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Germany’s Schwedt steps up to ERC Junior

Roman Schwedt is the latest young German talent to step up to the FIA European Rally Championship from national level, signing for ROMO Motorsport to drive a PEUGEOT 208 R2 in the Pirelli-supported ERC3 Junior Championship.

Schwedt, a product of the German Rally Championship (DRM), is planning a minimum two-year campaign in the category that lists his compatriots Marijan Griebel and Julius Tannert among its graduates.

The Saarland-based driver, 19, has attracted support from the ADAC Stiftung Sport and cannot wait to make the climb in competition alongside new co-driver and fellow German Lina Meter, 20.

“I’m really looking forward to the new challenges and the strong competition that will await me in ERC Junior,” said Schwedt, who placed third overall in last year’s DRM standings. “When I look at the names of the rallies, I am already very excited and I am convinced we are in the right place. I’m sure there is still some catching up to do on gravel with my experience, so hopefully before the season we’ll have the opportunity to test. “But we want to use these rallies as a preparation,” Schwedt continued. “ERC Junior has a very different sporting value than the DRM. There will be young talent coming from almost every European country and I’m already looking ahead to the first battles.”

Of his alliance with Ronald Leschhorn’s ROMO Motorsport outfit, Schwedt said: “I can only thank Ronald Leschhorn and his team for the confidence they put in me as a young driver. Equally strong is the support of the ADAC Stiftung Sport, which has already supported me in this development step and whose programme I can continue to benefit from in the future. I also want to thank prowin, eurorepar and the DSK for their continued support.”

Jean-Baptiste Ley, the ERC Co-ordinator said: “We are really pleased to welcome Roman, Lina and ROMO Motorsport to the ERC3 Junior Championship. Germany has a long history of producing talented drivers that achieve success in the ERC and progress and we have no doubt that Roman has what it takes to continue this tradition.”

The Pirelli-supported ERC3 Junior Championship takes place over six rounds from March to August with three events on asphalt and three on gravel. The Azores Rallye opens the calendar from 21-23 March. Drivers count their best four scores. Schwedt and Meter will also be eligible for ERC3 honours.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com