The battle to win the 2025 FIA European Rally Championship for Drivers continues in Wales this week with the second running of JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion as an ERC event.
Forming the penultimate round of the all-action title chase from 5 – 7 September, JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion provides a spectacular Tarmac test for the ERC season regulars and their counterparts from the Probite British Rally Championship.
In the race to become ERC champion for 2025, Michelin-equipped top seed Miko Marczyk heads Andrea Mabellini by 11 points. But when dropped scores are factored in, Marczyk trails Mabellini by two points, due to the Pole having to discount 13 points from his current total, and Mabellini having zero points to drop following a non-finish earlier in the year.
If Mabellini non-scores in Wales, second place and one Power Stage point would make Marczyk champion. But if the Pole fully falters by not scoring, Mabellini would become Italy’s first outright ERC title winner since Luca Rossetti in 2011, providing he finishes first and takes the maximum five Power Stage points on offer.
“I am open for good competition and I would really like to show the potential of our driving in Wales,” said Pole Marczyk. “I am motivated, it’s the moment of the season where it will be necessary to take more risk.
“It’s a demanding race because of a lot of crests, narrow and fast roads, sometimes some bumps. The most important and tricky thing will be the weather conditions, which can be very mixed and changing a lot. You need to be fast on one tyre in very different conditions. I will fight to the end.”
Italian Mabellini, who runs on Pirelli tyres, said: “Rali Ceredigion means a lot to me because it was my first ERC podium last year. The landscape is amazing with many parts that are very narrow and tricky with one line to follow.
“It’s demanding and it’s not easy to understand what is going on with the weather so for sure the tyre choice will be a key feature. As we saw last year the Qualifying Stage will be important because if you can start in the front, you can have an advantage. We will fight for the title and have a good contender in Miko.”
Talent-packed entry ready for Welsh action
After beating Marczyk and Mabellini on Barum Czech Rally Zlín last month, Jon Armstrong will push for a maiden ERC victory. The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver, who has an outside chance of snatching European championship glory, is entered ahead of Polish talent Jakub Matulka, the ERC3 winner on JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion last season, and Hankook-shod Master ERC contender Martin Vlček from Czech Republic.
Max McRae, nephew of rallying legend Colin McRae, claimed the ERC4 and Junior ERC honours in Wales 12 months ago. He’s in his first year of ERC1 competition following two seasons in Junior ERC.
ERC stage winner Philip Allen, double Irish Tarmac champion Callum Devine (Team MRF Tyres), British points leader and 2023 Junior WRC champion William Creighton and leading Welshman Meirion Evans will also be in action, as will two-time Rali Ceredigion winner Osian Pryce and 2024 Junior WRC champion Romet Jürgenson.
