This is the third time that the Internationale Jännerrallye is to get the FIA ERC underway. Based in Freistadt, Upper Austria, it features fast, wintry asphalt stages which frequently offer a cocktail of dry, damp, wet, frosty, icy and/or snowy conditions. Tyre choices are consequently extremely difficult for the different competitive loops.
The 2015 route is similar to that of 2014, with a menu of 18 stages. The longest (Schönau-St Leonhard) is 22.93km long and the second attempt will take place at night.
Once again, the event will conclude with Bad Zell-Tragwein-Aisttal (21.10km) at dusk before the podium ceremony back in Freistadt early in the evening of Tuesday, January 6.
The entry list includes Craig Breen in a 208 T16/Michelin, but the campaign of the Irishman’s new Peugeot Rally Academy team-mate Charles Martin won’t begin until the Circuit of Ireland.
Kajetan Kajetanowicz (LOTOS Ford Fiesta) will try to following in the footsteps of fellow Pole Kubica after crashing out of second place on last year’s SS6.
Another possible winner is the defending Junior-ERC champion Stéphane Lefebvre who will begin his 2015 season in a DS3 R5. Other ERC regulars will be Robert Consani (Peugeot 207 S2000), Jaromir Tarabus and Antonin Tlustak (Skoda Fabia S2000), etc.
Michelin’s numerous partners will be able to choose from a wide range of solutions, from the R01, R11, R21 for dry/damp conditions, to studded and non-studded winter tyres (NA00, etc.)