MRF Tyres is plotting a significant shake-up of its European Rally Championship lineup for 2027, after winning four of the last five teams’ titles.
Speaking to David Evans on the latest episode of DirtFish’s SPIN, The Rally Pod, Vivek Ponnusamy hinted at ambitious plans for the Indian manufacturer’s next ERC campaign, potentially involving two teams combining established stars with emerging talent.
“It will be a mega surprise,” Ponnusamy said.
“There will be benchmark drivers who will be in ERC, who will drag the junior drivers along with them.”
Pressed on whether those drivers have competed in the WRC before, Ponnusamy replied: “Yes, and drivers will drive the WRC next year and also drive ERC next year.”
He believes the ERC’s increasingly competitive nature makes it an attractive proposition for WRC drivers seeking additional seat time, particularly with the regulation change for 2027.
“Thanks to the new promoter, the quality of ERC is as good as the WRC2,” Ponnusamy added.
“The intensity of the competition is so high in ERC. Similarly in WRC, WRC gives you a little breather because it’s a three and a half day rally, whereas ERC is like two days, bang, bang, bang. It’s no time to rest, it’s full on.
“Having the WRC drivers driving in ERC will also uplift the quality on the competition level.
“And with the new car regulation, which we have seen, the engine is the same. OK, the other bits and pieces are different, and you know much better than me because you are in that every day.
“But this will also give a lot of seat time for the WRC drivers as well. So that is why they are all like, ‘Vivek, can we talk?’”
While remaining tight-lipped on potential signings, Ponnusamy suggested further details could emerge in February.
The full SPIN conversation also explores MRF’s remarkable rise in European rallying, its relationship with Mārtiņš Sesks, future tire development and a spirited debate over whether modern rally tires have become too sophisticated.
You can watch the full episode on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
