant.