IT’S 15 AND COUNTING FOR ERC-BOUND VOLKSWAGEN POLO R5
The FIA European Rally Championship debut of the Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 has moved a step closer after it was announced that sales of the exciting new machine have reached the 15 mark. Designed and built by the same team behind Volkswagen’s domination of the world championship from 2013-2016, the Polo GTI R5 is earmarked for customer use with the all-action ERC a likely destination for the car from next season. Click for full story.
 
POLE PIENIAZEK SIGNS UP FOR HOME ERC RUN
ERC Junior graduate Łukasz Pieniazek will be back on FIA European Rally Championship duty when his native Poland returns to the all-action schedule. Pieniazek followed fellow young talents such as Fabio Andolfi, Emil Bergkvist and Stéphane Lefebvre by stepping up to the world championship after gaining experience – and results – in the Pirelli-supported ERC Junior category for R2 cars. Click for full story.
 
MIRACLES WOULD DO NICELY FOR MAGALHÃES AS ERC TITLE TEST INCREASES 
Bruno Magalhães remains in contention to win the FIA European Rally Championship despite being unable to prevent Alexey Lukyanuk from growing his title lead. While Lukyanuk battled home hero Jan Kopecký for the outright victory, SEAJETS-backed Magalhães was a distant ninth at the finish. The Portuguese ace explained why – on this occasion – he could not take the fight to those who would ultimately set the pace but that giving up is not part of the plan. Click for full story.
 
TRUE SPORTSMAN KREIM HOLDS ERC JUNIOR U28 LEAD
Fabian Kreim’s main concern after finishing runner-up to Nikolay Gryzin in the FIA ERC Junior Under 28 Championship battle on Barum Czech Rally Zlín last month was the wellbeing of Filip Mareš and Jan Hloušek. The Czechs were ahead of Kreim and his co-driver Frank Christian starting the final stage but crashed heavily to hand the ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland pair second spot in class and sixth overall on an event Kreim described as the “toughest rally” of his life. Click for full story.
 
MONTEIRO: ZLÍN EXPERIENCE GOOD FOR MY ERC FUTURE
Aloísio Monteiro will turn his Barum Czech Rally Zlín negative into a positive in next season’s FIA European Rally Championship, which he has announced plans to contest. The Portuguese suffered late despair in Czech Republic last month when a fuel pump failure put him out on the final stage of the rain-affected event. But with his focus already turning to 2019, Monteiro’s Zlin debut wasn’t entirely without reward as he gained valuable experience for next season. Click for full story.