The FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) reaches its thrilling conclusion this weekend, with the final showdown set to take place in Poland at Rally Silesia from 11-13 October. Representing ACI Team Italia, Davide Pesavento, alongside co-driver Flavio Zanella, will take on the competition in the Peugeot 208 Rally4, aiming to make his mark in the ERC Junior category.
With the eighth and final round of the season unfolding on the asphalt roads around Katowice in southern Poland’s Silesian Voivodeship, Pesavento’s goal is to finish his debut international season on a high note. Currently ninth in the ERC Junior standings, the 22-year-old reigning Italian Junior Champion has shown promise throughout the year, delivering impressive performances while navigating a few setbacks. Rally Silesia is a new addition to the European Championship calendar, featuring 14 special stages covering 180.15 competitive kilometers across a total of 830 kilometers.
Pesavento heads into this event following a strong result at Rali Ceredigion in Wales, where he secured fourth place, marking his best finish of the season. In Poland, the young driver from Bassano will once again face stiff competition from top ERC Junior contenders, including the British up-and-comer Max McRae, Sweden’s Calle Carlberg, and Czech driver Daniel Polasek. Additionally, Mille Johansson, who has already claimed both the ERC Junior and ERC4 titles with one round to spare, will compete in the RC3 category.
“I’m thrilled to be lining up for this final round of the European Championship,” said Pesavento during pre-event testing near Nowa Ruda. “It’s going to be a tough and challenging rally. The weather will certainly play a major role, and the stages are unlike anything we’re used to, with lots of tricky cuts and technical sections. The key will be to stay mistake-free, cover as much ground as possible, and gain valuable experience. I hope to have a good run and show our supporters why they believe in us, closing out the season in the best way possible.”
Rally Silesia kicks off on Friday evening with the Katowice Super Special Stage at 8:05 p.m. local time. Saturday will be the longest day of the rally, featuring two runs through three different stages, plus a second show stage in the evening at the Silesia Stadium, where the service park is also located. The action wraps up on Sunday with two passes over three additional stages, culminating in the finish ceremony at Chorzow from 6:30 p.m.
This weekend promises a fierce battle as the best young talents in the ERC Junior category vie for their final positions, with Pesavento determined to leave his mark on the championship’s closing chapter.