European Historic Rally Championship Sanremo Rally Storico

A regular on the FIA EHRC calendar over the years, the 2024 Sanremo Rally Storico route consisted of 11 tight, twisty and undulating Tarmac stages over a competitive distance of 133.99 kilometres, starting on 19 October.  A round of the Italian modern and historic championships, this celebration of rallying’s glorious history, which retraces some of the best stages of past WRC events, attracted a 26-car entry in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship class.

 The last of seven FIA EHRC events to take place on asphalt in 2024, home hero ‘Zippo’ arrived at the start within touching distance of wrapping up the inaugural FIA European Historic Rally Drivers Championship, having put the FIA Category 3 title out of his rivals’ reach in the last event in Elba aboard his Audi Quattro.  And while James Potter became provisional Category 1 champion on Austria’s Rallye Weiz in July in a Ford Escort Twin Cam, the Category 2 and Category 4 titles remained up for grabs.  Wet weather complicated tyre choice and made the conditions tricky.

But it was Category 4 contender Eamonn Kelly that struck gold in Liguria, claiming a debut FIA European Historic Rally Championship victory aboard his BMW M3 on what turned out to be a big day for “Zippo” and co-driver Nicola Arena. 

Historic Acropolis Rally

Tibor Érdi Jr Crowned First FIA Overall Champion

Three weeks later, by finishing the Historic Acropolis Rally in second place, Tibor Érdi Jr won the first overall FIA European Historic Rally Championship title to be awarded.  With István Kérek co-driving his Ford Sierra Cosworth 4×4, the Hungarian also secured the Category 4 title with Ernie Graham finishing runner-up in the overall and Category standings at the wheel of the Flexifly Rally Team Ford Escort RS he shares with his co-driving daughter Anna.

For the full story of both rallies, see the December 2024 issue of Historic Motor Racing News