2019 FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship
In January 2019 the Federation International d’Automobile (FIA) asked Jeff Carter to become the Media Delegate for the European Historic Sporting Rally Championship
The 2019 FIA EHSRC features nine rounds in Spain, Czech Republic, Belgium, Austria, Finland, Italy and Hungary and is a competition for rally cars from the golden era of the sport, the 1960s to the late 1980s. I attended five of the nine events, missing the first (Spain), fifth (Austria), seventh and eighth (both Italy) due to clashes with World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series events.
Full review videos were produced for each of the nine events.
For the five events I attended I shot the video from various angles using the Fujifilm X Series cameras, GoPro action cameras and on the Vltava Historic Rally (Round 2) and the Lahti Historic Rally (Round 6) I obtained permission to fly a drone during the event.
On the four rallies I didn’t attend footage was sourced from the organisers to produce the final review videos.
ROUND 1: Rally Moritz Costa Brava (ESP)
The EHSRC started in Spain with the Rally Costa Brava in March. Unfortunately I was in the United States covering the 1000 Miles of Sebring in Florida, which was Round 7 of the 2018/19 FIA WEC season. The event organisers were able to provide some excellent video footage so I was able to produce a video review of the event in addition to my written reports. The video was voiced by me.
CLICK HERE for the report from Round 1
ROUND 2: Historic Vltava Rally (CZE)
The second rally of the season was held in the Czech Republic and was the first event I could attend. I also obtained permission from the Czech Civil Aviation Authority to fly the DJI Phantom 4 Pro during the event to provide some aerial footage of the rally cars in action. This was my first commercial job as a drone pilot.
CLICK HERE to read the rally report
ROUND 3: Rally de Asturias Historico (ESP)
It was back to Spain for Round 3 for the championship, this time it was the north west of the country in Asturias, based in the town of Pravia. This was my second event I was able to attend but this time I decided to leave the drone at home due to the restrictions for flying commercially in Spain.
CLICK HERE to read the rally report
ROUND 4: Las Vegas Ypres Historic Rally (BEL)
This was the third EHSRC event I was able to attend. The Ypres Historic Rally took place in Flanders in West Belgium. The event attracted a large entry, including several local drivers whose experience on the unique farming roads proved to be invaluable against the regular EHSRC competitors. The two day event took place amongst the memorials to the fallen from the First World War.
CLICK HERE to read the rally report
ROUND 5: Rallye Weiz (AUT)
The Rallye Weiz in Austria was the host event for Round 5 of the 2019 FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship and while this year was the 11th running of the event, it was the first time the Rallye Weiz has hosted a round of the EHSRC. The two day rally saw plenty of action for the thousands of rally fans who turned out to watch these fabulous cars from a golden era of rallying. Unfortunately this was the second event of the season I was unable to attend as I was in France with the European Le Mans Series.
CLICK HERE to read the rally report
ROUND 6: Lahti Historic Rally (FIN)
Round 6 of the FIA 2019 Championship was held in Finland. The Lahti Historic Rally is the only gravel rally on the calendar and invokes memories of the legendary 1000 Lakes Rally. The two day rally attracted a strong entry with many gravel specialists travelling to Finland from as far away as Qatar and Australia to tackle the 12 special stages over 150km.
This was the second event I had permission to fly the drone on some of the stages, which resulted in some dramatic aerial footage.
CLICK HERE to read the rally report
ROUND 7: Rally Alpi Orientali Historic (ITA)
The Rally Alpi Orientali Historic will be the host event for Round 7 of the 2019 FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship the first of two Italian rounds. The Rally Alpi Orientali takes place in north east Italy in and around Udine and features over 150km of special stages in breathtaking scenery close to the border with Slovenia.
This was the third event I was unable to attend due to the opening round of the 2019/20 FIA World Endurance Championship at Silverstone and the video footage was supplied by the Italian organisers.
CLICK HERE to read the rally report
ROUND 8: Rally Elba Storico (ITA)
The Rally Elba Storico will be the host event for Round 8 of the 2019 FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship, the second of two Italian rounds. The Rally Elba Storico takes place on the Mediterranean Island that is part of Tuscany and 50km east of the French island of Corsica.
This was the fourth event I was unable to attend in person as I was in Belgium with the European Le Mans Series.
CLICK HERE to read the rally report
ROUND 9: Mecsek Rallye (HUN)
The Mecsek Rallye in Hungary was the ninth and final round of the 2019 FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship that decided the final destination of championship titles.
CLICK HERE to read the rally report
2019 SEASON REVIEW
This short video was shown at the FIA Historic Awards Gala on Saturday 18 January 2020 at the Pavilion Gabriel in Paris to celebrate a fantastic season of competition. The 2019 FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship was held over nine rounds held in Spain, Czech Republic, Belgium, Austria, Finland, Italy and Hungary, which saw cars from the golden era of rallying compete on some of the toughest roads in some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. The EHSRC certainly gets the pulses racing for both competitors and fans alike. The video concludes with the 2020 FIA EHSRC calendar which includes two new events in Italy and Switzerland.
