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A new Clio for Filip’s third year in the ERC

Romanian driver Alex Filip will contest a third consecutive season in the FIA European Rally Championship in 2016, and has confirmed he'll have a new car for the job.

After winning the ERC3 class on the last round of the 2015 season in Switzerland and taking ninth in the final standings, Filip revealed his hopes to compete with a Renault Clio R3T this time around, having relied on an older generation of the French hatchback for the past few years.

He and co-driver Bogdan Iancu will take part in a minimum of three ERC events this season, the same number they entered in both 2014 and 2015. They plan to start their programme on the SEAJETS Acropolis Rally on 6-8 May, having finished third in class in Greece in two years ago. Rally Rzeszow and Barum Czech Rally Zlín in August as well as October's Cyprus Rally are also possible starts for the pair.

Fllip said: "We have beautiful memories from Greece and we would like to get back on the podium again during this rally. The rally season starts in May and then we will build our strategy step by step."

He added: "Our participation in the European Championship is possible only due to our partners who trusted us and with whom we have established long term collaboration. I am proud that we have multinational companies standing next to us, like Orange, for 11 years, Michelin, for eight years, Renault for five years, BCR for five years, Mobil 1 through Star Lubricants for five years and Rombat for the second consecutive year already. Thank you everybody for keeping trusting us and I am looking forward to lining up for the start line during the first rally."

Zdroj: fiaerc.com