It won’t just be drivers gunning for championship glory in the European Rally Championship next season, as a tire manufacturer’s trophy has been added for 2024.
Championship titles are usually reserved for drivers and co-drivers, or manufacturers and teams as is the case in the World Rally Championship.
But unlike the WRC, the ERC is an open-tire formula (aside from Junior ERC which runs a control tire) with four tire manufacturers currently competing – Pirelli, Michelin, MRF and Hankook.
From next year, each tire company registered as an official partner in the ERC will be registered for the new championship, where the two highest-placed cars on each manufacturer’s rubber will score points – just like how the manufacturers’ championship works in the WRC.
The addition of the tire manufacturer trophy was driven by WRC Promoter and approved at the latest FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting.
“In WRC we have the manufacturers title. ERC is a customer championship, and the support of the four tire manufacturers has brought a lot to the championship in 2023,” ERC championship manager Iain Campbell told DirtFish.
“They are the most competitive beasts I have ever met. So it is a reward to them.
“We do per event rewards just now, but now they have a FIA award to go for in 2024.”
