The wait is over: Team MRF Tyres launches its FIA ERC 2025 campaign from Spain

Team MRF Tyres is set for the opening round of the 2025 FIA European Rally Championship, the 42º Rally Sierra Morena – Córdoba Patrimonio de la Humanidad, a new addition to the calendar that opens the season from April 3rd to 6th.

The team, representing the Indian premium competition tyre brand, carried out its pre-event test on Tuesday April 2nd in Villanueva del Rey, not far from Córdoba, which hosts the Rally HQ as well as the ceremonial start and finish. Even at this early stage, weather conditions have already made an impact, and are expected to be a key factor across the 13 stages and nearly 210 competitive kilometres of this opening round.

Three crews will represent Team MRF Tyres on the Spanish tarmac, with a strong line-up. Simone Tempestini and Sergiu Itu, in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, return to MRF Tyres colours after their appearances in the final two rounds of the 2024 season. The Romanian driver also completed a warm-up event last week in Italy, finishing second overall at Rally Prealpi Orobiche.

“I’m happy to continue working with Team MRF Tyres after last year’s opportunity. The test was a good chance to pick up where we left off in Italy and fine-tune the car for the conditions we expect here in Spain. It’s a new rally for everyone, so it’ll be important to find the right balance and build confidence from the start” Tempestini said.

Joining the team for the first time is former WRC driver Stéphane Lefebvre, co-driven by Andy Malfoy (FRA). The Frenchman will drive a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, a car he has limited experience with, despite taking a debut win in it at the 2024 Ardeca Ypres Rally Belgium. Lefebvre will represent Team MRF Tyres on all asphalt rounds of the season.

“Since 2022, I haven’t been part of a major international program, so I’m really looking forward to this season. We’ve worked hard to get to this point, and during Tuesday’s test we tried several solutions to speed up the adaptation process. The stages at Sierra Morena are similar to those in Catalonia, and local crews will be strong, but the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 has clear potential and we’ll push for the best possible result” Lefebvre said.

Completing the line-up is another Hyundai i20 N Rally2, this one driven by James Williams and Ross Whittock. The Welsh pairing has been confirmed for Sierra Morena and for the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion in September. The 27-year-old Briton has been competing in a Hyundai since 2021 and knows the Alzenau-built car well. This will be his second event on MRF Tyres, after finishing third at the East Riding Stages Rally, opening round of the 2025 British Rally Championship.

“A new challenge – I’m really happy to return to the FIA European Rally Championship just a few months after doing Ceredigion last year. We’re aiming for a good result, even though there’s a lot to learn – from the event itself to the tyres, which I’ve only used once so far. I’m very thankful for this opportunity and grateful to MRF Tyres and all my partners for making it possible” Williams said.

The rally officially begins on Thursday April 3rd, with the ceremonial start in Plaza de Las Tendillas, in the heart of Córdoba. Free Practice and Qualifying Stage will take place on Friday morning from 9:30 CEST, followed by the opening city stage at 20:05. The rally action continues over the weekend, with six stages on Saturday, including the longest, “Villaviciosa” (27.19 km), and another six on Sunday, ending with the finish podium on Avenida República Argentina at 18:30.