FIA ERC Rally Sporting Pyramid in short - what's new 2022 08.03.2022: The FIA Sporting Pyramid delivers a structured path of progression within the ERC and WRC with the route a driver can take as he or she rises up the ranks clearly defined.

The FIA Sporting Pyramid delivers a structured path of progression within the ERC and WRC with the route a driver can take as he or she rises up the ranks clearly defined.

At the same time, the titles of the various categories within the ERC and WRC have been aligned to improve understanding and make the sport easier to follow.


ERC4: The FIA Rally Sporting Pyramid begins with the ERC4 category for drivers competing in Rally4 or Rally5 cars. There’s also a Junior class (ERC4 Junior) for drivers 27 or under at the start of each season.


ERC3: From ERC4, a driver progresses to ERC3 for their first taste of four-wheel drive in Rally3 cars.


ERC: At this stage, a driver can continue their pursuit of success and experience in the ERC by stepping up to the ERC category for Rally2 cars, which remains a destination in itself. Or they can switch sideways to WRC3 for Rally3 cars where Open and Junior classes exist. WRC2 (Open and Junior) is next, with the headlining Rally1 category the target.


FIA ERC4: This is front-wheel-drive hot-hatch rallying at its best with the Ford Fiesta Rally4, Opel Corsa Rally4, Peugeot 208 Rally4 and Renault Clio Rally4 the main players. Competition-ready Rally4 cars use naturally-aspirated or turbocharged engines generating around 210bhp and sequential gearboxes. Entry-level Rally5 cars, like the Clio Rally5, are designed to be less technically advanced and therefore more affordable to run.


FIA ERC4 Junior: For drivers aged 27 and under on 1 January 2022 in Rally4 and Rally5 cars using Pirelli tyres.


FIA ERC3: An accessible route into four-wheel drive, Rally3 cars, of which M-Sport Poland’s Ford Fiesta Rally3 was the first to hit the market, will be faster and even more fun to drive from 2022 after the FIA World Motor Sport Council approved a power hike.


The size of the turbo restrictor has been adjusted by 1mm from 30mm to 31mm, which is the equivalent of a power rise of approximately 15hp.



FIA ERC: For FIA-homologated cars conforming to Rally2 (formerly R5) regulations. That means 1.6-litre turbocharged engines, 32mm restrictors to control power (to around 290bhp), four-wheel drive, five-speed gearboxes and price caps to keep design and build expenditure in check.


Think Citroën C3 Rally2, Ford Fiesta Rally2, Hyundai i20 N Rally2, Proton Iriz R5, Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 and more.



FIA ERC Teams: To score points in the FIA European Rally Championship for Teams, competitors must register in ERC, ERC3 or ERC4 under a team name. A maximum of three cars may be registered for the purpose of scoring Team points.



A registered Team can score points with the two best-placed cars of its Team in the final classification of each rally. For the purpose of calculating points, cars driven by ERC4 priority drivers will score points within their own group.



ERC Open: Exclusively for Rally2 Kit, homologated Group N4 and RGT cars. 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.



In addition to Rally2 Kit cars, ERC Open caters for some of rallying’s most iconic names through Group N4 and RGT. Group N4 is the domain of the Mitsubishi Lancer and Subaru Impreza, while the Abarth 124 rally, Alpine A110 RGT and Porsche 997 GT3 are built to RGT regulations.





WHAT’S NEW FOR 2022



An exciting new era is about to begin in the FIA European Rally Championship with a game-changing live and on-demand coverage package for fans just for starters.


In less than a week from now (11-13 March), Rally Serras de Fafe - Felgueiras - Cabreira e Boticas in northern Portugal will host the 2022 season opener. Here’s a reminder of what’s new for the year ahead:
NEW: Every stage from each round streamed live and on-demand for fans to watch whenever, wherever and however they want through WRC Promoter’s WRC+ streaming platform at http://wrcplus.com/


NEW: Power Stage on all rounds, follows the same successful format used in the FIA World Rally Championship with live television and points awarded to the fastest five drivers


NEW: Following the creation of a two-tier structure in 2017, ERC Junior is streamlined and run as the FIA ERC4 Junior Championship for Rally4 and Rally5 cars equipped with tyres from official partner Pirelli. Drivers must be under 27 on 1 January 2022 to take part


NEW: FIA ERC3 is for Rally3 cars only


NEW: FIA ERC4 is for Rally4 and Rally5 cars


NEW: ERC Open replaces ERC2 and is for Rally2 Kit, RGT and Group N4 cars


NEW: Free Practice and Qualifying Stage is for drivers in Rally2 cars only


NEW: The top 15 drivers on the Qualifying Stage, all FIA Priority Drivers, any driver appearing in the top 15 of the final ERC standings in 2021 or appearing in the top 15 of the provisional ERC standings of the current season are required to choose their starting position for the opening leg of an event


NEW: At the end of leg one, the top 15 (rather than the top 10) are reseeded for leg two


NEW: Bonus points are no longer awarded at the end of each leg of an ERC event


NEW: To score ERC points, drivers must use tyres supplied by a manufacturer registered with the FIA and WRC Promoter under a new system from 2022. The registered tyre companies are MICHELIN, MRF and Pirelli


NEW: All events take place from Friday-Sunday with the exception of Rally Islas Canarias, which runs from Thursday-Saturday and also hosts the ERC4 Junior opener




-Marc Wilford, photo FIA ERC