New ERC Open category for 2022 confirmed

The FIA European Rally Championship’s all-inclusive status has been further underlined with confirmation of the new ERC Open category for 2022. Exclusively for Rally2 Kit, homologated Group N4 and RGT cars, ERC Open has been established by WRC Promoter, the ERC’s new promoter from this season.

It’s a recognition of the growing interest in the Rally2 Kit regulations, plus demand from drivers eager to compete at international level in Group N4 and RGT machinery. ERC Open will use the same points allocation as the other ERC categories with competitors counting their best six results from eight rounds.

Iain Campbell, the ERC Manager, said: “As well as being the established launchpad for drivers aiming for the very top of the sport stepping up from national level, the ERC is a championship for all-comers and ERC Open very much reflects this. Having monitored the rise in popularity of Rally2 Kit, it was important to continue to provide an outlet for these cars and their drivers and teams to compete internationally.

It’s also very clear there is still an appetite for Group N4 and RGT cars and with the FIA RGT Cup appearing on three rounds of the ERC this year, it was a logical step to include RGT cars in ERC Open.” Perfect kit for ERC Rally2 Kit offers lower-cost, four-wheel-drive action and encourages technical ingenuity by independent operators. Examples of Rally2 Kit cars – which come with a ‘kit’ of performance parts from official supplier ORECA – used in the ERC in 2021 included the Škoda Fabia, Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris.

An Audi A1 quattro from Mattias Ekström’s EKS JC team in partnership with South African firm Rally Technic, has also been developed and tested by former ERC Junior champion Emil Bergkvist. Iconic