The 57th edition of the Rally RACC de Catalunya will be scored for both the WRC and the ERC. In a World Cup key, the test will have 67 crews, while in the European section there will be 21 registered.
The 2022 WRC season still has two rounds to go, the first of which the 57th edition of the Rally RACC de Catalunya. With a future in the championship uncertain, the organizers of the Spanish round have published the double registration list Of the test. On the one hand, 67 crews will contest the full rally by being entered on the WRC list. Also, another 21 vehicles compete within the ERC.
A total of twelve ‘Rally1’ hybrids will meet in the Spanish stages. Four of them will sport the Toyota logo. the newly crowned Kalle Rovanperä leads the team of the Japanese brand, with Elfyn Evans and Sébastien Ogier as companions. The Frenchman repeats in the third Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 after the extension of his program. For his part, Takamoto Katsuta compete with the ‘B’ team after seeing their streak of rally finishes in the points come to an end in New Zealand.
The 21 crews registered in the ERC will only compete in the stages on Friday and Saturday
There is no surprise from Hyundai, as the brand already announced its driver line-up for the RACC Rally several weeks ago. Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville will play the runner-up between them in a fight that should fuel the brand’s options. For its part, Dani Sordo completes Hyundai’s bid at homewith the aim of maintaining its run of podium finishes to help the brand in the fight for the constructors’ title.
M-Sport returns to its five-car bet which has been cut short in recent rallies due to logistics and the mishaps of Adrien Fourmaux. Thus appear the three full-time drivers of the brand with the first three Ford Puma Rally1. Beside Craig Breen, Gus Greensmith and Adrien Fourmaux they will also be Pierre-Louis Loubet and Jourdan Serderidis.
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More than thirty ‘Rally2’ in WRC2
The WRC2 category regains its pulse and in Spain it once again has great competition. Yohan Rossel is back and the title is played directly against Kajetan Kajetanowiczthe only one of the leaders present in New Zealand. Teemu Suninen, Emil Lindholm or Nikolay Gryazin They will be uncomfortable rivals for both, as will Jari Huttunen. Sami Pajari returns to silver class, with Stéphane Sarrazin as a special guest.
the spanish squad is called to war. Pepe Lopez will compete with his Hyundai i20 N Rally2, the same vehicle he will use Nil Solans. His brother Jan will get behind the wheel of a Citroën C3 Rally2, just like Alexander Cachonone of the great revelations of the Spanish rally quarry. Eduard Pons and Miguel Diaz-Aboitiz with the Skoda they complete the list of Spaniards in the silver category.
‘ERC Section’
Efrén Llarena is the headliner among those registered in the ERC, category that is integrated into the rally during the first two stages. Among the European names present at the RACC Rally we find Yoan Bonato or Alessandro Battistoli. Naturally, there is also a large Spanish presence with Xevi Pons or with Joan Vinyes and Alberto Monarrieternal Suzuki pilots.
Beyond internal competition, it will be very interesting to see the competitive level of Efrén Llarena and company during the first two stages compared to the WRC drivers who have the same vehicles as them. Without a doubt, an interesting test that will especially serve Llarena to find out if he is ready to make the leap to the World Cup after winning the European Championship.
Photos: Red Bull Content Pool