Now 32 years of age, French driver Eric Camilli arrived on the World Rally scene in 2014 making his debut appearance in Germany in the Junior and WRC3 series driving a Citroen DS3 R3T.
It was also his first rally outside France. Within five stages he had won two stages and was leading categories.
Later that year he also appeared in Alsace on the French round, where he finished second after winning six stages in both categories.
In 2015 he found himself with a Fiesta R5 car in WRC2. He finished 10th in the series, scoring two podium results (in Germany and France), finishing 12th overall on Wales Rally GB. In 2016 he was in a World Rally Car for M-Sport in their WRC team, but he was to have mixed fortunes.
When he joined M-Sport and drove a World Rally Car at Monte Carlo in 2016 he was older than their then lead driver, Mads Ostberg, with only 10 WRC starts accumulated over eight seasons. We spoke with him and asked how he got started into rallying.
Camilli: “With Rally Jeune in France, its a selection process and I won that and then I won the French Junior championship and then I went into the Junior WRC because I was already 26.
I was living in Germany so everybody was saying 'Who is this guy' and then I went into WRC2.
Rally Jeune is one of the best things of rallying in France. For our federation to help us to start rally, even if you have no money because it's the same problem for nearly everybody.
MH: What do you think has been the best memories so far in your career?EC: I think firstly it was when I was able to sign in WRC for first time in Monte Carlo for 2016. I'm from Nice, close to Monte Carlo, and I was on the road section and I was alone with my car and my co-driver with this beautiful car and number 6, and I was just enjoying the moment because for me I started rally aged 25 and I signed contract in WRC aged 28.
I had nothing, just determined since I was very young, but you know when you have no money its not easy. So that's why when I arrived in the WRC for me it was already a big step.
Unfortunately people remember I went off the road on an icy corner in Monte Carlo. For me, it's not that I don't care about the crash, but I don't think about that. I didn't crash in two and half years so I'm not thinking about when I started.
My best memory in WRC, maybe in Sardinia in 2016 when I finished sixth behind guys like Neuville, Latvala, Ogier, Sordo and Tanak. Because people don't know or do not remember that when I signed in WRC I had only had 25 rallies in my life.
So I was young, not in age but in experience and young as if we never had seen that in WRC. So it was not easy, but that's why to be able to do that two or three years after I started my first rally was a good memory.
Finishing fifth in Portugal in 2016 was my best result. It was only my eighth rally on gravel of my life so that result was a good memory.
MH: Your WRC career didn't last very long. What do you think went wrong?EC: I was a bit young when I signed so everybody was asking me to do miracles.
When you have no money and you start late like that you have no opportunity to start and so the experience missed me for sure in WRC.
It was my first event everywhere. I discovered every rally so it was really not easy and on the same time I wanted to push because I was there to push and not to finish the last one.
But then I realised that the other one has maybe had already five, six, seven years, 10 years of experience. When you crash in the corner then you understand because of experience you have no good pacenote or anything. So that's what I was missing in 2016.
MH: How do you compare your driving on asphalt with gravel?EC: I prefer asphalt to gravel. I don't care, I mean I'm really a tarmac man, born on tarmac, but if I have to choose I prefer gravel because I like to adapt my tarmac style on gravel. It’s something I like.
MH: Do you feel you're improving on your gravel.EC: Yes, rally after rally, because still I only have done just over 60 rallies in my life, so do not have a lot compared to the others.
I'm still improving rally after rally, pacenotes, everything takes experience and so I can go forward and work."
Camilli competed in Spain in 2019 after a couple of forays with the VW Polo GTI R5 and the MkII Fiesta. He found himself in a Citroen DS3 R5 and winning the WRC2 category.
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO READ THE FULL STORY
RallySport Magazine Subscription
Select Subscription Level
Select Subscription Length
Recurring Subscription Cost
A subscription to RallySport Magazine give you access to all our rally
content from Australia, New Zealand and around the world – with news,
features and experiences nobody can match.
Our team are dedicated to providing an unrivalled experience which
shares, supports and promotes the sport of rallying.
By clicking "Subscribe Now" you agree to receive news, offers and updates on RallySport Magazine.
If you do not wish to receive marketing communications, you can update your preferences in My Account.
We will commence charging your payment method after the 7 day free trial expires.
If you cancel after expiry of your trial, cancellation will take effect from the end of your current monthly subscription period.
You will not be refunded any fees paid to RallySport Magazine unless otherwise set out in the terms and conditions.
Account Created!
Welcome to RallySport Magazine VIP Membership.
Get ready for your rally news experience to completely transform.
Start browsing news, exclusive VIP content or check out your account.
Camilli: “With Rally Jeune in France, its a selection process and I won that and then I won the French Junior championship and then I went into the Junior WRC because I was already 26.
I was living in Germany so everybody was saying 'Who is this guy' and then I went into WRC2.
Rally Jeune is one of the best things of rallying in France. For our federation to help us to start rally, even if you have no money because it's the same problem for nearly everybody.
MH: What do you think has been the best memories so far in your career?
EC: I think firstly it was when I was able to sign in WRC for first time in Monte Carlo for 2016. I'm from Nice, close to Monte Carlo, and I was on the road section and I was alone with my car and my co-driver with this beautiful car and number 6, and I was just enjoying the moment because for me I started rally aged 25 and I signed contract in WRC aged 28.
I had nothing, just determined since I was very young, but you know when you have no money its not easy. So that's why when I arrived in the WRC for me it was already a big step.
Unfortunately people remember I went off the road on an icy corner in Monte Carlo. For me, it's not that I don't care about the crash, but I don't think about that. I didn't crash in two and half years so I'm not thinking about when I started.
My best memory in WRC, maybe in Sardinia in 2016 when I finished sixth behind guys like Neuville, Latvala, Ogier, Sordo and Tanak. Because people don't know or do not remember that when I signed in WRC I had only had 25 rallies in my life.
So I was young, not in age but in experience and young as if we never had seen that in WRC. So it was not easy, but that's why to be able to do that two or three years after I started my first rally was a good memory.
Finishing fifth in Portugal in 2016 was my best result. It was only my eighth rally on gravel of my life so that result was a good memory.
MH: Your WRC career didn't last very long. What do you think went wrong?
EC: I was a bit young when I signed so everybody was asking me to do miracles.
When you have no money and you start late like that you have no opportunity to start and so the experience missed me for sure in WRC.
It was my first event everywhere. I discovered every rally so it was really not easy and on the same time I wanted to push because I was there to push and not to finish the last one.
But then I realised that the other one has maybe had already five, six, seven years, 10 years of experience. When you crash in the corner then you understand because of experience you have no good pacenote or anything. So that's what I was missing in 2016.
MH: How do you compare your driving on asphalt with gravel?
EC: I prefer asphalt to gravel. I don't care, I mean I'm really a tarmac man, born on tarmac, but if I have to choose I prefer gravel because I like to adapt my tarmac style on gravel. It’s something I like.
MH: Do you feel you're improving on your gravel.
EC: Yes, rally after rally, because still I only have done just over 60 rallies in my life, so do not have a lot compared to the others.
I'm still improving rally after rally, pacenotes, everything takes experience and so I can go forward and work."
Camilli competed in Spain in 2019 after a couple of forays with the VW Polo GTI R5 and the MkII Fiesta. He found himself in a Citroen DS3 R5 and winning the WRC2 category.
