Vote for your ERC stage-end quote of the year

With all ERC stages broadcast live, there have been plenty of memorable quotes from stoplines throughout the 2024 season. The shortlist appears below and a reminder to follow the ERC’s social media channels to vote.  

Johan Kristoffersson, BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia  

Efrén Llarena, Rally di Roma Capitale  

Hayden Paddon, Rally di Roma Capitale  

Petter Solberg, BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia

Kristoffersson’s homologated diaper call 
Somewhat alarmed by the high-speed BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia roads on his comeback to the sport, World Rallycross star Johan Kristoffersson told ERC stage-end reporter Peter MacKay at the completion of SS2, Grönlund, that he would need some help from motorsport’s world governing body. Sweden’s greatest motorsport all-rounder said: “Oh my god! I need FIA-approved diapers for rally. We almost went off in the first corner of the stage.”

When Llarena’s got to go…
Efrén Llarena returned to the ERC podium for the first time in more than a year on Rally di Roma Capitale. But he had to make a little stop on the way as he explained to Peter MacKay following SS6, Santopadre - Fontana Liri: “I come in so fast because I need to go to the toilet.”

Paddon makes time for sightseeing
As super special stages go, few compare to Rally di Roma Capitale’s traditional opening test, Colosseo ACI Roma, which runs in front of the world-famous Colosseum. ERC champion Hayden Paddon, with co-driver John Kennard by his side, was impressed: “It’s one of the coolest [super specials] you do. The stage is irrelevant here, it’s all about the location. I said to John, ‘welcome to Paddon’s tours, five bucks, hop in, there’s a pretty building on the right-hand side’.”

Solberg’s one word said it all
Peter Solberg had one thing to say after Peter MacKay told him there was smoke and fire coming from the engine bay of his Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 following 2.23 kilometres of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia: “Fire!”, before the 2003 world champion drove off in full panic mode.  

Fans can vote for their stage-end quote of the year 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 has been nominated for the Most Improved Driver of the Year and a reminder that the awards will be presented at the ERC Awards night in Poland on 14 October.