Ranked as one of the world’s fastest events, BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia puts the ERC stars and their cars through their paces on high-speed, loose-surface stages described as being “smoother than a dancefloor” by home hero Isak Reiersen.

Based in Karlstad in Sweden’s Värmland from May 29-31, round three of the 2025 ERC season is not only about driving flat out – it’s also about the crowning of a new king.

Having won the first two editions, Oliver Solberg’s FIA World Rally Championship testing commitments mean no hat-trick bid from the Swede.

Instead, it falls to his childhood friend Reiersen (below), 21, and 2024 Junior ERC champion Mille Johansson, 20, to take on the home fight for the golden throne.

Reiersen, who hails from Karlstad and claimed Junior ERC honours on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, said: “It's very important, it’s my home rally, everyone is around me. They’re not stages I’ve grown up on, but they’re really close and are some of Sweden’s nicest stages. The target has to be the top three.”

After tackling last month’s Spanish ERC opener in a Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, Johansson (below) has upgraded to the Czech manufacturer’s Fabia RS Rally2 for his home event.

“I thought we was going to be more far off the pace [in Spain] but on some stages I was really close to winning,” said Johansson who, like Reiersen, uses Hankook tyres. “I was surprised by that and for this round we change cars to the RS. It’s really encouraging and a big opportunity.”

While Oliver Solberg won’t be competing, his 52-year-old uncle Henning will be in action on the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia stages. He’s one of four Norwegian drivers taking part along with Eyvind Brynildsen, Mads Østberg and Frank Tore Larsen.

Home heroes aside, the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia entry includes Michelin’s ERC points leader Miko Marczyk, Pirelli-equipped Andrea Mabellini and Roope Korhonen who scored a debut ERC victory in Hungary earlier this month at wheel of a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 on MRF tyres.

Simone Tempestini, Junior ERC graduate Max McRae and inaugural Junior ERC champion Stéphane Lefebvre are also equipped with MRF tyres, while Jon Armstrong flies the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team flag for what will be his third BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia.

Jos Verstappen, the ex-grand prix racer and father of four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, will battle Dariusz Biedrzyński, Sasa Ollé, Henning Solberg and Martin Vlček for Master ERC honours.

Igor Widłak, Tristan Charpentier and Hubert Kowalczyk are among the contenders for FIA ERC3 success, while Swede Victor Hansen has his sights on winning FIA ERC4. Visit FIAERC.com on Tuesday for the support championship preview.

BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia route in short
BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia features a new fan-focused loop system with drivers

tackling two stages twice in quick succession on Friday and Saturday to reduce the waiting time for the thousands of spectators watching the forest-based action.

Friday morning’s route heads west from Karlstad starts for the 9.65-kilometre Grönlund stage from 07:51 local time. ERC newcomer Värmskog, widely regarded as one of the best rally stages in western Värmland, is next from 08:38. Grönlund and Värmskog are then repeated from 09:48 and 10:35 respectively prior to midday service at the Norra Fältet in Karlstad.

The well-known Gårdsjö stage near Sunne launches the Friday afternoon action from 13:54 and is followed by Colins, complete with the iconic Colin’s Crest arena section, from 14:48. As in the morning, the afternoon stages are repeated from 15:51 with no service break in between.

BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia heads east from Karlstad on Saturday with the new loop system once again in place. Ängebäckstorp is up first 07:18 ahead of the new Bjurerud stage. Ängebäckstorp is repeated from 09:09 with Bjurerud used for a second time from 09:59 after which crews return to Karlstad for service.

The Saturday afternoon loop comprises twin visits to Royal Forest, the rally’s longest stage at 20.14 kilometres, and Ölme. The Royal Forest times are 12:14 and 13:58, while Ölme runs at 13:05 and at 16:05 when it forms the bonus points-paying Power Stage.

Before all this, however, the all-new SS Bråtebäcken super special stage provides the first competitive test from 18:23 on Thursday with the finish inside the spectacular LBC Arena just minutes from Karlstad city centre.

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.

BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia 2025: the key numbers
Stages: 17
Stage distance: 184.38 kilometres
Total distance: 929.28 kilometres