Pirelli sweeps up another collection of European Rally titles 29.11.2020: Pirelli has added another array of European Rally Championship titles to its collection following last weekend’s Rally Islas Canarias. Russia’s Alexey Lukyanuk claimed his second European title with Pirelli: the Italian firm’s fifth overall European title

Pirelli has added another array of European Rally Championship titles to its collection following last weekend’s Rally Islas Canarias. Russia’s Alexey Lukyanuk claimed his second European title with Pirelli: the Italian firm’s fifth overall European title in the last six years.



The Citroen driver won twice this year – in Italy and Portugal – and finished runner-up in Estonia to guarantee the title in the world’s oldest rally championship, which was first established in 1953.



Champions in all the categories with an accent on youth. As well as Lukyanuk’s overall title, Pirelli also won the ERC1 Junior title with Oliver Solberg: the teenage son of Pirelli’s 2003 World Rally Champion Petter Solberg. Pirelli additionally tied up the two-wheel drive ERC3 Junior title with Estonia’s Ken Torn.



As a result, Torn will win a scholarship from Pirelli to compete on the ERC1 Junior series next year. Not only that, but Pirelli won the ERC2 championship again with Tibor Erdi Junior: a clean sweep of all the major European titles.



The rain in Spain. Rally Islas Canarias, the final round of the European Championship, was affected by intermittent heavy rain – and due to the cool ambient temperatures, the surface water didn’t dry up as rapidly as it has done in the past. Rally Islas Canarias also counted for the Spanish Rally Championship, with Pepe Lopez sealing the domestic title on Pirelli tyres in his Citroen. Just one of the many national titles that Pirelli has claimed this year.



What the 2020 European champion said. Alexey Lukyanuk commented: “Throughout the season I was happy with my driving: it was strong with solid performances and pretty reliable. This title would not be possible without the support of Pirelli; for Pirelli it’s important to be on top.”



Pirelli’s rally activity manager Terenzio Testoni: “Congratulations to all our champion drivers and teams on the European Rally Championship: especially to Alexey, who has now won a second title since coming back to us at the start of this year – underlining the difference that the tyres make.


Congratulations also to all the rally and championship organisers for staging such a thrilling competition this year under very challenging circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rally Islas Canarias was a particularly tough event due to the wet conditions, but the capability of our tyres under yet another set of demanding circumstances contributed to an exciting and successful finale.



We are proud continue our commitment to the European Rally Championship next year alongside our exclusive supply to the World Rally Championship, underlining our involvement at the top levels of a sport that helps us directly develop high performance tyres for the road.”




 Anthony Peacock  photo Pirelli