Six years on from staging one of the most memorable title deciders in FIA ERC history, ERC Staff House Rally Hungary forms round two of the eight-event 2025 season and the first of the current campaign to use loose-surface stages.

While it was an all-Tarmac affair when Chris Ingram became European champion on the final stage in 2019, Rally Hungary’s move to the city of Veszprém for 2024 signalled a switch from asphalt to gravel. There was also changing of the guard with Simone Tempestini claiming a standout maiden FIA ERC win.

One year on from that breakthrough success, Tempestini might have his sights firmly set on back-to-back victories, but the 30-year-old from Romania is fully aware of the tough challenge in store.

“There are sections that are open and wide where you can see what is ahead,” said the Team MRF Tyres driver. “But, at the same time, you really have to take care about bumps and stones and the really high speed. Then you go in other stages that a completely different with a soft surface and many surprises. The victory was beautiful to get but we try to make more victories.”

Tempestini faces opposition from 28 drivers in the Rally2-based ERC1 category, including five fellow ERC event winners, plus several homegrown talents. Among them is Miklós Csomós, who finished third in 2024.

“The race is a bit later than last year, so the stages will be even more challenging with the heat so I’m expecting a survival race,” said Csómos. “The winner will not necessarily be the fastest driver, but the one who makes the fewest mistakes. And that’s very important, because there are 10 or 15 drivers who have a chance of winning.”

Powered by a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Roope Korhonen, the 2023 FIA WRC3 title winner and reigning Finnish champion who joins Csómos and Tempestini in the Team MRF Tyres line-up, heads the entry, followed by Pirelli-equipped Andrea Mabellini (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2).

One-time FIA WRC event winner Mads Østberg, whose Citroën C3 Rally2 runs on Michelin tyres, double Polish champion Miko Marczyk, Dominik Stříteský, the winner of the 2024 Czech championship, and rising Swedish talent Isak Reiersen also appear on the packed entry list, as do M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Jon Armstrong and Polish prospect Jakub Matulka.

Jos Verstappen, who claimed his first Formula One podium in the 1994 Hungarian Grand Prix, continues his maiden ERC campaign on the back of finishing as the top FIA Master ERC driver on the 42nd Rally Sierra Morena - Córdoba Patrimonio de la Humanidad last month to lead the standings. Three-time Hungarian champion András Hadik is expected to rival the Dutchman, for whom VI Rally Hungary marks only his second competitive appearance on gravel.

Norbert Maior and Max McRae step up from FIA Junior ERC to Rally2 level for the first time with both drivers taking category wins on Rally Hungary in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

In addition to the ERC1 contenders, a record 13 drivers are entered in the Rally3-based FIA ERC3 division, with 23 competing in FIA ERC4, which caters for Rally4 and Rally5 machinery. Of the ERC4 contingent, 21 are eligible for the Hankook-equipped FIA Junior ERC Championship, while nine drivers are in contention for the various incentives up for grabs in the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy.

ERC Staff House Rally Hungary route in short
Using tough – and rough in places – gravel stages around the city of Veszprém, east of the Hungarian capital Budapest, including several within a military training complex, organisers have prepared a largely unchanged itinerary compared to 2024.

The Hajmáskér Qualifying Stage is up first from 14:16 local time on Friday 9 May with the Királyszentistván head-to-head super special stage next from 18:05.

Following on Saturday 10 May are twin visits to the Hegyesd, Kislőtér and Várpalota stages run either side of service at the Veszprém Aréna.

Leg two on Sunday 11 May features three repeated stages, Iszka, Tés, Nagylőtér. The 15.54-kilometre Nagylőtér test forms the Power Stage when it’s repeated at 17:05, while Kislőtér is the longest stage of VI Rally Hungary at 25.70 kilometres.

“Rally Hungary is massively tough,” said ERC stage winner and podium finisher Jon Armstrong. “The only way to describe it is like a mini Safari. Okay, you don’t have the fesh-fesh but there’s a lot of undulation in terms of jumps into crests and dips. You have a lot of bedrock so it’s tough on the tyres. It’s based out of the military area of Hungary and the roads are quite beaten up. The suspension is tested to the maximum.”

How to watch?
Fans across the globe can experience the excitement and drama of the ERC with every stage of every rally broadcast Rally.tv platform. In addition, the ERC is broadcast in a number of countries around the world and fans are advised to check local listings for details.

ERC Staff House Rally Hungary 2025: the key numbers
Stages: 13
Stage distance: 193.06 kilometres
Total distance: 828.32 kilometres