Those vying to be sensational in Silesia include number one seed Hayden Paddon, who’s bidding for back-to-back ERC titles, and the driver who can stop him, the second seed Mathieu Franceschi.
After seven action-packed rounds, BRC Racing Team driver Paddon tops the title order in his Pirelli-equipped Hyundai i20 N Rally2 with Franceschi, whose AMD Motorsport Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 runs on Michelin tyres, 27 points behind with 35 still to fight for in Poland.
While the ERC title is out of reach for Michelin-supported Miko Marczyk (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), the double Polish champion can still finish runner-up in the final standings as he chases a third win on an event he tackled four times previously before its elevation to the ERC for 2024.
Andrea Mabellini (above) and Simone Tempestini will fly the flag for Team MRF Tyres in a pair of Škoda Fabia RS Rally2s, the latter back at the wheel of one of the Czech machines having switched to Volkswagen Polo power for last month’s JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion.
Yoann Bonato (below) is making a return of a different kind after injury kept him out of action during the summer. He’s the sole Citroën C3 Rally2 contender and another driver aiming to give Michelin the points it needs to beat Pirelli to the inaugural FIA European Rally Championship for Tyre Suppliers.
Jon Armstrong heads to Rally Silesia on the back of recording his maiden ERC stage win in Wales last time out. The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-supported driver competes in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 run on Pirelli tyres.
Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) makes his second ERC start at Rally2 level as part of an expanded Team MRF Tyres attack, which also includes Belgian Amaury Molle.
Jakub Matulka steps up to the ERC’s big league for the first time with top Polish championship points a key target for the ERC3 graduate. His compatriot and ERC regular Jarosław Kołtun, completes the top 10 entries followed by emerging Northern Irishman Philip Allen.
Matulka and Kołtun join a strong Polish contingent that also features current national championship leader Jarosław Szeja and Grzegorz Grzyb, a multiple ERC podium finisher. Meanwhile Daniel Chwist is the grandson of three-time European champion Sobiesław Zasada.
Home hope aiming for a season-deciding high in ERC3
Igor Widłak (Ford Fiesta Rally3) starts Rally Silesia hoping he’s the driver to beat in FIA ERC3 on the Tarmac event. But fellow Pole Hubert Kowalczyk, the national RC3 class champion, will be a tough opponent in a Renault Clio Rally3.
Mille Johansson steps up to Rally3 as the winner of the FIA Junior ERC and FIA ERC4 titles. The Swede is using the Polish event to get acquainted to the Fiesta Rally3 on asphalt in preparation for his 2025 Junior WRC prize drive, the teenager’s reward for his Junior ERC success.
Croatia’s Martin Ravenščak has banked two ERC3 podiums this season and will be a firm contender to make it three on Rally Silesia.
Two go for two in Junior ERC
Calle Carlberg (below) and Max McRae will faceoff for the runner-up spot in the Hankook-supplied FIA Junior ERC Championship. Czech Daniel Polášek, plus ACI Team Italia-supported Davide Pesavento will also be chasing strong hauls of Junior ERC points in Poland.
ERC4 contender Chorbiński taking one step back to go forward
Following his standout debut ERC3 podium in Wales last month, Michał Chorbiński returns to Peugeot 208 Rally4 power for his home round of the championship.
Wheelchair user Ciprian Lupu is set to continue to overachieve in his Renault Clio Rally5, while Ekaterina Stratieva is back in action after she was forced to withdraw from the deciding leg on Barum Czech Rally Zlín in August for medical reasons.
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