Érdi Jr’s engine hell: Tibor Érdi Jr had done the hard part by completing the final stage of Rally Rzeszow in 2017 at the head of the FIA ERC2 Championship order. But when his Mitsubishi Lancer’s engine failed on the stopline of the last run, the Hungarian experienced heartbreak hell of Halloween proportions as he was forced to retire.
No treat pictured for Cais: Erik Cais was leading by 20.2sec starting the final stage of Barum Czech Rally Zlín in 2021. Then a crash approximately 13 kilometres from start of the deciding 25.43km Májová stage meant heartbreak for Cais and co-driver Jindřiška Žáková, who climbed out of their overturned car uninjured.
Heikkilä’s gruesome Power Stage: In front by 2.8sec with just the Power Stage remaining, Mikko Heikkilä (below) was on course to win the 2023 season-opening Rally Serras de Fafe, Felgueiras, Boticas, Vieira do Minho e Cabeceiras de Basto. But when the Finn stopped to change a damaged front-left tyre less than five kilometres from the finish line, victory went to Hayden Paddon as Heikkilä plummeted down to eighth place.
Hellish in Hungary for Heikkilä…: There was despair for Mikko Heikkilä on an ERC season opener for the second year running. The Finn led April’s V-Híd Rally Hungary overnight by 6.3sec and was still ahead – by 10.1sec – when a broken wheel dropped him out of first place during the third stage of the final leg.
…and for Csomós too: Hungarian hero Miklós Csomós was on course for a sensational home ERC victory on Rally Hungary in 2023. With his lead standing at 15.1sec prior to the penultimate stage, home hopes were high only for Csomós to crash at high speed one kilometre from the start of the Óhuta-Fony repeat. Although Csomós and co-driver Viktor Bán were uninjured, their stunning run was at an end just as a sensational maiden ERC victory seemed a formality.
Things that go bump in the night: The 2019 FIA European Rally Championship went down to the wire on Rally Hungary. With one stage remaining, Alexey Lukyanuk (below) was in the ascendancy, leading the event by almost two minutes and within touching distance of back-to-back ERC titles. But in the Hungarian darkness, a puncture robbed Lukyanuk as Chris Ingram European champion for the first time.
Freaky in Fafe: Seventh place was Norbert Herczig’s for the taking when Rally Serras de Fafe - Felgueiras - Cabreira e Boticas opened the 2022 ERC season. On route to the Power Stage, however, Herczig and co-driver Igor Bacigál got lost and were forced to retire in what went down as a freak occurrence in northern Portugal.
Badiu’s terror time: The last thing Raul Badiu needed to happen was for his Dacia Logan’s steering wheel to fall off mid-stage on Sibiu Rally Romania. That’s exactly what happened during stage 10 of the all-gravel event back in 2013.
Hunter Franceschi becomes the haunted: Hunting down his third consecutive ERC podium of the 2024 season, it all went wrong for Mathieu Francescchi (above) on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia back in June when he crashed out on the Power Stage.
Weather turns almost spooky: Things got almost spooky on Delfi Rally Estonia in July when heavy rain and strong winds swept through prior to the Power Stage to the extent the usual podium celebrations were cancelled. Amid the disruption Georg Linnamäe beat his friend and fellow Estonian Robert Virves to victory.
Japan
Poland
Turkey