Fafe, Portugal, October 26, 2026: MRF Tyres has secured the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) Teams’ Championship, marking its fourth title in five years. The Indian tyre manufacturer capped its European rallying campaign with a strong performance at Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal, where Mārtiņš Sesks and co-driver Renārs Francis claimed overall victory.

Team MRF Tyres finished the championship with 233 points, finishing 98 points ahead of its closest rival. The latest title adds to the team’s previous ERC Teams’ Championship triumphs in 2022, 2023 and 2025.

The 2026 crown underlines MRF Tyres’ consistent performance in European rallying and its continued focus on developing competition tyres through motorsport.

MRF Tyres Dominates Final ERC Round in Portugal

The season-ending rally around Fafe, Portugal, provided a challenging test for crews and tyres across demanding gravel stages. MRF Tyres-equipped competitors delivered an impressive performance, securing 16 fastest stage times across the rally’s 17 special stages, with three different drivers contributing to the tally.

Sesks and Francis emerged victorious despite encountering technical issues during the event. Their performance brought the season to a successful close for MRF Tyres, which fielded six crews through its official Team MRF Tyres and MRF Tyres Dealers Team programmes.

The international line-up included Mārtiņš Sesks, Roope Korhonen, Patrick Enok, Simone Tempestini, Andrei Gîrtofan, Nicolas Otto, Erik Cais, Martin Vlček, Frank Tore Larsen and Eyvind Brynildsen.

Speaking after the victory, Sesks said the team had worked hard towards the result and had to adapt its approach after encountering technical issues. He explained that the crew pushed hard during the opening day before adopting a more cautious strategy on the final day, which ultimately paid off.

Sesks also thanked MRF Tyres for its support, while expressing disappointment that the team had missed out on securing a one-two finish.

Rallying Supports MRF Tyres’ Research and Development

MRF Tyres’ fourth ERC Teams’ Championship title in five seasons highlights the company’s sustained investment in research and development, as well as its focus on technical innovation in motorsport.

European rallying presents demanding conditions for competition tyres, with varying surfaces, temperatures, loads and driving styles testing their grip, traction, durability and resistance to wear.

Data collected during events, along with post-rally tyre inspections and engineering analysis, helps MRF Tyres evaluate tyre compounds, tread patterns, construction and material formulations. These insights support the refinement and validation of competition tyres, while contributing to the development of technologies that can be adapted for wider product applications.

The Portuguese finale offered a particularly strong demonstration of the performance of MRF Tyres-equipped cars, with 16 fastest stage times recorded across 17 special stages.

With the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship Teams’ title added to its growing record in international motorsport, MRF Tyres continues to strengthen its presence in European rallying through competition, engineering development and technical expertise.