Teemu Suninen has clinched the 2026 European Rally Championship (ERC) title at Rali Ceredigion with one round remaining after finishing runner-up to Kris Meeke, who took his first-ever ERC win in Wales.
Overnight leader Meeke cemented what was his first victory on an ERC event as a registered ERC driver by setting the pace on two of Sunday’s deciding four stages aboard the Michelin-equipped Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 he shared with co-driver Noel O’Sullivan. But all eyes were focused on runner-up Suninen.
The Finn completed the rally 38.6sec down on Meeke but it was enough for the Racing Factory driver to become the first Finn since Esapekka Lappi in 2014 to claim the coveted European championship crown. He achieved the feat alongside co-driver Antti Haapala in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 run on Pirelli tyres.
Suninen: “Couldn’t believe we could be on this pace”
After celebrating ERC title gold by winning the rally-deciding Power Stage, Suninen said: “Amazing. On Wednesday I couldn’t believe we could be on this pace, I was quite sick but in the end we managed to do a good job and we learned a lot. Generally, it’s been a good season for us, and we’ve been doing a great job on Tarmac.” (Article continues after the photo.)
Earlier in the weekend Suninen had led the rally but after overshooting a junction on Saturday morning, the Finn backed off chasing Meeke’s time, instead focusing on the bigger picture. There was another heart-in-the-mouth-moment on Sunday morning with another overshoot, but such was his speed through the stage prior to the scare, it would not cost him a position.
It left Meeke celebrating not only his own European maiden win, but the first Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 ERC victory on Tarmac.
Meeke: “It’s so enjoyable when the package is right”
“What a weekend, honestly,” said Meeke, a five-time FIA World Rally Championship winner. “Thanks to everyone who got me here, what an incredible job. It’s so enjoyable when the package is right.
“To feel like that and get that flow again with the Michelin tyres on the car. I feel at home again. I enjoy to drive, as everyone knows. When the package is right, I can drive.” (Article continues after the photo.)
Vatanen secures ERC3 title, Schulz wins in ERC4 and Junior ERC
Ville Vatanen (picture below) secured the FIA ERC3 Championship as Timo Schulz claimed a win double in FIA ERC4 and FIA Junior to set up a final-round title decider on Rally Six Cities North of Portugal next month with ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team stablemate Tom Heindrichs, who crashed out on Sunday morning’s second stage.
Behind outgoing ERC champion Miko Marczyk, Max McRae claimed an ERC career-best fourth with Meirion Evans finishing as the top Welsh driver in fifth. (Article continues after the photo.)
Mabellini fails to score in Power Stage
Lancia-powered Andrea Mabellini, Suninen’s closest title rival, took sixth with Erik Cais in seventh, one place ahead of his Team MRF Tyres team-mate Simone Tempestini. ERC3 aces Vatanen and Coleman finished ninth and 10th overall respectively.
Mabellini had started the rally as Suninen’s closest rival in the championship battle. The Italian needed to drop fewer than 10 points to Suninen in Wales to keep the championship alive. However, at the start of the Power Stage, Mabellini was set to lose nine points to Suninen due to his position, so he knew he had to outscore Suninen in the Power Stage.
In the end, it wasn’t enough, as Mabellini could only manage P7 in the Power Stage, meaning he scored no Power Stage points, while Suninen won the final stage of the rally, thus clinching the title with one round to spare.
Rally Six Cities North of Portugal, a gravel event based in the town of Fafe close to Porto, hosts the ERC season finale from 23 – 25 October.
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ERC Rali Ceredigion 2026 – Final results
| # | Drivers | Car | Time / Diff. to 1st |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Meeke / O’Sullivan | Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 | 1:29:45.3 |
| 2. | Suninen / Haapala | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +38.6 |
| 3. | Marczyk / Gospodarczyk | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +1:03.4 |
| 4. | McRae / Fair | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +1:43.8 |
| 5. | Evans / Furniss | Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 | +1:51.2 |
| 6. | Mabellini / Lenzi | Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally2 | +2:20.1 |
| 7. | Cais / Bacigál | Hyundai i20 N Rally2 | +2:44.8 |
| 8. | Tempestini / Maior | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +3:36.2 |
| 9. | Vatanen / Ojala | Ford Fiesta Rally3 | +7:19.7 |
| 10. | Coleman / McArdle | Ford Fiesta Rally3 | +7:21.3 |
ERC 2026 Drivers’ Championship – Standings after Round 6/7 [Top 10]
| # | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Teemu Suninen | 137 |
| 2. | Andrea Mabellini | 98 (-39) |
| 3. | Miko Marczyk | 92 (-45) |
| 4. | Jakub Matulka | 53 (-84) |
| 5. | Giandomenico Basso | 52 (-85) |
| 6. | Simone Tempestini | 45 (-92) |
| 7. | Kris Meeke | 34 (-103) |
| 8. | Jose Antonio Suárez | 30 (-107) |
| 8. | Mikko Heikkilä | 30 (-107) |
| 8. | Roberto Daprà | 30 (-107) |
| 8. | Adam Březík | 30 (-107) |
Photos: Red Bull Content Pool
