During a FIA meeting last week it was decided that the FIA Benelux Trophy will be organized instead of the FIA Scandinavian Rally Trophy (FSRT). The European Rally Trophy (ERT) is made up of a total of eight regional series, the FIA BEN-RT being one of them. It offers an excellent chance for ambitious rally teams to widen their experience in a FIA approved international rally trophy when the step to the full FIA European Rally Championship is still a bit too much. In the FIA BEN-RT they get the chance to compete in five rallies that are completely different, thus enabling them to familiarize with the differences between a national championship and an international trophy.

Venues
The five rallies are based in four different countries in northern Europe and are relatively close together so that for example travelling costs can be kept to a minimum. The trophy starts in the Netherlands with the Zuiderzeerally based in Emmeloord. The other four rallies are: the German Sulingen, Rallye, the Belgian Ypres Rally, the Dutch GTC Rally and the final rally will be Rally Denmark.

Calendar
18 March 2017: Zuiderzeerally [www.zuiderzeerally.nl]
5-6 May 2017: ADAC Rallye Rund um die Sulinger Bärenklaue [http://www.rallye-sulingen.de]
23-24 June 2017: Kenotek Ypres Rally [http://www.ypresrally.com]
8-9 July 2017:GTC Rally [http://www.gtcrally.eu]
4-5 November 2017: Rally Denmark [http://www.rallydenmark.dk]

Entering the FIA Benelux Rally Trophy
There is no entry fee nor do you specifically have to enter the trophy, as all drivers holding an international licence and driving an eligible car will automatically be classified in the Trophy.
Four categories are contested in each event:

• The main ERT class, comprising eligible R5 and S2000 machinery;
• ERT 2 for eligible Group N cars;
• ERT 3 for eligible 2WD Group R, Group A and Group N cars, Super 1600 and Group A kit cars;
• ERT Junior class for competitors born on or after 1 January 1990.

More information
Shortly more information will be available about this championship. This information will be published on the websites of each individual rally. Recently a Facebook page was opened this will be build up as we get more information. Of course rules and regulations as well as the calendar of the eight series will be published on the FIA website.

Contact details
Johannes Fraas, Coordinator

Grøndyssevej 5, DK-3210 Vejby, Denmark.
Mob. +45 40686154
Dansk Automobil Sports Union
Mail: fiabenrt@gmail.com