ERC 2024: eight epic reasons to get excited

Rally Hungary, 12 - 14 April (gravel) 
Having run on asphalt since its inception in 2019, Rally Hungary will be gravel only in 2024 with the event relocating to the city of Veszprém, approximately one hour southwest of the capital Budapest, for its fifth edition. Challenging stages around Lake Balaton await.

Rally Islas Canarias, 2 - 4 May (asphalt)
The island of Gran Canaria’s asphalt roads climb and descend and twist and turn with rapid frequency and demand plenty of driving and pacenote precision. Changeable mountain weather adds to the task in hand and puts an onus on tyre strategy and management.

Royal Rally of Scandinavia, 13 - 15 June (Sweden, gravel)
Using fast-paced gravel stages in Sweden’s Värmland, the Karlstad event was new for 2023 and bought the ERC back to the country for the first time since 2003 – and rallying back to stages previously run in the thick of winter. The Colin’s Crest jump was a 2023 highlight.

Rally Estonia, 5 - 7 July (gravel)
Voted event of the year after it hosted its first ERC counter in 2014, Rally Estonia is big on jumps, speed and innovation. Subject to contract, the event will be made up of rapid gravel stages around the cities of Tartu and Otepää, the event was a WRC round from 2020-2023.

Rally di Roma Capitale, 26 - 28 July (Italy, asphalt)
After two rounds on gravel, the ERC switches back to asphalt for an event that was decided by 0.3sec when it ran its first ERC round in 2017. Although the rally is based in Fiuggi to the southeast of Rome, the Eternal City hosts the opening super special stage.

Barum Czech Rally Zlín, 16 - 18 August (asphalt)
Based in the South Moravian university city of Zlín, this is a Tarmac test like no other due to the bumpy and sometimes broken nature of the roads. Several stages feature flat-out blasts through forests. Big fan attendance is guaranteed, intermittent showers are always possible.

Rali Ceredigion, 30 August - 1 September (United Kingdom, asphalt)
Made up of rapid but narrow country lanes close to the famous forests where the principality once staged Britain’s WRC round, Rali Ceredigion first took place in 2019 and celebrated its third running at the start of September when it also hosted the British championship.

Rally Silesia, 11 - 13 October (Poland, asphalt) 
Polish asphalt ERC events are far from unusual. Rally Poland used sealed-surface stages before it switched to gravel in 2005, while Rally Rzeszów was an ERC round in 2016 and 2017. Based in Katowice, junctions aplenty appear on the bumpy and twisty mountain Tarmac roads (Photo: Wojciech Anusiewicz).