| Category | Supercar, Super1600 and TouringCar |
|---|---|
| Country | Europe |
| Inaugural season | 1976 |
| Drivers' champion |  Yury Belevskiy(RX1)  João Ribeiro(RX3) |
| Official website | www.rallycrossrx.com |
 Current season | |
TheEuropean Rallycross Championship (former abbreviation ERC, nowEuro RX orERX) is arallycross competition held in Europe, organised under the auspices of theFIA.
The predecessor championship began in 1973 as theEmbassy/ERA European Rallycross Championship. In 1976 the FIA created regulations for rallycross, includingGroup 5 regulations for the cars, and awarded the first official European cup. For 1978 two classes became introduced, one class for Touring cars and one for Grand Touring cars, but the FIA European Cup was for the driver with the most scored points from both Divisions, NorwegianMartin Schanche. In 1979 Schanche claimed the first ever true FIA European Championship title.
In 1982 the FIA reorganized the classes into Division 1, forGroup A but restricted to two-wheel drive, and Division 2 for the so-calledRallycross Specials, which allowed the use offour-wheel drive. The first European Champions under this new rules became Norwegian Egil Stenshagen and Austrian Franz Wurz (father of ex-Formula One driverAlexander Wurz).
After several major accidents,Group B cars were banned from theWRC at the end of 1986, but found their new home in the European Rallycross Championship in 1987. Division 1 continued to use only two-wheel drive touring cars, but the Division 2 received the exotic Group B machinery such as thePeugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2,Ford RS200 E2,Lancia Delta S4,Audi Sport Quattro S1 orMG Metro 6R4, which continued to be prepared past their highest point of evolution in rallying.
Beginning in the 1993 season, the Group B cars disappeared and the four-wheel drive "specials" came into the era. Division 1 was now open to four-wheel drive cars, but usingGroup N regulations. Division 2 was based in Group A, but allowing several extra modifications such as changing to a different engine produced by the same manufacturer, adding aturbocharger or four-wheel drive. This allowed the creation of machines based on theCitroën Xantia,Peugeot 306 orFord Escort RS2000. A third division was added, for two-wheel drive cars up to 1.4 litres, called 1400 Cup, but the title was recognized by the FIA only in 1995.
In 1997, the divisions were swapped, with Division 1 now becoming the primary class, with Group A-based cars, and Group N moving to Division 2. In 1999, Division 1 was allowed cars based onWRC andSupertouring regulations, but with the same set of freedoms as the Group A (adding turbochargers and four-wheel drive where needed). Division 2 kept Group N, but with a maximum displacement of 2.0 litres and only two-wheel drive. In 2001 the 1400 Cup's status was upgraded to Division 2A.
For 2003, the class format was revised once more, assuming the form that is currently used. Division 1 and Division 2 remain essentially identical, with 4WD turbocharged Group A "specials" and 2WD normally aspirated 2.0 litre Group N cars, respectively, but a new Division A1 was created to replace the 1400 Cup, with regular Group A cars up to 1.6 litres.
In 2013 the European Rallycross Championship was promoted for the first time by IMG Motorsports. Rebranded asRallycrossRX (brand is not in official use any longer) the championship underwent changes to the racing format.
In 2014, the FIA approved plans for championship to become a fully sanctioned FIA World Championship. Together with the creation of theFIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX), the European Rallycross Championship (Euro RX) was restructured into a five round championship Supercar series with races inGreat Britain,Norway,Belgium,Germany andItaly, while all nine rounds of the World RX to be held in Europe count for the European titles of the Super1600 and TouringCar drivers.[1]
