ERC what's new for 2024: The cars

Although the GR Yaris Rally2 has been in action – and been successful – on several events already this season, next month’s V Rally Hungary will mark its first appearance in the ERC when Mikko Heikkilä will be one of the favourites for victory.  

“The car is nice and we showed we are able to do the fastest times and be at the top,” said Finn Heikkilä, who has already taken two national-level wins in 2024 aboard a GR Yaris Rally2.  

Heikkilä’s compatriot, Sami Pajari, drives a GR Yaris Rally2 in the FIA World Rally Championship. He said: “I’m really happy with it, it’s fast and reliable. With a few tweaks, we’ll be even stronger going forward.”

ERC podium finisher Georg Linnamäe took his maiden WRC2 top-three finish on Rally Sweden last month driving a GR Yaris Rally2. “There’s still some development coming on, but it’s very good and really promising,” Linnamäe added.  

The GR Yaris Rally2 is set to battle Citroën’s C3 Rally2, Hyundai’s i20 N Rally2, M-Sport’s Ford Fiesta Rally2 and Škoda’s Fabia RS Rally2 for outright honours on ERC events in 2024.

Meanwhile, the new-for-2024 Rally5-Kit regulations have been designed to provide an even more accessible entry point at both national and regional (ERC) level.   

Developed with affordability firmly in focus, but without ignoring the need to deliver a set of rules that make rallying as attractive to newcomers as other disciplines, Rally5-Kit cars will be equipped with standard engines, one-way adjustable dampers, standard fuel tanks, underbody protection and the option to fit a sequential gearbox.  

Significantly, Rally5-Kit cars can be homologated at a local level in collaboration with the FIA Technical Department, a move that will allow the use of parts and expertise available locally to deliver more cost-effective competition cars.  

A car conforming to the Rally5-Kit regulations has been put through its paces Spain through a partnership between the ASN, Real Federación Española de Automovilismo (RFEdA), R-technology and Suzuki Motor Ibérica (above).  

V Rally Hungary, based in the city of Veszprém, forms the ERC season opener from 12 - 14 April.