Aleks Zawada: My dream has come true in ERC

Zawada confirmed last month that he will graduate from the FIA ERC Junior Under 27 Championship – where he campaigned a Pirelli-shod Opel ADAM R2 to fourth place in last season’s standings – to a Hyundai i20 R5 for an assault on the ERC Junior Under 28 title with his family team, MSZ Racing.

“I’m really excited to get behind the wheel of an R5, it’s been a dream of mine for a long time and now it’s finally here,” said the London-born Pole. “I have done a half-day event for some of our partners and a few journalists, honing around a rallycross track and a half day test on a proper rally stage in Poland with a Hyundai engineer which taught me a lot.

“I am not really sure what to expect but I do know the competition is stiff with so many top drivers competing. It’ll be my first start not just in the Hyundai i20 but any R5 so it won’t be easy to be on the pace immediately, but I will do my best. Even a top five result will be difficult, but I don’t go rallying to come second.

“Canarias is really challenging, but this is true across all the ERC rallies. It is probably my favourite event of the year, not only because of the gorgeous scenery and the amazing roads but the atmosphere and the fans are unlike any other rally I’ve been to. I will try to give them something to shout about.”