Swedish rallystar Mille Johansson has won the FIA Junior European Rally Championship title, alongside co-driver Johan Grönvall. After a fantastic season, during which they secured two victories and three additional podium finishes, they clinched the FIA Junior ERC title in Wales with one round remaining of the season.
Mille and Johan entered this weekend’s asphalt rally, Rali Ceredigion in Wales, with a theoretical chance to take home the gold medal. Initially, they were in second place in the rally, but when championship contender and national teammate Calle Carlberg was forced to change a puncture during a stage, the situation changed for Mille and Johan. They took the lead in the rally and only needed to finish the rally to secure the European Championship title.
With a second-place finish in Wales, they secured the FIA Junior European Rally Championship title as well as the ERC4 title, the class for two-wheel drive cars. Mille and Johan thus become the first Swedes in almost 10 years to win the FIA Junior ERC, and at 19 years old, Mille is also one of the youngest champions in the history of the championship.
”It’s been a perfect season, the team has done a fantastic job and delivered a car that has worked brilliantly all year. I want to thank everyone who helps us, all the sponsors. I’m lost for words right now,” said Mille Johansson directly after crossing the finish line.
Throughout the year, Mille and Johan have competed in a two-wheel drive Opel Corsa Rally4 from the Slovenian team IKsport, the same team Mille started his international career with at 16 when he debuted in the Slovenian championship in 2022.
The FIA Junior ERC title means that Mille and Johan have now secured a season in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship next year, a championship they are already familiar with through their victory in their WRC debut at Rally Sweden this winter.
2024 has been a fantastic year for Mille and Johan, who have won everything they have entered. This winter, they won the Junior WRC in Sweden, followed by two victories on their way to the Junior ERC title. During the summer, they also won their home event outright, Slottssprinten in Katrineholm, in a four-wheel drive car.