MRF Tyres plans major ERC shake-up for 2027

MRF Tyres is preparing a significant change to its European Rally Championship lineup for 2027, having won four of the last five teams' titles. Speaking on DirtFish's SPIN, The Rally Pod, team figure Vivek Ponnusamy hinted that the Indian manufacturer could field two teams that combine established names with emerging talent.

Ponnusamy said the plans would be a "mega surprise" and that benchmark drivers would take part in the ERC to help junior drivers develop. He confirmed that some of those drivers would compete in the World Rally Championship next year and also in the ERC, citing the extra seat time that the series offers, particularly alongside the 2027 regulation change.

He said the ERC's competitive intensity and the new promoter had raised its standard to that of WRC2, and that details of the plans could emerge in February.