Škoda Motorsport Bonus Programme enters third season with ERC opener in Spain

› The 2026 FIA European Rally Championship gets underway this weekend with the Andalusia Rally-Sierra Morena – Córdoba World Heritage Site in Spain
› Reigning ERC champions Mikołaj Marczyk and co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk head the field in their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, carrying number 1
› A record 21 teams and 32 drivers have registered for the third season of the Škoda Motorsport Bonus Programme, which once again rewards podium finishes

Mladá Boleslav, 16 April 2026 – Now in its third season, the Škoda Motorsport Bonus Programme has reached a record level, with 21 teams and 32 drivers registered for the award scheme running alongside the FIA European Rally Championship. The series gets underway in Spain with the Andalusia Rally-Sierra Morena – Córdoba World Heritage Site, which takes place from 17 to 19 April 2026. As in the previous two seasons, Škoda Motorsport’s distinctive white-and-green spare parts truck will again serve as a key point of contact and support in the service park.

Since its launch in 2024, the Škoda Motorsport Bonus Programme for customer teams competing in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) has proved a resounding success. While 13 teams and 16 drivers registered in the first year, that number has doubled to 32 drivers for the 2026 season. At the same time, the number of teams has increased to 21. With the ERC season opener, the Andalusia Rally-Sierra Morena – Córdoba World Heritage Site, taking place this weekend, the award scheme is entering its third year.

The programme’s rewards are just as appealing as last year. A €50,000 discount on the purchase price of a new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 is on offer to the team of the 2026 FIA European Rally Champion, provided they compete in a Škoda. The winning team are also guaranteed a new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for the 2027 season. If a registered Škoda driver finishes second overall, their team will receive a discount voucher worth €25,000. Third place earns a discount voucher worth €15,000. The total value of the year-end awards is €90,000.

In addition, Škoda Motorsport is offering awards to registered Škoda drivers who secure a podium finish at each of the seven ERC rounds. The vouchers are worth €20,000, €12,000 and €8,000 for first, second and third place respectively. With a total value of €40,000 per event, these vouchers can be redeemed against orders for Škoda Motorsport spare parts.

19 Škoda crews target championship points in the first ERC round
The 2026 FIA European Rally Championship calendar features seven rounds, five of them on asphalt. The opening event is the Andalusia Rally-Sierra Morena – Córdoba World Heritage Site in southern Spain. The rally gets underway this Friday (17 April) at 8:05 pm with a one-kilometre show stage through the streets of Córdoba. On Saturday and Sunday, a further 12 stages covering just over 200 kilometres are scheduled. The winners will be celebrated on the podium in Córdoba’s El Arenal district at 7 pm on Sunday.

Reigning champions Mikołaj Marczyk and co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk will start the season with number 1 on their Topp Cars-run Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. “Seven demanding rallies await us, five on asphalt and two on gravel. One of the new additions will be Rally Poland in a new location, in Silesia. I’m looking forward to this event and I’m happy that we will once again have the opportunity to meet Polish fans there,” says Mikołaj Marczyk, looking ahead to the new season. “We will be defending our title, and I know it will be a very difficult task. We are sticking with a proven car that has been a reliable companion for years – the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2,” adds co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk.

The Polish duo will face strong opposition. In total, 19 of the 30 crews entered in the top ERC1 category are competing in the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Czech outfit Auto Podbabská Škoda Team fields Dominik Stříteský and co-driver Ondřej Krajča. Recalvi Team’s José Antonio Suárez and Alberto Iglesias Pin will fly the Spanish flag as the reigning champions of the Spanish Rally Superchampionship. Hungary’s Gábor Német and Gergely Németh, along with Italy’s Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai, are also champions of their respective national series.

Team Racing Factory-Motorsport Solutions is relying on the experience of Finland’s Teemu Suninen and co-driver Antti Haapala. Romania’s Simone Tempestini and Sergiu Itu compete for Team MRF Tyres. Poland’s Jakub Matulka and Damian Syty, as well as JC Raceteknik’s Isak Reiersen and Stefan Gustavsson from Sweden, will also bring Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 machinery to Córdoba. Former single-seater racer Tristan Charpentier has switched to a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 run by Orsák Rally Sport for the upcoming ERC season. The 25-year-old Frenchman will be supported by fellow countryman Loris Pascaud. The award for the longest journey to Spain arguably goes to Fabrizio Zaldivar from Paraguay, who will once again rely on the pace notes of Italian co-driver Marcelo Der Ohannesian.

2026 FIA European Rally Championship

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