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One of the standout stars in modern FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) history, Bulgarian driver Nikolay Gryazin, is ready for a new challenge as he prepares to return to the series where he made his name in motorsport.
Since making his ERC debut at the Rallye International du Valais in October 2015, Gryazin has claimed five victories and seven podium finishes. In 2018, he finished as overall runner-up and clinched the Junior title competing in Rally2 machinery.
The upcoming season finale – "6 Cities of Northern Portugal" – will mark his 34th ERC appearance. It follows a strong campaign in the World Rally Championship's WRC2 category, where Gryazin competed for Lancia Corse HF in the new Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale.
Gryazin explained his motivation for taking part in the season-ending rally:
"Above all, I just want to drive, as our WRC season has already finished," Gryazin said. "Every extra gravel event offers valuable lessons. We can refine our set-ups on this surface and gather more data on Hankook tire performance for future rallies. As always, the ERC field is extremely fast, so the fight won't be easy. We'll aim to fight at the sharp end while enjoying ourselves. I'm ready to work on my driving and the car – it's a great chance to showcase strong pace against top-level competition."
Rain forecast for Friday and Saturday next week promises added challenges, but the driver will lean on his experience from May's WRC Rally de Portugal, which ran under changeable weather conditions.
"It rained constantly back then, so we already know what set-up is required for those conditions," he noted. "Rain is actually a great opportunity. On dry roads, plenty of drivers can be fast, but managing speed on a wet surface is the ultimate test of a driver's skill and judgment."
The Portuguese event will give Gryazin two more runs over the iconic Pedra Sentada jump on the Lameirinha stage, made world-famous as WRC's Fafe test.
Gryazin, whose personal approach speed record to the jump reaches 95 km/h, shared insights on mastering the famous crest:
"When you tackle it for the first time, it's incredibly tricky because you're unsure of what speed to carry," he explained. "Over time you get used to it, but staying calm is vital. There's another big jump earlier in the stage, tempting you to leap even further, but here the most important thing is not forgetting to hit the brakes. On the first pass, a mistake can wreck the car and end your rally. By the final run, you can push the limits a bit more."
The driver also explained the technical intricacies of tackling the world-renowned jump:
"It's not a smooth ramp – the lip at the crest can easily pitch the front of the car downwards. That's why we tap the brakes just before the crest to set the car up, then apply a bit of throttle right before taking off. That way, the car flies level rather than nose-down. It's crucial to brake slightly to the right, as braking in the middle or on the left risks landing in the embankment. In mid-air, you maintain steady throttle and only release the pedal upon touchdown."
Immediately after landing from the Salto da Pedra Sentada jump, crews face a fast uphill right-hander leading straight into the stage's flying finish.
Gryazin expressed confidence ahead of the event, emphasizing that he has had no trouble navigating key sections of the stage in the past. According to the Bulgarian, the profile of the final corner allows for plenty of speed thanks to an inside line for positioning the car. He also noted that even if a small mistake results in a brush with the roadside bank, the risk of retirement remains minimal.
Gryazin enters the decisive ERC season finale in Northern Portugal in peak form following a recent victory. Last weekend, he won the Memorial Bettega event, held as part of the Rallylegend festival in San Marino to honor legendary Lancia driver Attilio Bettega.
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