Wed 04 Sep 2024

Junior ERC stars go back to school and shine

It was back to school time in the FIA ERC Junior Championship last weekend. Following a two-month summer break, eight rising stars of the sport assembled for JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion. Aside from the title battle, here’s a recap of some of what happened when the Hankook-equipped talents returned to Tarmac for the penultimate round of the 2024 season.

Schulz back on the podium: Timo Schulz was back in the Junior ERC top three for the first time since Rally Islas Canarias in May when he drove his Opel Corsa Rally4 to a fine third place after being delayed by a broken front-right driveshaft on Saturday’s final stage. “It was a really hard rally but I’m happy to be at the finish and happy with third place,” said the German ace, who was fastest on both runs through the Aberystwyth super special on Friday evening.   


Brennan back in action: Having not competed since he crashed out of Rally Islas Canarias, Jack Brennan returned to the championship in Wales. Unfortunately for the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-backed driver, an accident on the final leg led to a DNF.

PB for DP: ACI Team Italia’s David Pesavento (above) scored a Junior ERC personal best in Wales, finishing a strong fourth on the back of an accomplished display. “We make an intelligent race, arriving simply at the end with no mistake,” Pesavento said.  


Polášek’s late scare: Daniel Polášek was heading for fifth place but was ultimately forced to settle for sixth due to steering damage on SS13 allowing Calle Carlberg – the erstwhile leader who was fighting back from a tyre damage on leg one – to get ahead. “I crashed in the same place as Chris Ingram, I went off in the ditch and we broke the steering, so the car was not going straight and it was almost impossible to steer on the right-hand corners,” the Czech said.

Raftery gets set: Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy’s Aoife Raftery (above) warmed-up for the upcoming Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme training camp in Poland by setting two top-five stage times on her way to seventh place.  


Rally Silesia in Poland hosts the deciding round of the 2024 FIA Junior ERC Championship from 13 - 15 October. Keep visiting FIAERC.com for more Junior ERC driver news.

Europe
Starts: Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 7:00:00 AM
Poland
Starts: Friday, October 11, 2024 at 9:30:00 AM
China
Starts: Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 3:00:00 AM