Kajetan Kajetanowicz was the reigning champion but he didn't return to defend his title.
ERC Junior U27, which totals six events, is for drivers born on or after 1 January 1991 competing in R2 cars on Pirelli tyres.
With the best four rounds counting, the winner will receive a career progression fund worth 100,000 euros to use in ERC Junior U28 in 2019.
ERC Junior U28 offers the next step on the rallying pyramid for drivers born on or after 1 January 1990.
Again totalling six rounds with the best four scores counting, drivers use R5 cars with no restriction on tyre choice.