The European Rally Championship was first contested in 1953 and quickly became one of the most prestigious rallying series. However, its prominence began to wane with the introduction of the World Rally Championship for manufacturers in 1973, and particularly with the drivers' World Championship being contested from 1979 onwards.
For many years, a typical ERC season included around 40 rallies. From 1974, rallies were assigned different coefficients (1, 2, 3, or 4) that were multiplied with championship points. A later change to coefficients of 2, 5, 10, and 20 did not significantly improve the situation, leading the ERC to be perceived more as a series for event organizers than a compelling championship for drivers.
A significant improvement was implemented for the 2004 season, when the number of events counting for the European Rally Championship was reduced to only those with a coefficient of 20. Other rallies became part of regional "European Rally Cups." This change resulted in an ERC season featuring around 10 to 12 events, providing a clearer structure.
Between 2007 and 2011, drivers were required to register for the European championships to score ERC points. This measure prevented local drivers from accumulating all ERC points without fully participating in the championship. Registered drivers were also obligated to contest a minimum number of events.
From 2013 to 2021, French-based broadcaster Eurosport served as the promoter of the ERC. In 2022, Munich-based WRC Promoter GmbH took over this role.
The 2010 ERC season featured 11 rallies, with Luca Rossetti winning 4 events and claiming the championship title.
The 2011 ERC season began on April 14, 2011, and concluded on October 29 with the Rallye International du Valais. Italian driver Luca Rossetti secured his third European championship title, winning 5 of the 11 events. A total of 28 registered drivers from 7 different countries competed in the championship.
The 2012 season introduced a new event, the "Jänner Rallye" in Austria, and removed the requirement for drivers to register for the championship. Finnish driver Juho Hänninen won the championship.
The 2013 season marked the first after the merger between the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) and the old ERC, and also the first with Eurosport as the championship's promoter. It started with the Jänner Rallye in Austria on January 3, 2013, and concluded with the Rallye du Valais on November 9. Czech driver Jan Kopecký won the championship.
The 2014 season commenced with the Jänner Rallye in Austria on January 3, 2014, and ended with the Tour de Corse on November 8. Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi won the championship and the new Asphalt Masters trophy. Polish drivers Robert Kubica and Kajetan Kajetanowicz won the Ice Masters and Gravel Masters, respectively, while French driver Stéphane Lefebvre won the ERC Junior championship.
The 2015 season began with the Jänner Rallye in Austria on January 4, 2015, and concluded with the Rallye International du Valais on November 7. For this year, drivers were again required to register for the championship. Categories were renamed to ERC 1 (for S2000, R5, and RRC cars), ERC 2 (for R4 production cars, previously N4), and ERC 3 (for R1, R2, and R3 cars). Polish driver Kajetan Kajetanowicz won the championship.
In the 2025 season, Lancia returned to rally racing after a 32-year absence, with the Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF competing in the ERC4 and Junior support categories. The car also achieved a victory in the 2025 Barum Czech Rally Zlín with driver Craig Rahill and co-driver Conor Smith of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy team. The championship was won by driver Mikołaj Marczyk and co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk with a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
The 2026 season saw the return of Lancia with the official Lancia Corse HF team, competing in the championship with the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale, marking 33 years since the brand's absence.
The European Rally Championship features three support categories: ERC3, ERC4, and ERC Junior. These championships are contested on the same events and stages as the main ERC calendar and have tighter restrictions on eligible car criteria.
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