The predecessor to the current series began in 1973 as the Embassy/ERA European Rallycross Championship. In 1976, the FIA established formal regulations for the sport, which included the adoption of Group 5 rules for competing vehicles. This period saw the awarding of the first official European cup.
In 1978, the championship introduced a two-class structure consisting of Touring cars and Grand Touring cars. Despite the division of machinery, the FIA European Cup was awarded to a single driver based on the highest total points scored across both categories. Norwegian driver Martin Schanche secured this title in 1978 and went on to claim the first official FIA European Championship title in 1979.
The championship underwent a significant reorganization in 1982. The FIA established Division 1 for Group A cars restricted to two-wheel drive, while Division 2 was created for "Rallycross Specials" that permitted four-wheel drive. The inaugural champions under this format were Egil Stenshagen of Norway and Franz Wurz of Austria.
Following the 1986 ban of Group B cars from the World Rally Championship due to several major accidents, these vehicles transitioned to the European Rallycross Championship in 1987. Division 2 became the designated category for high-performance Group B machinery, including the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2, Ford RS200 E2, Lancia Delta S4, Audi Sport Quattro S1, and MG Metro 6R4. These cars continued to be developed in rallycross beyond their original rallying evolution.
The 1993 season marked the end of the Group B era in the championship, replaced by a new generation of four-wheel drive specials. Division 1 transitioned to four-wheel drive cars under Group N regulations. Division 2 adopted Group A-based rules but allowed extensive modifications, such as engine swaps within the same manufacturer, turbocharging, and four-wheel drive conversions. This technical freedom led to the development of specialized racing versions of the Citroën Xantia, Peugeot 306, and Ford Escort RS2000. Additionally, a 1400 Cup for two-wheel drive cars up to 1.4 litres was introduced, receiving official FIA recognition in 1995.
In 1997, the hierarchy of the divisions was swapped. Division 1 became the primary class featuring Group A-based cars, while Group N vehicles moved to Division 2. By 1999, Division 1 regulations expanded to include cars based on WRC and Supertouring specifications, provided they adhered to the established freedoms of the class. Division 2 was restricted to Group N cars with a maximum 2.0-litre displacement and two-wheel drive. The 1400 Cup was eventually redesignated as Division 2A in 2001.
A further revision in 2003 solidified the format into three distinct categories:
Division 1: 4WD turbocharged Group A "specials."
Division 2: 2WD normally aspirated 2.0-litre Group N cars.
Division 1A: Group A cars up to 1.6 litres, replacing the former 1400 Cup.
In 2013, IMG Motorsports took over as the promoter of the championship, briefly rebranding the series as RallycrossRX and updating the racing format. This period served as a transition toward the 2014 creation of the FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX).
Following the establishment of the world-tier series, the European Rallycross Championship was restructured. The primary Supercar series was reduced to a five-round championship with events held in Great Britain, Norway, Belgium, Germany, and Italy. For the Super1600 and TouringCar categories, the European titles are determined by the results of the nine World RX rounds held within Europe.
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