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• WRC Promoter secures multi-year agreement with bluechemGROUP to support FIA European Rally Championship
• Leading manufacturer of automotive lubricants and service products backs search for future rally stars
• Refreshed championship ready for opening round of 2022 campaign

A leading manufacturer of automotive lubricants and service products ‘made in Germany’, bluechemGROUP jumps onboard as Europe’s new-look series builds up to this week’s exciting season-opener in Portugal.

Both WRC Promoter, in its first year as the ERC’s commercial rights holder, and bluechemGROUP are committed to an ambitious sustainability roadmap, from recycling to reducing the use of plastic.

The new partnership further strengthens the ERC as an important championship in its own right, but also as a development series to assist emerging talents to graduate to the FIA World Rally Championship.

Thomas Tap, senior director marketing & sales at WRC Promoter, said the agreement provided a ‘tremendous tonic’ for the series ahead of the first round at Rally Serras de Fafe e Selgueiras (11 – 13 March).

“We are excited about this boost for the development of the FIA European Rally Championship as a whole and especially for our search for future rally stars,” he added. “Both partners are strongly committed to grow together long term. We are happy to support bluechemGROUP in its strategy of creating sustainable solutions for the automotive world.”

bluechemGROUP CEO Werner Urban added: “We constantly improve our products by various testing methods, including motorsports. Being commercially active in more than 120 countries worldwide, we have a history of supporting rallying on national and international level.
Becoming official car fluids partner of the FIA European Rally Championship is a major step in our strategy of sustainability. Using the strong pan-European platform of the ERC gives us the chance to broaden the international awareness for our brands.”

The ERC was founded in 1953 and the 2022 series comprises eight challenging rounds on both gravel and asphalt.

In addition to the overall title, honours are up for grabs in various support categories, including the Junior ERC championship for drivers aged 28 and younger.