Facebook Instagram Linkedin

European Rally Series: A New Chapter for Iconic Events

Born in 2025, a new challenge in the European rally scene arrives with fresh ideas, starting with the Rali da Madeira.

The European Rally Series has been officially launched, introducing a fresh vision for rallying across the continent. In its inaugural 2025 Promo Year, the series aims to reconnect fans with some of Europe’s most iconic and historic rallies, while introducing a new cultural and promotional dimension to the sport.

Maintaining the traditional competitive format and the full-throttle spirit of rallying, the European Rally Series will work closely with local organizers to apply some of its core values to some of the most beloved events in the European rally calendar.

 
 

At the heart of this new concept, which began in Portugal, lies the Arena Stage: a fan-focused area that combines a dedicated special stage with Fanzones, brand activations, food corners, and immersive experiences. Each Arena Stage becomes a dynamic meeting point for spectators, partners, and media.

In 2025, four candidate events make up the calendar of the Promo YearRali da Madeira, taking place from July 31 to August 2, and the San Remo Rally are the first two confirmed events, with two surprises reserved for the final rounds of the inaugural year. While maintaining the traditional format of each rally, the promoter will highlight the Super Special fromat Arena of each event as a pilot project for future development.

As far as the competition is concerned, all FIA-homologated categories within the Rally Pyramid (from Rally1 to Rally6 + RGT) are eligible for classification within the well-known Rally Series StarsEach stage eligible for Rally Series classifications awards points to the drivers according to the usual FIA system: 25 points (here referred to as stars) for the fastest driver, decreasing to 4 points for the 9th place, with a special twist — the 10th fastest time receives 2 points, and all cars finishing from 11th place onwards earn 1 point star.

 
 

Two major classifications will be awarded in the calendar of the Promo Year: an overall classification and a general two-wheel-drive classification.

The European Rally Series sets out to go beyond merely organizing rallies — its goal is to reactivate historic events and position rallying as a cultural and promotional experience, bringing families, brands, and media closer to the heart of the action.

Built upon the core values of the Rally Series, the European edition promotes:

– Accessibility, for fans, competitors, partners, and local communities
– Authenticity, by preserving the heritage and spirit of each rally
– Innovation, through new formats such as the Arena Stages and the activation
– Sustainability, by encouraging responsible practices and generating value for teams and partners
– Entertainment, turning each rally into an unmissable celebration of motorsport