ERC
Korhonen goes for gravel gains in ERC
Roope Korhonen has become the latest rising star to take on the challenge of the upcoming gravel rounds of the FIA European Rally Championship.
The 26-year-old Finnish champion will contest VI Rally Hungary, BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia and ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 run by Sports Racing Technologies and equipped with MRF tyres.
“It’s awesome that we got some more rallies added to the calendar,” said the Rautio Motorsport-managed driver. “We’ve already started preparations and been watching some videos. Hungary and Poland might be our strongest events, but obviously we’ll go for at least the podium in all of them – even though I haven’t seen the entry list yet.”
It’s awesome that we got some more rallies added to the calendar
For what will mark the 2023 FIA WRC3 champion’s ERC debut expands a new alliance with MRF Tyres.
“We got to kick off the co-operation with MRF Tyres already in Italy, testing different compounds on asphalt,” Korhonen explained. “That was a great thing for us, since I don’t have that much experience with tyres or Tarmac set-up yet. But on gravel I feel confident with the tyres. MRFs have been used to set fastest times, so the tyre is definitely competitive.”
Flying Finn Korhonen is lining up in the ERC for the first time
© Rautio Motorsport
Fellow Finn Anssi Viinikka will co-drive Korhonen with the pair set for a busy schedule. They will contest the Portuguese championship-counting Rali Terras d'Aboboreira from 2 -3 May, VI Rally Hungary from 9 -11 May before returning to Portugal for the country’s FIA World Rally Championship from 15 - 18 May.
