In less than a week from now (11-13 March), Rally Serras de Fafe - Felgueiras - Cabreira e Boticas in northern Portugal will host the 2022 season opener. Here’s a reminder of what’s new for the year ahead.
NEW: Every stage from each round streamed live and on demand for fans to watch whenever, wherever and however they want through WRC Promoter’s WRC+ streaming platform at http://wrcplus.com/
NEW: Power Stage on all rounds, follows the same successful format used in the FIA World Rally Championship with live television and points awarded to the fastest five drivers
NEW: Following the creation of a two-tier structure in 2017, ERC Junior is streamlined and run as the FIA ERC4 Junior Championship for Rally4 and Rally5 cars equipped with tyres from official partner Pirelli. Drivers must be under 27 on 1 January 2022 to take part
NEW: The top 15 drivers on the Qualifying Stage, all FIA Priority Drivers, any driver appearing in the top 15 of the final ERC standings in 2021 or appearing in the top 15 of the provisional ERC standings of the current season are required to choose their starting position for the opening leg of an event
NEW: At the end of leg one, the top 15 (rather than the top 10) are reseeded for leg two
NEW: Bonus points are no longer awarded at the end of each leg of an ERC event
NEW: To score ERC points, drivers must use tyres supplied by a manufacturer registered with the FIA and WRC Promoter under a new system from 2022. The registered tyre companies are MICHELIN, MRF and Pirelli
NEW: All events take place from Friday-Sunday with the exception of Rally Islas Canarias, which runs from Thursday-Saturday and also hosts the ERC4 Junior opener
NEW: FIA ERC3 is for Rally3 cars only
NEW: FIA ERC4 is for Rally4 and Rally5 cars
NEW: ERC Open replaces ERC2 and is for Rally2 Kit, RGT and Group N4 cars
NEW: Free Practice and Qualifying Stage is for drivers in Rally2 cars only
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