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Myachin takes next step with ERC3 bid

Dmitriy Myachin will take on a challenge of a different kind when he embarks on his first FIA European Rally Championship campaign in 2019.

The 34-year-old Russian has won titles in Latvia, Lithuania and in his homeland but has no ERC experience to call upon. However, that will change this year with what Myachin hopes could be a seven-event campaign alongside compatriot Alexander Gorlanov, his co-driver since 2015.

Myachin said: “The ERC is the next step for me and for the all team. I won some national championships in the Baltic States in my category a few years ago as well as the Russian Rally Championship in 2017. Since that time, the team and me worked hard to get to get to a new level. Now we have big experience and a few R2 cars available for rent.”

Of the challenge ahead, Myachin admits a tough campaign is in store in 2019: “With it’s wide geographical spread and different types of roads, the ERC is a new challenge. And it definitely will be quite complicated, especially on Tarmac. All rallies are absolutely new for me, they are really different and the level of the drivers is so high.”

Myachin will start his campaign in a Peugeot 208 R2 but could switch to the Opel ADAM R2 – which is also run by his TBRacing operation – later in the year but on selected events.

“Of course I want to win but I understand how difficult it is, especially in the first year,” said Myachin, who began competing in 2010. “But I’m ready to work hard all season and go straight to the goal. We will see where we are in the end of the season.”

Jean-Baptiste Ley, the ERC Co-ordinator, said: “We are really pleased to welcome Dmitriy, Alexander and TBRacing to the FIA European Rally Championship for what we hope will be a long-term participation. Dmitriy recognises that he has a lot to learn given his lack of event knowledge, but he should be praised for taking on the challenge against what he knows will be strong opposition.”

Myachin is not the first driver from Russia to mount a major ERC campaign with Alexey Lukyanuk taking the overall title in 2018, the first Russian to do so. Lukyanuk will defend his title this season when Sergei Remennik is also expected to chase ERC2 honours.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com