The 2013 FIA European Rally Championship will feature a Ladies’ Trophy from round three – Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés – onwards, ERC promoter Eurosport Events has confirmed.
Female drivers contesting the ERC will be eligible for the new accolade with three points handed to the winner, two to the second-placed driver and one to third based on the overall classification of each round regardless of car performance. Drivers are allowed to count their best four scores and do not have to be paired with a female co-driver to be eligible for points.
Eurosport Events will use its various communication tools, including the official ERC website, www.fiaerc.com, to publicise the ERC Ladies’ Trophy throughout the season. An award will be presented at the ERC prize giving ceremony at the end of the year.
François Ribeiro, Motorsport Development Director of Eurosport Events, said: “Since the FIA has created the Women in Motor Sport Commission, we felt it was appropriate to do something at a high level in the ERC. While female drivers take part on ERC events on an equal footing with their male counterparts, an award like this will provide an additional incentive for women to contest rounds of the ERC but also the opportunity to showcase their ability and achievement.”
Last season, Bulgaria’s leading female driver, Ekaterina Stratieva, was classified sixth in the final overall ERC standings. Her navigator Carmen Poenaru, from Romania, was ranked sixth in the co-drivers’ classification.
The ERC Ladies’ Trophy will be contested over the remaining ERC rounds as follows:
03: Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés (Spain), Asphalt, 21-23 March 2013
04: SATA Rallye Açores (Portugal), Gravel, 25-27 April 2013
05: Tour de Corse (France), Asphalt, 16-18 May 2013
06: GEKO Ypres Rally (Belgium), Asphalt, 27-29 June 2013
07: Rally San Marino*, Gravel, 11-13 July 2013
08: Sibiu Rally (Romania), Gravel, 25-27 July 2013
09: Barum Czech Rally Zlín, Asphalt, 30 August-1 September 2013
10: Rally Poland, Gravel, 13-15 September 2013
11: Croatia Rally, Asphalt, 26-28 September 2013
12: Rallye Sanremo (Italy), Asphalt, 10-12 October 2013
13: Rallye International du Valais (Switzerland), Asphalt, 7-9 November 2013
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