• Romet Jürgenson and co-driver Siim Oja safe championship glory in Greece• Taylor Gill and Daniel Brkic fourth in ultimate standings after day-two heartbreak• Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó scores season-best fourth following massively demanding occasion• Max Good secures high 10 end after a number of delays on robust gravel levels
FIA Rally Star Romet Jürgenson is the winner of the FIA Junior WRC Championship for 2024 after he rounded out an excellent debut season at world degree by clinching the coveted younger driver title and the accompanying WRC2 prize drive for 2025.
With Siim Oja co-driving, Jürgenson accomplished EKO Acropolis Rally in second place within the Rally3-based Junior WRC class to turn out to be Junior WRC champion by 28 factors. Oja is the champion co-driver for 2024 having additionally excelled all year long.
Jürgenson joined the FIA Rally Star expertise detection programme when he gained the FIA Rally Star European Remaining in January 2022, having certified for the shootout in Germany by means of the WRC9 digital challenges on the again of his performances in eSports.
His Continental Remaining victory earned him a spot within the FIA Rally Star Coaching Season for 2023. After finishing the yr as one of many 4 best-performing drivers, Jürgenson entered Junior WRC for 2024 with the complete assist of the FIA and its companions, plus the FIA Rally Star group of specialists.
Second at school on Rally Sweden in February, Jürgenson took the Junior WRC laurels on Croatia Rally to say a lead who wouldn’t relinquish within the championship chase. Regardless of 11 drivers beginning the EKO Acropolis Rally finale in competition for the crown, Jürgenson prevailed. And he may have accomplished the season with a second victory however for tyre injury on SS11 dropping him to second place.
Australia’s Taylor Gill, the Junior WRC winner on Secto Rally Finland final month, dropped out of competition for the title after he and co-driver Daniel Brkic had been compelled to spend some 18 minutes making operating repairs to their Fiesta Rally3 after a suspension arm had been broken by hitting a rock. They battled again to complete eighth.
Co-driven by Esther Gutiérrez, Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó scored a season-best fourth after the Peruvian’s conservative method paid dividends on the rock-strewn levels.
South African Max Good, with Cameron Honest co-driving, was much less lucky, nevertheless, after 5 on-stage wheel adjustments throughout the course of the occasion left him seventh on the end of solely his ninth ever rally.
FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid, FIA Vice President for Sport Europe Anna Nordkvist, WRC Fee Chair Pernilla Solberg and FIA Highway Sport Director Andrew Wheatley had been in attendance throughout EKO Acropolis Rally to supply their assist to the FIA Rally Star drivers, as they’ve accomplished all through the method.
The FIA Rally Star group entered Junior WRC with the goal of certainly one of its drivers securing the title in yr two of its participation. By profitable one yr forward of schedule, Romet Jürgenson has not solely underlined his means and potential for the long run, but additionally highlighted the success of FIA Rally Star’s mission to unearth proficient children through grassroots choice occasions organised by ASNs globally and provides them the steerage and assist to realize life-changing outcomes.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated: “I want to prolong my heartfelt congratulations to Romet Jürgenson and his co-driver Siim Oja for his or her excellent victory in claiming the FIA Junior WRC title on the EKO Acropolis Rally. This triumph is a testomony not solely to their ability and dedication but additionally to the power and success of the FIA Rally Star programme, which goals to find and nurture younger expertise in motor sport.
“The FIA is deeply dedicated to creating pathways for rising drivers and this outcome highlights the significance of supporting these initiatives. Romet’s journey from the FIA Rally Star programme to turning into a Junior WRC champion serves as an inspiring instance of how dedication, alternative, and the appropriate assist can result in nice success. We sit up for seeing much more promising drivers rise by means of the ranks, and I’m assured that this achievement will encourage the following era of rally expertise.”
FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid stated: “Having shaped a part of jury that picked Romet because the winner of FIA Rally Star European Remaining, it was with a way of delight that I watched him and Siim turn out to be FIA Junior WRC champions for 2024. It was particularly vital as a result of Romet made his method at the beginning by means of the eSports choices with no driving expertise in a rally automotive. I used to be additionally privileged to have adopted his progress and improvement over the previous 18 months together with his degree of dedication and dedication actually spectacular. The Junior WRC programme as an entire is instrumental in making a expertise pathway from grassroots to the very best degree of the self-discipline. Everybody concerned must be very pleased with all that has been achieved to this point. For now, I want Romet and Siim the very best of luck as they embark on their subsequent problem in FIA WRC2 in 2025.”
FIA Rally Star Venture Chief Jérôme Roussel stated: “We got here to the Acropolis Rally with the goal of getting the Junior WRC title with certainly one of our drivers and we did it, which is a improbable outcome for your entire FIA Rally Star group. We knew it could be a tough rally and it was – really one of the demanding Acropolis in a few years. However what has been achieved is proof that there are potentialities if you’re in your bed room dreaming of turning into a rally driver. You must work arduous, have the expertise and catch the alternatives and that’s what we’ve proved is feasible with FIA Rally Star.
“Delivering the Junior WRC title one yr forward of schedule is an enormous achievement and we are able to all be very pleased with this: the juries who chosen the drivers, the co-drivers, the group round them, all of the folks round supporting us, M-Sport Poland, Pirelli… The reliability ranking this season was actually glorious.
“Romet had a really sensible method in Greece. He knew what he needed to do. Siim and he managed to discover a tempo which was quick sufficient with out being too demanding for the automotive and the tyres. They completed P2 however may have gained with out the puncture. Even when that occurred, they didn’t get excited, they stopped to alter and carried on. Congratulations to Norbert Maior for the occasion victory as properly as a result of he was proving loads – profitable the Junior ERC title final yr and now profitable the final spherical of Junior WRC, demonstrating the pathway actually does exist.
“Taylor additionally had the appropriate method, however he was a bit much less profitable. The turning level was when the suspension arm was cracked after an enormous shock with a rock. However he and Dan didn’t surrender and actually confirmed what an awesome crew they’re with their mechanical expertise. I’ve little doubt they’ll obtain nice issues sooner or later.
“Max must analyse why he had so many punctures. However when the automotive was operating on 4 wheels he was actually promising with some excellent occasions. He’s progressed by means of the season and Greece was a part of this development. He was the one with the smallest expertise on 4 wheels however he reached a degree that’s very promising for the long run.
“Abito have to be congratulated additionally as a result of he managed to complete P4, his finest results of the season and the rostrum was not distant. His goal was to keep away from any puncture and any mistake and I feel he was the one one to not have a single puncture and the automotive was in an ideal situation on the finish of the rally. He was actually hungry to realize this efficiency and stored a severe method.
“We’ve got taken a variety of satisfaction from this season. An FIA Rally Star driver was on the rostrum at each rally, we gained the title in our first season, which was unbelievable given the extent of competitors we confronted – a document 19 entries at the beginning of the season. This gave us a variety of delight and we have now much more motivation to succeed in new milestones subsequent yr. Romet and Siim shall be in WRC2 with the Ford Fiesta Rally2 and we are going to announce quickly the names of the 2 drivers who will proceed their journey in Junior WRC with FIA Rally Star.”
FIA EKO Acropolis Rally driver-by-driver round-up (listed in seeded order)
#58 Romet Jürgenson (24, Estonia)/Co-driver: Siim Oja (EST)In a formidable and punctiliously deliberate show of threat versus reward, Jürgenson was main when he was compelled to alter a broken tyre on SS11. The delay dropped him to second however the outcome was greater than sufficient to be topped the 2024 FIA Junior WRC champion.
Romet Jürgenson: “It was a troublesome problem, with each impediment thrown in our method in some unspecified time in the future, punctures, bedrocks within the strains, warmth, mud, all the pieces however we conquered it and we acquired to the end line with the championship crown so it’s nice. I’m most pleased with the very fact so many legends have gained this class, Sébastien Ogier, Craig Breen, Sébastien Loeb, so many others. To be in between them is so good and I’m only a bit misplaced for phrases. As an Estonian I prefer to maintain my ft on the bottom so I’ll deal with WRC2 as a studying yr. In some unspecified time in the future, I must present my pace, however to do something massive subsequent yr shall be tough. All 4 FIA Rally Star drivers have been actually good this season. Taylor and I’ve slightly extra expertise however Jose and Max have confirmed they deserved to be right here, they simply had some unlucky occasions. The work we did earlier than every occasion with the FIA Rally Star group and the lengths we go to essentially made the distinction but additionally my private sponsors who allowed me to do different races between my Junior WRC begins, that basically helped me. Ott Tänak is certainly one of my idols, I used to be spectating in Spain when he grew to become world champion in 2019. I used to be the fan with the flag waving and now he’s right here congratulating me. It’s mad however I wouldn’t be right here with out the FIA Rally Star programme so thanks to everybody.”
#59 Taylor Gill (20, Australia)/Co-driver: Daniel Brkic (AUS)Whereas a wheel change on Friday afternoon proved irritating, it was nothing in comparison with the delay Gill suffered on SS11 as he and co-driver Daniel Brkic rushed to switch a broken rear suspension arm. It took 18 minutes earlier than they had been in a position to proceed, dropping out of title competition in consequence. However they didn’t surrender and reached the end in eighth place.
Taylor Gill: “It’s fairly combined emotions to be trustworthy. It began comparatively okay, holding out of hassle. Sadly, a puncture on Friday afternoon put a dampener on the day nevertheless it actually unfolded on Saturday after we picked up some suspension injury. However that’s a part of the sport on this rally and though it’s not so good it didn’t go our method, I’m super-happy for Romet and Siim as a result of they deserved it as properly. Normally, it’s not been a nasty yr. We had been the one crew to complete all of the levels and acquire the utmost quantity of expertise, which in the end is what we wanted this yr. I felt the pace was fairly okay with some room for enchancment. However what we’ve achieved this yr simply reveals that the FIA Rally Star programme works. It might imply loads to pile on all the pieces we discovered this yr and go once more in Junior WRC subsequent yr.”
#66 Max Good (21, South Africa)/Co-driver: Cameron Honest (GBR)Stopping to alter 5 broken tyres and choosing up one other deflation dominated out any likelihood of a second podium of 2024. However seventh place ensured extra very important expertise was gained for the FIA Rally Star African Remaining winner.
Max Good: “It was robust rally, we needed to change 5 punctures on stage and one we needed to drive by means of in order that was the primary subject we had this weekend and that’s undoubtedly one thing we have now to repair on the driving. To select up six punctures is certainly not unhealthy luck and one thing we are able to do higher on. The tempo within the automotive was good and for my ninth ever rally issues had been beginning to really feel extra acquainted and that was nice and I loved driving for certain. I can’t imagine I used to be spectating right here in 2022 after profitable the African Remaining and setting the third quickest time on the Energy Stage two years later. We’ve had a podium this yr, we’ve rallied on ice, Tarmac, all these robust and difficult gravel occasions. I’ve been studying each step of the way in which and all the time getting higher. So it’s simply an enormous thanks to the FIA Rally Star mission for believing in my uncooked expertise and bringing me up. I’m pleased with the progress made and I do know there’s extra to return. It might imply all the pieces to me if I may keep on subsequent yr. I wish to win, I do know I can do it. It’s going to take a variety of arduous work however that’s my dream.”
#68 Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó (27, Peru) Co-driver: Esther Gutiérrez (ESP)Caparo saved his finest to final with a career-best fourth place after he and co-driver Esther Gutiérrez opted for an ultra-conservative method, which stored them away from the pitfalls that delayed lots of their rivals.
Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó: “The sensation is the prize we had been trying to find from the primary rally. We managed to remain out of the way in which of any errors on the primary two days, getting no punctures and that paid again. We weren’t combating for positions, however we had been ready for the second and that is the very best outcome and I’m so joyful. From the start we had been discussing with Esther to keep away from each downside, each mistake and taking good care of the automotive was the goal. For certain this yr was very tough for me. However I used to be aiming to be quicker even with no expertise. I do know what I’m not going to do once more if I get the prospect nevertheless it’s lower than me.”
What’s subsequent?
With Romet Jürgenson graduating to FIA WRC2 in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 run by M-Sport subsequent season, two of the remaining three FIA Rally Star drivers shall be chosen to proceed within the FIA Junior WRC Championship in 2025 with the line-up resulting from be confirmed within the coming weeks.
