Challenge awaits ERC4 star Pellier on gravel return

The Frenchman was a force to be a reckoned with at last month’s Rally Islas Canarias as he steered his Opel Corsa Rally4 to success in both ERC4 and Junior ERC categories. 

But, as the Junior ERC switches to gravel, Pellier starts on the back foot having not competed the surface since 2018. 

“A return to gravel for me, four years after my last rally on this surface,” said Pellier. “With Poland’s superfast roads, the task is not going to be easy.

“Marine (Pelamourgues, co-driver) and I were able to test [on Tuesday] and we got to try a few different things before the road degraded badly. We’ll be fine-tuning more at shakedown on Friday,” he added. 

More than 20 Rally4-specifications cars feature in this week’s entry list, with 16 of those crews also eligible for Junior ERC points. 

ERC4 championship leader Andrea Mabellini will field a Renault Clio Rally4, as will his team-mate Anthony Fotia, who was Pellier’s nearest challenger in the Canary Islands. Fotia will not score Junior ERC points due to age restrictions.

Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT leader Paulo Soria has switched from a Rally5 to Rally4-specification Renault, while Óscar Palomo, Alex Español and Norbert Maior will drive Peugeot 208 Rally4 cars.

Ford’s Fiesta Rally4 is also well-represented, with hotshots including Roberto Daprà, Nick Loof and Norway’s Ola Nore all flying the flag for the blue oval. 

• Full coverage from Rally Poland is available on WRC+ All Live here, including every stage broadcast as it happens as well as key interviews, features and expert analysis from the service park.