Swiss Surroca proves swift on debut: Yohan Surroca made a strong impression on his Junior ERC debut to the extent he came within 5.5sec of the podium, finishing fifth after an unlucky spin on the penultimate stage. Explaining his decision to enter the young driver category, 23-year-old Surroca, who was co-driven by Pierre Blot, said: “I choose ERC because it’s a dream for me. The ERC pass near my home in 2014 [during Rallye International du Valais] and I say I want to do one ERC event in my life. I wanted to be close to the guys in the front and be in the top five so this was really good. I hope I can go to Croatia Rally but it’s not confirmed.”
Kevin Saraiva built his confidence on return from injury
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Saraiva bounces back: With Beatriz Pinto co-driving his hired Peugeot 208 Rally4, Kevin Saraiva returned to Junior ERC action after he suffered rib injuries in a final-stage crash on 42nd Rally Sierra Morena – Córdoba Patrimonio de la Humanidad. And the 20-year-old from Portugal deservedly achieved his goal of reaching the finish. “I’m trying to build up my pace after Sierra Morena and the crash,” he explained. “I need to build again my pace and confidence.”
Keelan Grogan finished eighth for the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy
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Double first for Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy stars: While Craig Rahill was “absolutely over the moon” to bank his first Junior ERC podium following a standout drive to third place, a result he said he “will cherish for a long time”, his Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy team-mate Keelan Grogan secured eighth position after achieving his own first with a difference during the Colosseo ACI Roma super special on Friday evening. “It was cool, my first time seeing the Colosseum and it was hard to believe I was doing it in a rally car with big crowds,” Grogan said.
Ioan Lloyd is the best Junior ERC rookie after four rounds
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Lloyd still the top rookie despite podium near miss: Ioan Lloyd continues to occupy second place in the Junior ERC standings as the highest ranked rookie after four rounds. The Welshman, who claimed his maiden stage win on SS11, could have banked more than the 19 points he scored had it not been for a time-consuming brake issue on Saturday afternoon. “When you look at how close the race was from second to fifth, we were only 4.3s from second and just 1.2s from third,” said the 22-year-old. “When you look back at the first round in Spain, compared to the front guys, it’s a lot, lot closer now. It’s really rewarding to see our progress.”
Luca Pröglhöf was out of luck on Junior ERC return
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Unlucky Pröglhöf’s return ends “unhappily”: Austrian talent Luca Pröglhöf, the 2024 ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup winner, bounced back from his illness-enforced absence from ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland to set back-to-back top-six stage times before he rolled into retirement on SS4, fortunately without injury to either he or co-driver Christina Ettel. “It’s a shame that this great rally ended so unhappily for us,” said Pröglhöf. “Friday alone, with the police escort through Rome and the first stage at the Colosseum, was a cool experience. Saturday started well with the sixth-fastest time in SS2. In the fourth stage, the car understeered so badly in a fast right-hand corner following a surface change that I couldn’t correct it. Christina and I are fine. We’re not going to let it get us down, but want to keep learning.”
Barum Czech Rally Zlín is next on the agenda for the Junior ERC crews from 15 – 17 August.