A newcomer to the Hankook-equipped category for 2025, the 22-year-old has finished in the top five in the four events he’s started so far with a second place on ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland the highlight of an impressive campaign alongside co-driver Sion Williams.
Welsh talent Lloyd is the top Junior ERC rookie with two rounds left
© ERC
Speaking during the ERC’s summer break, Welshman Lloyd said: “I’ve got to be chuffed. If somebody told me at the start of the year we’d be past the mid-point in our debut season in the Junior ERC, and we’d sitting in second in the championship, I definitely wouldn’t have believed them.
“We’re trying to make sure we get all the miles in, because it’s just so much learning from event to event. Every event is just so, so different, but I’m loving every bit of the experience. We’re absolutely living the dream.”
Stellantis Cup success handed Lloyd his Junior ERC chance
© ERC
Lloyd stepped up to Junior ERC as part of his prize for winning the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK in 2024 and joined the Hungary-based TRT Rally Team for his maiden campaign at international level.
“I knew the level of competition was going to be really high with the guys there. I think it’s a record year of 23 competitors registered. So I always knew that the level was going to be really high, and we had to work really hard to get close to the front guys.
Breakthrough Junior ERC podium was scored in Poland
© ERC
“The events are a lot longer than what I’m used. But I haven’t particularly found anything overly surprising at the minute. I’ve got good people around me that have really helped me prepare for this year. I’m really lucky to have that and I think that’s helped our progression. We’ve still got two big rallies to go in the Czech Republic and Croatia and the conditions could get more tricky.
“Probably what I found most difficult is the change from every event. Hungary was purely a survival rally, with it being so rough and car management was key. Then rallies like Spain and Poland or Rome, it was a lot more about speed and if you lost a couple of seconds you were kicking yourself.
“Whereas in Hungary you could lose a chunk of time and it didn’t really matter, as long as you kept on the road. So I think that’s probably the biggest thing I found: adapting to different events and the challenge of each one.”
With Sion Williams co-driving, Lloyd has been fast on gravel and asphalt
© ERC
Having won the last three Junior rounds, Swedish ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team driver Calle Carlberg holds the title initiative with a 37-point advantage over Lloyd, who is 13 points ahead of Lancia-powered Jaspar Vaher.
“Calle Carlberg is very much in the driving seat at the minute for the championship,” Lloyd said. “I have to focus on trying to maintain second, which won’t be easy. Jaspar Vaher’s very, very quick, and there’s still a few boys in the fight as well. So that’s our main focus.
“Calle fully deserves to win the championship this year. It’s been a phenomenal drive from him and his co-driver Jørgen Eriksen as well. They’re a fantastic pairing. I think they came very close in their first year last year and they fully deserve it this year. Calle is a really good benchmark for us to aim for.”
Barum Czech Rally Zlín hosts round five of the six-event Junior ERC season from 15 – 17 August. Lloyd is also planning to contest his home event, JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion, from 5 – 7 September. Although the event is not part of the Junior ERC schedule, it’s a counting round of ERC4.