World awaits Junior ERC champion Johansson

With next month’s Rally Silesia still to run, the 19-year-old can’t be caught in the title chase and therefore becomes the recipient of a fully-funded prize drive in next season’s Junior WRC.  

Having claimed a one-off victory on his Junior WRC debut at home in Sweden in February, Johansson, who is co-driven by compatriot Johan Grönvall, is already in the frame for more success.

“We did a great job over the winter, trying to build confidence and trying to be better at everything and we also won Junior WRC in Sweden,” Hankook-equipped Johansson said. “Now we are in Junior WRC for a full season next year and I’m really happy about that. It’s an incredible prize.”  

Johansson follows Norbert Maior (2023) and Laurent Pellier (2022) as the latest recipient of the Junior WRC prize drive for winning the Junior ERC title. He also joins a long list of emerging talents who captured the ERC’s young drive crown before progressing in the sport.   

FIA Junior ERC roll of honour

2014: Stéphane Lefebvre (France), Peugeot 208 R2
2015: Emil Bergkvist (Sweden), Opel Adam R2
2016: Marijan Griebel (Germany), Opel Adam R2
2017: Chris Ingram (Great Britain), Opel Adam R2
2018: Mārtiṇš Sesks (Latvia), Opel Adam R2
2019: Efrén Llarena (Spain), Peugeot 208 R2
2020: Ken Torn (Estonia), Ford Fiesta Rally4
2021: Jean-Baptiste Franceschi (France), Renault Clio Rally4
2022: Laurent Pellier (France), Opel Corsa Rally4  
2023: Norbert Maior (Romania), Peugeot 208 Rally4
2024: Mille Johansson (Sweden), Opel Corsa Rally4
2025: ?

Sesks still the youngest Junior ERC champion
Mārtiṇš Sesks can still claim to being the youngest champion in the history of Junior ERC. The Latvian was 19 years and five days old when he took title gold on Rally Poland in 2018. Mille Johansson was 19 years, four months and three days when he secured the Junior ERC crown on Rali Ceredigion yesterday.