ERC’s opening round features a strong lineup – multiple favorites to win

The organizers of the Hungarian ERC round, which opens the season, have announced the entry list for the event to be held next week.
Hayden Paddon
Hayden Paddon in Action at the Latvian ERC Rally in Summer 2023. Photo by @World/Red Bull Content Pool
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A total of 57 crews have registered for the Rally Hungary. In the main class of the European Rally Championship, 28 drivers will take the start.

The main class boasts a strong lineup, including last season’s European champion Hayden Paddon and Norwegian veteran Mads Östberg. Latvian Martins Sesks and Finnish driver Mikko Heikkilä could also be strong contenders in Hungary.

Sesks and Heikkilä will compete this season with Toyota’s new Rally2 car. Paddon continues in the Hyundai camp, while Östberg will compete as usual with Citroen.

Traditionally, the Hungarian ERC round has been held on tarmac, but this time it will be a gravel rally, organized in the western part of the country around the city of Veszprém. There is no detailed information about the route yet, but the rally could be challenging.

“Will ERC Rally Hungary be the European Safari Rally? The route is not yet known but a stage with the same title as this is on the itinerary. Looks interesting for sure,” RallyJournal.com’s route expert Antti Loponen wrote on X and shared the video below.

Rally Hungary will be held from April 12th to 14th.

Check out the full entrylist of the event here.

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