WRC 3
WRC3 rivals eye Estonia opportunity
The FIA WRC3 title chase resumes on the fast gravel roads of WRC Delfi Rally Estonia this week, with the chasing pack handed a chance to cut into Matteo Fontana’s advantage.
Fontana has been the class benchmark so far this season. The defending WRC3 champion leads the standings on 100 points after victories in Sweden, Portugal and Greece, the latest of those coming last time out at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece.
But with the Italian not entered in Estonia, opportunity knocks.
Tymek Abramowski arrives as the highest-placed WRC3 title contender on the entry list. The Polish driver sits fourth in the standings, 49 points behind Fontana, but a strong result around Tartu could move him closer to the front of the championship fight ahead of the second half of the season.
Abramowski has been one of WRC3’s most consistent scorers this year, with runner-up finishes in Sweden, Rally Islas Canarias and Greece. Estonia’s high-speed gravel will provide a very different challenge, but also a major opportunity.
Nicolas Otto is another driver with ground to gain. The German sits eighth in the championship after finishing second in Greece, his best result of the season so far, and will look to carry that momentum onto faster roads. André Martínez and Nataniel Bruun are also inside the top 12 of the standings and both are entered in Ford Fiesta Rally3 machinery.
Kerem Kazaz adds further interest. The Turkish driver has already shown his pace in Junior WRC competition this season and starts in Estonia alongside experienced French co-driver Corentin Silvestre. Jarkko Nikara, meanwhile, brings local-region fast-gravel pedigree to the Rally3 field in a Renault Clio Rally3, while Grzegorz Bonder also joins the WRC3 contest in a Ford Fiesta Rally3.
There is also a strong Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Next Generation presence in WRC3, with Rio Ogata and Kanta Yanagida both entered in Renault Clio Rally3 cars. For the Japanese pair, Estonia represents another important step on some of the fastest and most committed gravel roads in the championship.
Home interest comes from Priit Koik, who starts in a Renault Clio Rally3 with Allan Birjukov alongside him.
