ERC3’s Matulka to count on ace co-driver’s expertise

The 23-year-old ERC3 contender is in his second season of rallying and his first in four-wheel-drive machinery.

With limited experience, the Pole is counting on the knowledge of his co-driver Daniel Dymurski, who has considerable pedigree when it comes to FIA European Rally Championship success.

After guiding Łukasz Habaj to an ERC event win and third overall in the 2019 European standings, Dymurski joined forces with Igor Widłak, who claimed the ERC3 title in 2022 driving a Ford Fiesta Rally3 from M-Sport Poland.

Matulka is also armed with a Fiesta Rally3 for what he hopes will amount to a four-event ERC3 campaign this season following his debut in the championship on ORLEN 79th Rally Poland last month.

“It was my first Rally Poland and it was quite a big challenge for me,” said Matulka, who hit back from a car-damaging crash to finish second in ERC3 behind winner Jon Armstrong. “Last season was my first season and this is my second season but the first season with the four-wheel drive so I’m just getting the experience and some skills and trying to reach the finish line to get the kilometres.

“We do the full Polish championship and we do some ERC events, like Poland, Liepāja, Barum and also Hungary we hope but we have to see.”

Of his co-driver Dymurski, Matulka was quick to praise his compatriot’s contribution. “He’s very experienced and one of the best in Poland so this is great.”

As well as Northern Ireland’s championship pacesetter Jon Armstrong, unbeaten so far in ERC3 this season, Pole Piotr Parys (Ford Fiesta Rally3, pictured above) and Argentine Paulo Soria (pictured below) are also in contention for ERC3 category honours on Tet Rally Liepāja with Soria set to make his second appearance in his all-new, Motorsport Italia-run Renault Clio Rally3.