Eamonn Kelly delivered a spectacular performance to secure his first-ever victory in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship (EHRC) at the iconic Sanremo Rally Storico. In a thrilling battle that tested drivers through challenging wet and dry conditions, Kelly, with navigator Gordon Noble, held off fierce competition to triumph in his BMW M3. Meanwhile, Italian duo ‘Zippo’ and Nicola Arena moved closer to claiming the inaugural FIA EHRC overall title, but the championship remains undecided ahead of the final round at the Historic Acropolis Rally in Greece.
A tight battle from start to finish
Kelly’s BMW M3 crew entered Sunday’s final leg with a slender 5.9-second lead after Saturday’s five stages. However, they wasted no time extending that margin by winning the opening run on the 14.23km Vignai stage, pulling 14.5 seconds ahead of their rivals.
While Kelly fought to stay ahead, Hungary’s Tibor Érdi Jr mounted a serious challenge in his Ford Sierra Cosworth 4×4, clocking fastest times on SS8 and SS9 to cut Kelly’s lead to just 6.6 seconds. But Kelly responded under pressure, dominating the final two stages and securing the win by 31.0 seconds over Maciej Lubiak/Grzegorz Dachowski, who snatched second place from Érdi Jr on the final stage.
“We were consistent throughout and avoided major mistakes,” Kelly said after the race. “Saturday was tricky – we made some tyre mistakes – but today was much smoother. Once we had the right tyres, the car felt great, and everything clicked.”
He added: “Racing in Sanremo is an incredible experience – the iconic stages, the atmosphere, and the podium moment in front of the casino are unforgettable. I’m so grateful to JKC BMW Ireland and Michael Cullen for lending me the car, without which I wouldn’t be here.”
‘Zippo’ and Arena edge closer to the overall EHC title
Although Kelly claimed victory, ‘Zippo’ and Nicola Arena kept their eyes on the bigger prize. With a fourth-place finish and a Category 3 win in their Audi Quattro, they expanded their lead over British rivals Ernie Graham and his daughter Anna heading into the final round. However, with double points on offer at the gravel-based Historic Acropolis Rally in November, the championship battle is far from over.
Drama and triumph across the field
Sanremo’s mixed conditions delivered surprises and heartbreak. Seb Perez gave rally fans a nostalgic moment by posting the fastest time in his Lancia Stratos HF on the opening Montalto stage. Meanwhile, Valter Pierangioli led early in his Ford Sierra Cosworth 4×4 but crashed on SS5, blocking the road and forcing the stage to be cancelled.
Behind the leading pack, Vojtěch Štajf finished fifth in his Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165), followed by Donagh Kelly in sixth, with Massimo Guerra taking the Category 2 win in seventh, driving a Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0.
Ernie Graham, a title contender for Flexifly Rally Team, finished eighth, followed by Christophe Jacob in a Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2 and Łaszló Mekler, who claimed the FIA EHRC 1600cc Trophy in his Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA 1600. Oldřich Kovařík Jr secured the Front Wheel Drive Trophy with a strong 11th-place finish in his Škoda Favorit 136L.
After an impressive first leg, Guy Trolliet slipped from ninth to 12th at the finish. In Category 1, Antonio Parisi emerged victorious in his Porsche 911 SC.
Next stop: Historic Acropolis Rally
The season-deciding showdown takes place next month at the Historic Acropolis Rally, starting from the ancient Acropolis in Athens and ending in the port town of Itea. With the championship still up for grabs and double points on the line, the event promises a thrilling climax to an already action-packed EHRC season.
Final Results
01: E. Kelly/G. Noble (BMW M3 E30) – 1h 24m 50.0s
02: M. Lubiak/G. Dachowski (BMW M3 E30) + 31.0s
03: T. Erdi Jr/I. Kerek (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4×4) + 41.1s
04: ‘Zippo’/N. Arena (Audi Quattro) + 51.9s
05: V. Stajf/V. Havelkova (Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165)) + 2m 33.6s
06: D. Kelly. R. Kennedy (BMW M3 E30) + 3m 13.8s
07: M. Guerra/G. Campeis (Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0) + 3m 36.7s
08: E. Graham/A. Graham (BMW M3 E30) + 4m 57.9s
09: C. Jacob/I. Regnier (Ford Escort RS 1800 Mk2) + 5m 55.0s
10: L. Mekler/M. Meklerne (Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA 1600) + 7m 50.6s
