Kris Meeke has etched his name into the history books with a commanding victory at the latest round of the European Rally Championship (ERC). In a dominant display, the overnight leader maintained his composure throughout Sunday’s deciding four stages to secure his first-ever win as a registered ERC driver.
Driving the Michelin-equipped Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 alongside co-driver Noel O’Sullivan, Meeke set a blistering pace that his rivals simply could not match. His performance solidified a weekend of tactical brilliance, proving his class as he navigated the final technical sections to take the top step of the podium.
While Meeke dominated the event, the wider drama of the weekend belonged to Teemu Suninen. Finishing 38.6 seconds behind Meeke, Suninen’s runner-up result was more than enough to secure the 2026 European Rally Championship crown. With this achievement, The Racing Factory driver becomes the first Finn to claim the prestigious European title since Esapekka Lappi in 2014.
Suninen, partnered with co-driver Antti Haapala in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, showcased remarkable resilience. Reflecting on his championship-winning weekend, the Finn admitted the event had not started easily. “Amazing,” Suninen said following his Power Stage win. “On the Wednesday, I couldn’t believe we could be on this pace. I was quite sick, but in the end, we managed to do a good job and we learned a lot. Generally, it’s been a good season for us and we’ve been doing a great job on Tarmac.”
The intensity of the competition was mirrored across the support categories. Ville Vatanen delivered a masterclass performance to secure the FIA ERC3 crown, confirming his status as a standout talent this season.
Meanwhile, the FIA ERC4 and Junior categories witnessed a dramatic shift in momentum. Timo Schulz claimed a commanding double victory, effectively setting up a high-stakes title decider for the final round of the season. Schulz’s success came at the expense of his ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team stablemate, Tom Heindrichs, who saw his title aspirations suffer a major blow after crashing out on Sunday morning’s second stage.
As the dust settles, the 2026 season continues to prove itself as one of the most unpredictable and thrilling in recent years. While Suninen celebrates a historic championship victory and Meeke revels in a milestone win, the focus now shifts to the final showdown, where the remaining junior titles will be contested.
All results remain subject to final confirmation by the FIA.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only. It has been rewritten and paraphrased from the original source.
Source: Read Original News
