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Yoann Bonato  

Simone Campedelli  

Castrol MEM Rally Team  

Miko Marczyk  

Homage paid to the Citroën Xsara WRC
Yoann Bonato won Rally Islas Canarias in May while paying homage to the mainly blue and red colour scheme that first adorned the Citroën Xsara WRCs competing in the FIA World Rally Championship 21 years ago. He said: “The car looks like the old Citroën Xsara WRC with the same blue and red, the white band at the front and the yellow, orange and white close to the windscreens. It was with this car that Citroën took its first WRC victory [in 2001] and these colours were [first used 21] years ago. The Xsara is a special car for the history of Citroën. The chicken on the side? Well, that’s the symbol of [my sponsor] Igol and France.”

Pink is the colour
Simone Campedelli used Rally di Roma Capitale to shine a spotlight on female empowerment through his sponsor Orange1 Holding’s Orange1 for Women initiative. According to Orange1 Holding, “the aim of Orange1 for Women is to actively promote inclusion and support for women. Through all its divisions, Orange1 is committed to creating an environment that values women’s skills and talents, offering concrete opportunities for growth and development.” To highlight the initiative, Campedelli and co-driver Tania Canton’s Step Five Motorsport-run Fabia featured a special pink-based livery. They also wore predominantly pink overalls for the occasion.

Step back in time
When the Castrol MEM Rally Team unleashed its pair of Toyota GR Yaris Rally2s onto the stages of JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion it revived memories of the famous red, white and green livery that flanked the Toyota Corolla WRCs of the 1990s. Meirion Evans, who finished ninth on the Tarmac event as team-mate to Chris Ingram, said: “This opportunity is the most exciting one I’ve had in my career. For us as a team to be trusted by Toyota Gazoo Racing to bring the first Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 into the UK means a lot to us and to re-establish the iconic Castrol Toyota link and livery is phenomenal, not only for us but for rallying in this country.”

Taking the next step
The work of renowned Polish designer Michał Podsiadło, the mainly blue and dark red livery used by ORLEN-backed Miko Marczyk in this year’s ERC was a return to the blue-based look he ran in the championship in 2020 and 2021 after he adopted a red and white design in 2022 and 2023. But it was also the next step in livery excellence with the striking colour scheme earning plenty of plaudits. And fans visiting Rally Silesia in Poland next month can see the livery for real when Marczyk and co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk contest their home ERC counter. “My first Polish title was there and I think we can show some good speed and fight for second place in the championship,” Marczyk said.  

Fans can choose their favourite livery design via the ERC’s social media channels.  

ERC championship manager Iain Campbell said: “We’re really pleased to be bringing back the ERC fan awards for 2024. They’ve proved really popular since we introduced them in 2022 and it’s great to give the fans the opportunity to have their say. From looking at the list of nominees I can see the voting being really close and I look forward to seeing the final results.”  

Visit FIAERC.com tomorrow to find out who’s up for the Stage-end Quote of the Year and a reminder that the awards will be presented at the ERC Awards night in Poland on 14 October.