M-Sport Poland has launched a European Rally Championship-based one-make series for its Ford Fiesta Rally3.
Fiesta Rally3 Trophy will run across five rounds of the ERC and offer its winner a funded drive on next season’s Central European Rally round of the world championship in a Fiesta Rally3.
The series, which is aimed at paving the way from national to international competition, is open to drivers of all ages and levels of experience and comes with incentives and prizes from each of the five rounds.
All drivers will use the same specification Pirelli tire and Gulf Race fuel. Both companies offer discounted packages. The winner of each Fiesta Rally3 Trophy event will secure 12 new Pirellis for use on the next event, the runner-up will receive six new tires with two going to the third-place finisher.
Gulf Race Fuels will reward the winner of each round with 300 liters of Gulf MSR EVO2 fuel. Second and third-placed crews will receive 150 and 50 liters respectively.
The overall Fiesta Rally3 Trophy champion will enjoy a funded entry on CER.
Drivers can use their own cars or a car supplied by a team, with M-Sport Poland attending all five rounds with its fully stocked spares vehicle, limiting the number of spares needed to be transported by individual competitors.
ERC championship manager Iain Campbell said: “The Fiesta Rally3 has been a welcome addition to ERC events since it came on stream in 2021. It’s clearly proving attractive, both in terms of its high-performance levels, but also its lower operating costs.
“It’s therefore a great pleasure to welcome the Fiesta Rally3 Trophy competitors on five rounds of the European championship in 2024. We are in no doubt that the Fiesta Rally3 Trophy will be a big success and provide yet another incentive to compete in the ERC.”
M-Sport Poland board member Maciej Woda added: “The Fiesta Rally3 Trophy is a totally new one-make series that I hope will help reward and encourage the next generation of drivers that are destined for the top of our sport.
“At M-Sport Poland, we are in contact with drivers on a daily basis. One-make series were once the core of M-Sport Poland’s business and I remember the thrill and excitement of seeing so many talented drivers from a variety of backgrounds.
“It became apparent to us that with the popularity of the Fiesta Rally3, there needed to be a supported trophy-style competition to help highlight who we should be supporting in the near future.
“We are seeing some incredible results from the Fiesta Rally3 Evo at the moment. I am sure the entrants for next year’s Fiesta Rally3 Trophy will keep on adding to that list.”
To be eligible for the Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, competitors must first register for the FIA ERC3 Championship and then enter the series through M-Sport Poland.
Rally Hungary, which switches from asphalt to gravel in 2024, opens the inaugural Fiesta Rally3 Trophy season from April 12-14. Rally Estonia (July 5-7), Rally di Roma Capitale (July 26-28), Barum Czech Rally Zlín (August 16-18) and Poland’s Rally Silesia (October 11-13) follow.
