The entry list for the final round of this year’s FIA European Rally Championship was revealed today (Monday), with the ERC round running as its own separate event on the same weekend as the WRC.
As predicted, 2022 FIA ERC champion Efrén Llarena heads the line-up for his home rally with co-drivers’ champion Sara Fernández calling the pace notes.
The duo form part of a two-car Team MRF Tyres Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo squad, with Javier Pardo driving the other car as he bids to secure second overall in the championship standings.
Yoann Bonato starts his fourth ERC event of the season in a Citroën C3 Rally2. After podiums in the Canary Islands and Italy, he’ll be hoping for more of the same on his favoured asphalt surface.
Alberto Battistolli and Simone Scattolin have confirmed their place in a Škoda following a heavy crash last time out in the Czech Republic, while Martin László - who debuted in the premier category in Zlín - fields a Fabia once again.
Suzuki Motor Ibérica team-mates Joan Vinyes and Alberto Monarri will go head-to-head for ERC Open title honours and former Subaru WRC driver Xevi Pons has also placed an entry, however, he has not registered to score championship points.
A total of 10 ERC-registered crews make up the Rally4 field, headlined by newly-crowned FIA Junior ERC champion Laurent Pellier in an Opel Corsa.
Pellier comes to Spain in a bid to try and seal the ERC4 crown, although he currently trails points leader Óscar Palomo (Peugeot 208) by 20 points. Italian star Andrea Mabelli is also involved in the title scrap with his Renault Clio.
The rally is based in Salou and, with 14 stages totally 240.60km, is the longest ERC round of the season.
Finland
Italy
Hungary