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Griebel wins WRC drive

Germany's Marijan Griebel will make his debut at the World Championship's top level next season after winning the European Championship's development driver title.

The rising star won the inaugural ERC Junior Under 28 Championship with category victory at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín in a ŠKODA Fabia R5.

It was the third victory of Griebel's ERC campaign and earns him a drive in a World Rally Car on a European round of the WRC in 2018.

"I didn't really expect we can be champion after four out of six races but every race in the ERC went nearly perfect with three wins and third place in Canarias," said Griebel, who won the ERC Junior crown in 2016.

"Everything came together for me and this is another big step in my career."

To date, Griebel's WRC appearances have all been on home ground at ADAC Rallye Deutschland. He won his class in a Suzuki Swift Sport in 2011, and took a trio of RC4 class wins in an Opel Adam between 2014 and 2016.

He made his R5 debut this year, and ran as high as fifth in WRC 2 before a puncture and subsequent crash dropped him to eighth.

Zdroj: wrc.com