Difference between revisions of "World Rally Championship"

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[[Image:Subaru_Monte-Carlo_2005.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Stephane Sarrazin]] driving a [[Subaru Impreza WRC]] on the [[Monte Carlo Rally]]]]
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{| style="float:right"
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|-
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|{{Infobox motorsport championship
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| logo            = WRC.png
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| pixels          = 180px
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| caption        = The World Rally Championship (WRC) logo.
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| current_season = 2009 World Rally Championship season
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| category        = [[World Rally Car]]
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| country/region  = [[International]]
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| inaugural2      = [[1973 World Rally Championship season|1973]]
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| folded          =
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| drivers        = 12 (manufacturer teams)
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| teams          = 5 (manufacturer teams)
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| tyres          = {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Pirelli]]
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| champion driver = {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Loeb]]
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| manufacturer    = {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Citroën Total World Rally Team|Citroën]]
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| website        = [http://www.wrc.com/ wrc.com]
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}}
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|-
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|{{World Rally Championship}}
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|-
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|
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|}
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The '''World Rally Championship''' (WRC) is a [[rallying]] series organised by the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]], culminating with a champion driver, co-driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 12 three-day events driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice. Each rally is split into 15-25 [[Special stage (rallying)|special stage]]s which are run against the clock on closed roads. The sport's commercial rights are administered by [[International Sportsworld Communicators]], who also produce the daily event highlights shown in 186 countries.
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The WRC was formed from well-known and popular international rallies, most of which had previously been part of the [[European Rally Championship]] and/or the [[International Championship for Manufacturers]], and the series was first contested in [[1973 World Rally Championship season|1973]]. The [[World Rally Car]] is the current car specification in the series. It evolved from [[Group A]] cars which replaced the banned [[Group B]] supercars. World Rally Cars are built on production two-litre four-cylinder cars, but feature [[turbocharger]]s, [[anti-lag]] systems, [[four-wheel-drive]], [[sequential gearbox]]es, aerodynamic parts and other enhancements bringing the price of a WRC car to around US$1 million (€700,000).
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The WRC features two support championships, the [[Junior World Rally Championship]] (JWRC) and the [[Production World Rally Championship]] (PWRC), which are contested on the same events and stages as the WRC, but with different regulations. The production car and junior entrants race through the stages after the WRC drivers.
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==History==
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===Early===
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[[Image:Lancia-Stratos-HF-Group-4-'.jpg|thumb|left|Group 4 [[Lancia Stratos HF]].]]
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The World Rally Championship was formed from well-known international rallies, nine of which were previously part of the [[International Championship for Manufacturers]] (IMC), which was contested from 1970 to 1972. The [[1973 World Rally Championship season]] was the inaugural season of the WRC and began with the [[42ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo]] on [[January 19]].
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[[Alpine-Renault]] won the first [[List of World Rally Championship Constructors' Champions|manufacturer's world championship]] with its [[Alpine A110]], after which [[Lancia]] took the title three years in a row with the [[Ferrari_Dino_engine#65.C2.B0|Ferrari V6]]-powered [[Lancia Stratos]], the first car designed and manufactured specifically for rallying. The first [[List of World Rally Championship Drivers' Champions|drivers' world championship]] was not awarded until [[1979 World Rally Championship season|1979]], although [[1977 World Rally Championship season|1977]] and [[1978 World Rally Championship season|1978]] seasons included an ''FIA Cup for Drivers'', won by [[Italy]]'s [[Sandro Munari]] and [[Finland]]'s [[Markku Alén]] respectively. [[Sweden]]'s [[Björn Waldegård]] became the first official world champion, edging out Finland's [[Hannu Mikkola]] by one point. [[Fiat]] took the manufacters' title with the [[Fiat 131 Abarth]] in 1977, 1978 and [[1980 World Rally Championship season|1980]], [[Ford of Europe|Ford]] with its [[Ford Escort RS1800|Escort RS1800]] in 1979 and [[Talbot]] with its [[Talbot Sunbeam Lotus|Sunbeam Lotus]] in [[1981 World Rally Championship season|1981]]. Waldegård was followed by [[Germany|German]] [[Walter Röhrl]] and Finn [[Ari Vatanen]] as drivers' world champions.
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===Group B era===
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[[Image:Audi Quattro - 2007 Rallye Deutschland (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Group B [[Audi Quattro S1]].]]
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The 1980s saw the [[rear-wheel-drive]] [[Group 2 (racing)|Group 2]] and the more popular [[Group 4 (racing)|Group 4]] cars be replaced by more powerful [[four-wheel-drive]] [[Group B]] cars. [[Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile|FISA]] legalized all-wheel-drive in 1979, but most manufacturers believed it was too complex to be successful. However, after [[Audi]] started entering Mikkola and the new four-wheel-drive [[Audi Quattro|Quattro]] in rallies for testing purposes with immediate success, other manufacturers started their all-wheel-drive projects. Group B regulations were introduced in the [[1982 World Rally Championship season|1982 season]], and with only a few restrictions allowed almost unlimited power. Audi took the constructors' title in 1982 and [[1984 World Rally Championship season|1984]] and drivers' title in [[1983 World Rally Championship season|1983]] (Mikkola) and 1984 ([[Stig Blomqvist]]). Audi's [[France|French]] female driver [[Michèle Mouton]] came close to winning the title in 1982, but had to settle for second place after [[Opel]] rival Röhrl. [[1985 World Rally Championship season|1985]] title seemed set to go to Vatanen and his [[Peugeot 205|Peugeot 205 T16]] but a bad accident at the [[Rally Argentina]] left him to watch compatriot and team-mate [[Timo Salonen]] take the title instead. Italian [[Attilio Bettega]] had even a more severe crash with his [[Lancia 037]] at the Tour de Corse and died instantly.
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[[Image:Lancia Delta S4 005.JPG|thumb|Group B [[Lancia Delta S4]].]]
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The [[1986 World Rally Championship season|1986 season]] started with impressive performances by Finns [[Henri Toivonen]] and Alén in Lancia's new turbo- and supercharged [[Lancia Delta S4|Delta S4]], which could reportedly accelerate from 0-60 [[Miles per hour|mph]] (96 [[Kilometres per hour|km/h]]) in 2.3 seconds, on a gravel road. However, the season soon took a dramatic turn. At the Rally Portugal, three spectators were killed and over 30 injured after Joaquim Santos lost control of his [[Ford RS200]]. At the Tour de Corse, championship favourite Toivonen and his co-driver [[Sergio Cresto]] died in a fireball accident after plunging down a cliff. Only hours after the crash, [[Jean-Marie Balestre]] and the FISA decided to freeze the development of the Group B cars and ban them from competing in 1987. More controversy followed when Peugeot's [[Juha Kankkunen]] won the title after FIA annulled the results of the [[San Remo Rally]], taking the title from fellow Finn Alén.
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===Group A era===
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[[Image:Toyota Celica GT-FOUR 02.jpg|thumb|left|Group A [[Toyota Celica GT-Four]].]]
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As the planned Group S was also cancelled, [[Group A]] regulations became the standard in the WRC until 1997. A separate Group A championship had been organized as part of the WRC already in 1986, with Sweden's [[Kenneth Eriksson]] taking the title with a [[Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V]]. Lancia was quickest in adapting to the new regulations and controlled the world rally scene with [[Lancia Delta Integrale]], winning the constructors' title six years in a row from [[1987 World Rally Championship season|1987]] to [[1992 World Rally Championship season|1992]]. Kankkunen and [[Miki Biasion]] both took two drivers' titles with the Integrale.
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The 1990s then saw the [[Japan]]ese manufacturers, [[Toyota]], [[Subaru]] and [[Mitsubishi]], become title favourites. [[Spain]]'s [[Carlos Sainz]] driving for [[Toyota Team Europe]] took the [[1990 World Rally Championship season|1990]] and 1992 titles with a [[Toyota Celica GT-Four]]. Kankkunen moved to Toyota for the 1993 season and won his record fourth title, with Toyota taking its first manufacturers' crown. Frenchman [[Didier Auriol]] brought the team further success in [[1994 World Rally Championship season|1994]], and soon Subaru and Mitsubishi continued the success of the Japanese constructors. [[Subaru]]'s [[Scottish people|Scotsman]] [[Colin McRae]] won the drivers' world championship in [[1995 World Rally Championship season|1995]] and Subaru took the manufacturers' title three years in a row. Finland's [[Tommi Mäkinen]] driving a [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] won the drivers' championship four times in a row, from [[1996 World Rally Championship season|1996]] to [[1999 World Rally Championship season|1999]]. Mitsubishi also won the manufacturers' title in [[1998 World Rally Championship season|1998]].
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===World Rally Car era===
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[[Image:Cuoq and Latvala - 2008 Monte Carlo Rally 2.jpg|thumb|[[Peugeot 307 WRC]] and [[Ford Focus WRC]] in [[2008 Monte Carlo Rally|Monte Carlo]].]]
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For the [[1997 World Rally Championship season|1997 season]], the [[World Rally Car]] regulations were introduced as an intended replacement for Group A (only successive works Mitsubishis still conforming to the latter formula; until they, too, homologated a Lancer Evolution WRC from the 2001 San Remo Rally). After the success of Mäkinen and the Japanese manufacturers, France's Peugeot made a very successful return to the World Rally Championship. Finn [[Marcus Grönholm]] took the drivers' title in his first full year in the series and Peugeot won the manufacturers' crown. [[England]]'s [[Richard Burns]] won the [[2001 World Rally Championship season|2001]] title with a [[Subaru Impreza WRC]], but Grönholm and Peugeot took back both titles in the [[2002 World Rally Championship season|2002 season]]. [[2003 World Rally Championship season|2003]] saw [[Norway]]'s [[Petter Solberg]] become drivers' champion for Subaru and [[Citroën]] continue the success of the French manufacturers. Citroën's [[Sébastien Loeb]] went on to control the following seasons with his [[Citroën Xsara WRC]]. Citroën took the constructors' title three times in a row and Loeb surpassed Mäkinen's record of four drivers' titles earning his fifth with the 2008 season win. After many titleless years at the top with their [[Ford Focus WRC]], [[BP Ford World Rally Team|Ford]] took the [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]] and [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]] manufacturers' titles with drivers [[Marcus Grönholm]] and [[Mikko Hirvonen]].
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==Structure==
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[[Image:Škoda Motorsport 2005.jpg|thumb|left|Škoda preparing their cars a day before the ''[[Shakedown (testing)|shakedown]]''.]]
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Each season normally consists of 13 rallies driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice. Points from these events are calculated towards the drivers' and manufacturers' world championships. The driver's championship and manufacturer's championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. This means, for example, that [[Petter Solberg]] driving for [[Subaru World Rally Team|Subaru]] can win the driver's championship but [[Citroën World Rally Team|Citroën]] can win the manufacturer's championship, which is what happened in [[2003 World Rally Championship season|2003]], and again in [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]] and [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]] when [[Sébastien Loeb]] took his third and fourth WRC titles but [[Ford World Rally Team|Ford]] won the manufacturer's championship. In the current points system, points are awarded at the end of each rally to the top eight WRC (overall), [[Junior World Rally Championship|junior]] and [[Production World Rally Championship|production car]] drivers that qualify as follows: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Despite how many drivers are in one team, constructors can only nominate two drivers to score points for the team as well as scoring for themselves. As only nominated drivers are counted while awarding points, even competitors placed further down than eighth overall (if preceded by [[privateer (motorsport)|privateer]] drivers) can score them.
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[[Image:Grönholm vs. Loeb.jpg|thumb|A stadium-based ''[[super special stage]]'' in [[Rally Argentina|Argentina]].]]
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In the current era, each rally usually consists of 15-35 [[Special stage (rallying)|special stages]] of distances ranging from under {{km to mi|num=2|abbr=yes|spell=Commonwealth|precision=2}} (''super specials'') to over {{km to mi|50}}. These competitive stages driven on closed roads are linked by non-competitive ''road sections'' which are on open roads on which all road laws of that country must be adhered to. On average a day consists of a total of {{km to mi|400}} of driving. A WRC event begins with reconnaissance (''recce'') on Tuesday and Wednesday, allowing crews to drive through the stages and create or update their [[pacenotes]]. On Thursday, teams can run through the [[Shakedown (testing)|shakedown]] stage to practice and test their set-ups. The competition begins on Friday and ends on Sunday. Cars start the stages at one or two minute intervals. Each day, or ''[[Leg (rallying)|leg]]'', has a few designated service parks between the stages, where the teams can – within strict time limits – perform maintenance and repairs on their cars. The service park also allows spectators and the media to get close to the teams and their cars and drivers. Between the days, after a 45-minute end of day service, cars are locked away in the guarded [[parc fermé]].
  
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[[Image:Wrc-monte-carlo-99.jpeg|thumb|right|300px|[[Carlos Sainz]] driving a [[Toyota Corolla WRC]] on the [[Monte Carlo Rally]]]]
 
  
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==Cars==
  
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The '''World Rally Championship''' (WRC) is a [[rally racing]] series across the world (although the main focus is in Europe, due to the sport's roots), culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's championship and manufacturer's championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. This means that [[Petter Solberg]] driving for [[Subaru]] can win the driver's championship but [[Citroën]] can win the manufacturer's championship, which is what happened in [[2003]]. The competition first received the designation of WRC in [[1973]].  
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[[File:Andy_Priaulx_-_2007_Race_of_Champions_2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Andy Priaulx]] driving a [[Ford Focus WRC]] at the 2007 Race of Champions.]]
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The production-based 2.0 L [[turbocharged]] [[four-wheel drive]] cars are built to [[World Rally Car]] regulations racing across tarmac, gravel and snow. The power output has been limited to around 300 bhp (225 kW). Current cars in the championship include the [[Citroën C4#C4 in rallying|Citroën C4]] and [[Ford Focus WRC|Ford Focus RS]]. Citroën, Peugeot, Škoda and Mitsubishi pulled out of the championship for 2006 and those cars, although in use by privateers, are not in further development. Citroën returned to WRC in [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]] using the [[Citroën C4#C4 in rallying|C4]]. The [[Suzuki World Rally Team]] joined the [[2008 World Rally Championship season|2008 championship]] for the first time with their [[Suzuki SX4|SX4]] but they have pulled out of the [[2009 World Rally Championship season|2009 championship]] together with [[Subaru]] because of the economic downturn currently affecting the automotive industry.
  
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== World Rally Cars ==
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The WRC was formerly held for [[Group A]] and [[Group B]] rallycars. However, due to the increasing power, lack of reliability and the fatal accidents on the [[1986 World Rally Championship season|1986 season]], [[Group B]] was permanently banned. Later, in [[1997 World Rally Championship season|1997]], the [[Group A]] cars evolved into the WRC car spec, to ease the development of new cars and bring new makes to the competition.
  
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The Championship currently features 16 rallies and production-based 2.0 L [[Turbocharged]] [[4WD]] cars built to [[World Rally Car]] regulations racing across tarmac, gravel and snow. The power output has been limited to around 300bhp. Current cars in the championship include the [[Citroën Xsara#Citroën Xsara WRC|Citroën Xsara]], [[Ford Focus|Ford Focus RS]], [[Peugeot 307]], [[Skoda Fabia]], [[Subaru Impreza]], and [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]]. Citroën, Peugeot, Skoda and Mitsubishi have pulled out of the championship for 2006 and those cars, although in use by privateers, are not in further development. Citroën will be returning to WRC in 2007 using the [[Citroën C4|C4]].
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Cars in the [[Production car World Rally Championship]] are limited to production-based cars homologated under [[Group N]] or [[Super 2000]] rules. Most cars in the [[Junior World Rally Championship]] are homologated under [[Super 1600]] rules, but Group N and selected Group A cars can also contest the series.
  
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The WRC was formerly held for [[Group A]] and [[Group B]] rallycars. However, due to the increasing power, lack of reliability and the fatal accidents on the 1986 season, [[Group B]] was permanently banned. Later, in 1997, the [[Group A]] cars evolved into the WRC car spec, to ease the development of new cars and bring new makes to the competition.
 
  
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The World Rally Championship also features classes called the [[Production World Rally Championship]] and the [[Junior World Rally Championship]].
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==Teams and drivers==
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:''See [[2010_World_Rally_Championship_season#Teams_and_drivers|2010 WRC season]]'' for a list of the teams and drivers.
  
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== World Rally Calendar ==
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20 different manufacturers have won a World Rally Championship event, and a further ten have finished on the podium.
  
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For 2004 through 2005, the championship rallies included [[Monte Carlo]], [[Sweden]], [[Mexico]], [[New Zealand]], [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Turkey]],  [[Argentina]], [[Finland]],  [[Germany]], [[Japan]], [[Great Britain]], [[Italy]], [[France]], [[Spain]], and [[Australia]].  [[Japan]] and [[Mexico]] debuted in [[2004]].  
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For The 2009 season, the championship has two manufacturer teams ([[Citroën Total World Rally Team]] and [[BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team]]) and three ''semi-factory'' teams ([[Stobart VK M-Sport Ford]], [[Munchi's Ford World Rally Team|Munchi's Ford]] and the [[Citroën Junior Team]]) that will be eligible for the manufacturers' championship.
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[[Suzuki World Rally Team|Suzuki]] and [[Subaru World Rally Team|Subaru]] pulled out of the WRC at the end of the [[2008 World Rally Championship season|2008 championship]], both citing the economic downturn currently affecting the automotive industry for their withdrawal.
  
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The 2006 rallies will be, in order, [[Monte Carlo]], [[Sweden]], [[Mexico]], [[Spain]], [[France]], [[Argentina]], [[Italy]], [[Greece]], [[Germany]], [[Finland]], [[Japan]], [[Cyprus]], [[Turkey]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and [[Great Britain]].  
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A typical WRC team will consist of about 40 people on the events, with a further 60-100 at the team base.
  
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==World Rally Results==
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Manufacturers and manufacturer-backed teams usually have two or three drivers participating in each rally and eligible to score points. The total number of crews (driver and his [[co-driver]]) in the rallies varied from 47 ([[2007 Monte Carlo Rally|Monte Carlo]] and [[2007 Rally Mexico|Mexico]]) to 108 ([[2007 Rally GB|Great Britain]]) during the [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007 season]].
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See current (i.e. 2006) [[World Rally Championship 2006 results|World Rally Championship race results]].
 
  
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The current Championship table looks like this [after Rally Argentina 28-30 April, 2006]:
 
  
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'''Drivers''''
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==2010 Calendar==
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{| table BORDER=5 CELLSPACING=4 CELLPADDING=5 style="font-size: 95%"
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[[Image:Marcus Grönholm Bunnings Jumps.jpg|thumb|right|[[Marcus Grönholm]] at the Bunnings Jumps of the [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]] [[Rally Australia]].]]
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|- tr BGCOLOR="darkred"
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[[Image:Peugeot 206 WRC.jpg|thumb|[[Juuso Pykälistö]] during the [[2003 World Rally Championship season|2003]] [[Swedish Rally]].]]
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!  Place
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!  Driver
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:''See [[2010_World_Rally_Championship_season#Calendar|2010 WRC season]]''
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!  Car
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!  Points
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{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
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|-  
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!  Round
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| 1. || S.Loeb||Citroën || 56pts
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!  Dates
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|-  
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!  Rally Name
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| 2. || M.Gronholm||Ford || 35pts
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!  Rally HQ
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|-  
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!  Support Category
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| 3. || D.Sordo||Citroën || 24pts
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!  Surface
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|-  
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|-
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| 4. || P.Solberg||Subaru || 18pts
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| 01 || 14 February || [[Swedish Rally]] || {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Karlstad]] || PWRC/WRC Cup || Ice and snow covered gravel
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|-  
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|-
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| 5. || M.Stohl||Peugeot || 18pts
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| 02 || 07 March || [[Rally Mexico]] || {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[León, Guanajuato|León]] || PWRC/WRC Cup || Gravel
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|-  
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|-
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| 6. || G.Galli||Peugeot || 11pts
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| 03 || 04 April || [[Jordan Rally]] || {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Amman]] || PWRC/WRC Cup || Gravel
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|-  
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|-
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| 7. || A.Bengue||Peugeot || 9pts
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| 04 || 18 April || [[Rally Turkey]] || {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Istanbul]] || JWRC || Gravel
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|-  
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|-
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| 8. || C.Atkinson||Subaru || 8pts
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| 05 || 09 May || [[Rally New Zealand]] || {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Auckland]] || PWRC/WRC Cup || Gravel and Asphalt
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|-  
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|-
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| 9. || M.Hirvonen||Ford || 7pts
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| 06 || 30 May || [[Rally de Portugal]] || {{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Vilamoura]] || JWRC/WRC Cup || Gravel
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|-  
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|-
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| 10 || H.Solberg||Peugeot || 7pts
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| 07 || 10 July (Saturday finish)|| [[Rally Bulgaria]] || {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} [[Borovets]] || JWRC || Asphalt
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|-
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| 08 || 01 August || [[Rally Finland]] || {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Jyväskylä]] || PWRC/WRC Cup || Gravel
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|-
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| 09 || 22 August || [[Rallye Deutschland]] || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Trier]] || JWRC/PWRC/WRC Cup || Asphalt
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|-
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| 10 || 12 September || [[Rally Japan]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Sapporo]] || PWRC/WRC Cup || Gravel
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|-
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| 11 || 03 October || [[Tour de Corse]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Ajaccio]] || JWRC/PWRC/WRC Cup || Asphalt
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|-
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| 12 || 24 October || [[Rally Catalunya]] || {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Salou]] || JWRC || Asphalt
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|-
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| 13 || 14 November || [[Wales Rally GB]] || {{flagicon|UK}} [[Cardiff]] || PWRC/WRC Cup || Gravel
 
|}
 
|}
  
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'''Manufacturers' / Team'''
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==Coverage==
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===TV===
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[[Image:Jari-Matti Latvala - 2007 Rallye Deutschland.jpg|thumb|left|A cameraman at a [[hairpin turn]] at the [[2007 Rallye Deutschland]].]]
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[[International Sportsworld Communicators|ISC]] TV produce daily updates of each event after the day's stages have finished and the TV coverage has been processed. These daily highlight programs are around 30 minutes in duration and cover in depth the day's stages, with in-car footage as well as driver interviews. Before the rally there is also a ''Rally Preview'' that normally incorporates special driver, technical and team features as well as providing an overview of the upcoming rally's route. There is also a review program, which lasts approximately an hour, that summarises the rally and the big events that took place during the duration; the stages are not in such detail as the daily updates as it is a review program.
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[[Image:Wrc fin 2006 day2 servicepark gronholm.jpg‎|thumb|The service park area during the 2006 [[Rally Finland]].]]
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This is then shown in 186 different countries in multiple languages, each day of the event. The make up and format for the telecast can change from country to country depending on the local broadcaster but it all uses ISC TV feeds. ISC TV also provides coverage of all of the events in the [[Junior World Rally Championship]] and the [[Production World Rally Championship]] in a 26-minute highlights package.
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Also produced after each event is the lifestyle entertainment programme called ''WRC All Access'', focused on a behind the scenes experience of WRC life, both on and off the road. These programmes focus on all elements of each country visited including culture, food, people, attractions as well as the WRC event itself. ''Rally World'', a weekly rally programme reviews events from all around the planet, including the WRC, the PWRC, the JWRC as well as [[Asia Pacific Rally Championship]], the [[Australian Rally Championship]] and the [[Middle East Rally Championship]] among others.
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In the [[United Kingdom]], coverage of the three-day event is shown on [[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]] on Sundays after the event is completed. Dave also shows different programmes on rallying – for example about WRC cars or crashes – before showing coverage of the event.
  
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{| table BORDER=5 CELLSPACING=4 CELLPADDING=5 style="font-size: 95%"
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During the [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007 season]], the cumulative worldwide TV audience for ISC's WRC programming was 816 million. The programming was available in over 180 countries, and was broadcast on over 250 different TV channels. The total number of dedicated broadcasts was 12,445, and the total number of hours of coverage was 5,457.
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|- tr BGCOLOR="darkred"
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! Place
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! Team
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===Radio===
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! Points
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Live radio coverage is provided in English by [[World Rally Radio]] via the Internet, featuring end of stage reports direct from the drivers and teams plus service park news. It also features contemporary music during breaks in rally coverage. This coverage can even simulcast on local radio or via a temporary licence, pending on the event and its organisers. They are also responsible for producing podcasts for each day of each event available for download.
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|-  
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| 1. || Kronos Total Citroen || 69pts
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==Champions==
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|-  
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{{main|List of World Rally Championship Drivers' Champions|List of World Rally Championship Constructors' Champions}}
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| 2. || BP-Ford WRT || 57pts
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[[Image:Petter Solberg - 2006 Cyprus Rally.jpg|thumb|[[Petter Solberg]] at the 2006 [[Cyprus Rally]].]]
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|-  
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[[Image:MG_2342_(3483x2321)_(2949x1965)_(300dpi).jpg|thumb|[[Chris Atkinson]] during the [[Rally Argentina]] 2008.]]
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| 3. || Subaru WRT || 51pts
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{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size:90%;"
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|-  
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|- style="background:#efefef;"
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| 4. || OMV-Peugeot Norway || 31pts
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!rowspan=2 width=40px| Season
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|-  
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!colspan=2 width=270px| Championship for Drivers
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| 5. || Stobart VK M-Sport Ford WRT || 15pts
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!rowspan=39 width=5px|
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|-  
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!colspan=2 width=270px| Championship for Manufacturers
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| 6. || Red Bull Skoda || 11pts
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|-
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!width=125px| Driver
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!width=145px| Car
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!width=125px| Manufacturer
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!width=145px| Car
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|-
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! [[2009 World Rally Championship season|2009]]
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] || [[Citroën C4 WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Citroën]] || [[Citroën C4 WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[2008 World Rally Championship season|2008]]
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] || [[Citroën C4 WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Citroën]] || [[Citroën C4 WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]]
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] || [[Citroën C4 WRC]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
 +
|| [[Ford Focus WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]]
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] || [[Citroën Xsara WRC]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
 +
|| [[Ford Focus WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[2005 World Rally Championship season|2005]]
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] || [[Citroën Xsara WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Citroën]] || [[Citroën Xsara WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[2004 World Rally Championship season|2004]]
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] || [[Citroën Xsara WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Citroën]] || [[Citroën Xsara WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[2003 World Rally Championship season|2003]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Petter Solberg]] || [[Subaru Impreza WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Citroën]] || [[Citroën Xsara WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[2002 World Rally Championship season|2002]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Marcus Grönholm]] || [[Peugeot 206 WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] || [[Peugeot 206 WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[2001 World Rally Championship season|2001]]
 +
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Richard Burns]] || [[Subaru Impreza WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] || [[Peugeot 206 WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[2000 World Rally Championship season|2000]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Marcus Grönholm]] || [[Peugeot 206 WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] || [[Peugeot 206 WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1999 World Rally Championship season|1999]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]] || [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]] || [[Toyota Corolla WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1998 World Rally Championship season|1998]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]] || [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Mitsubishi]] || [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1997 World Rally Championship season|1997]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]] || [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Subaru]] || [[Subaru Impreza WRC]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1996 World Rally Championship season|1996]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]] || [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Subaru]] || [[Subaru Impreza 555]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1995 World Rally Championship season|1995]]
 +
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]] || [[Subaru Impreza 555]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Subaru]] || [[Subaru Impreza 555]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1994 World Rally Championship season|1994]]
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Didier Auriol]] || [[Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]] || [[Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1993 World Rally Championship season|1993]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]] || [[Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]] || [[Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1992 World Rally Championship season|1992]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Carlos Sainz]] || [[Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta HF Integrale]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1991 World Rally Championship season|1991]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]] || [[Lancia Delta Integrale 16V]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta Integrale 16V]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1990 World Rally Championship season|1990]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Carlos Sainz]] || [[Toyota Celica GT-Four]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta Integrale 16V]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1989 World Rally Championship season|1989]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Massimo Biasion|Miki Biasion]] || [[Lancia Delta Integrale]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta Integrale]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1988 World Rally Championship season|1988]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Massimo Biasion|Miki Biasion]] || [[Lancia Delta Integrale]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta Integrale]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1987 World Rally Championship season|1987]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]] || [[Lancia Delta HF 4WD]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta HF 4WD]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1986 World Rally Championship season|1986]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]] || [[Peugeot 205 Turbo 16]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] || [[Peugeot 205 Turbo 16]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1985 World Rally Championship season|1985]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Timo Salonen]] || [[Peugeot 205 Turbo 16]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] || [[Peugeot 205 Turbo 16]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1984 World Rally Championship season|1984]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Stig Blomqvist]] || [[Audi Quattro]] || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Audi]] || [[Audi Quattro]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1983 World Rally Championship season|1983]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Hannu Mikkola]] || [[Audi Quattro]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Rally 037]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1982 World Rally Championship season|1982]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Walter Röhrl]] || [[Opel Ascona 400]] || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Audi]] || [[Audi Quattro]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1981 World Rally Championship season|1981]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Ari Vatanen]] || [[Ford Escort RS1800]] || {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Talbot]] || [[Talbot Sunbeam Lotus]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1980 World Rally Championship season|1980]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Walter Röhrl]] || [[Fiat 131 Abarth]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Fiat]] || [[Fiat 131 Abarth]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1979 World Rally Championship season|1979]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Björn Waldegård]] || [[Ford Escort RS1800]]* || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
 +
|| [[Ford Escort RS1800]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1978 World Rally Championship season|1978]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Markku Alén]]*** || [[Fiat 131 Abarth]]** || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Fiat]] || [[Fiat 131 Abarth]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1977 World Rally Championship season|1977]]
 +
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Sandro Munari]]*** || [[Lancia Stratos HF]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Fiat]] || [[Fiat 131 Abarth]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1976 World Rally Championship season|1976]]
 +
| colspan=2| No drivers' championship || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Stratos HF]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1975 World Rally Championship season|1975]]
 +
| colspan=2| No drivers' championship || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Stratos HF]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1974 World Rally Championship season|1974]]
 +
| colspan=2| No drivers' championship || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Stratos HF]]
 +
|-
 +
! [[1973 World Rally Championship season|1973]]
 +
| colspan=2| No drivers' championship || {{flagicon|France}} [[Alpine (car)|Alpine-Renault]] || [[Alpine A110]]
 +
|-
 +
|colspan=6| * - [[Björn Waldegård]] drove a [[Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class|Mercedes 450 SLC]] in two rallies in 1979
 +
|-
 +
|colspan=6| ** - [[Markku Alén]] drove a [[Lancia Stratos HF]] in two rallies in 1978
 +
|-
 +
|colspan=6| *** - In 1977 and 1978, the drivers championship was the ''FIA Cup for Rally Drivers''
 +
|-
 +
|colspan=6| No drivers title 1973-1976
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
==World Rally Champions List==
+
== Records ==
 +
{{main|List of World Rally Championship records}}
 +
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size:90%;"
 +
|- style="background:#efefef;"
 +
!width=23% colspan=3| Driver championships
 +
!width=2% rowspan=12|
 +
!width=23% colspan=3| Driver rally wins
 +
!width=2% rowspan=12|
 +
!width=24% colspan=3| Manufacturer championships
 +
!width=2% rowspan=12|
 +
!width=24% colspan=3| Manufacturer rally wins
 +
|- style="background:#efefef;"
 +
! Place
 +
! Driver
 +
! Titles
 +
! Place
 +
! Driver
 +
! Wins
 +
! Place
 +
! Manufacturer
 +
! Titles
 +
! Place
 +
! Manufacturer
 +
! Wins
 +
|-
 +
! 1
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Sébastien Loeb]]'''
 +
|align=center| 6
 +
! 1
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Sébastien Loeb]]'''
 +
|align=center| 54
 +
! 1
 +
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]]
 +
|align=center| 10
 +
!rowspan=2| 1
 +
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]]
 +
|align=center| 73
 +
|-
 +
!rowspan=2| 2
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]]
 +
|align=center| 4
 +
! 2
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
 +
|align=center| 30
 +
!rowspan=2| 2
 +
|{{flagicon|France}} '''[[Citroën]]'''
 +
|align=center| 5
 +
| {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]'''
 +
|align=center| 73
 +
|-
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]]
 +
|align=center| 4
 +
! 3
 +
| {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Carlos Sainz]]
 +
|align=center| 26
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]]
 +
|align=center| 5
 +
! 3
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Citroën]]'''
 +
|align=center| 60
 +
|-
 +
!rowspan=4| 4
 +
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Walter Röhrl]]
 +
|align=center| 2
 +
! 4
 +
| {{flagicon|Great Britain}} [[Colin McRae]]
 +
|align=center| 25
 +
!rowspan=4| 4
 +
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]]
 +
|align=center| 3
 +
! 4
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]]
 +
|align=center| 48
 +
|-
 +
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Massimo Biasion]]
 +
|align=center| 2
 +
! 5
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]]
 +
|align=center| 24
 +
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Subaru]]
 +
|align=center| 3
 +
! 5
 +
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Subaru]]
 +
|align=center| 47
 +
|-
 +
| {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Carlos Sainz]]
 +
|align=center| 2
 +
! 6
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]]
 +
|align=center| 23
 +
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Fiat]]
 +
|align=center| 3
 +
! 6
 +
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]]
 +
|align=center| 43
 +
|-
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
 +
|align=center| 2
 +
!rowspan=2| 7
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Markku Alén]]
 +
|align=center| 20
 +
| {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]'''
 +
|align=center| 3
 +
! 7
 +
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Mitsubishi]]
 +
|align=center| 34
 +
|-
 +
!rowspan=3| 8
 +
|rowspan=3 colspan=2 align=center| 11 drivers are tied with a single championship each.
 +
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Didier Auriol]]
 +
|align=center| 20
 +
!8
 +
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Audi]]
 +
|align=center| 2
 +
! 8
 +
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Audi]]
 +
|align=center| 24
 +
|-
 +
! 9
 +
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Hannu Mikkola]]
 +
|align=center| 18
 +
!rowspan=2| 9
 +
|rowspan=2 colspan=2 align=center| 3 manufacturers tied with a single championship each
 +
! 9
 +
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Fiat]]
 +
|align=center| 21
 +
|-
 +
! 10
 +
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Massimo Biasion]]
 +
|align=center| 17
 +
! 10
 +
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Datsun]] / [[Nissan]]
 +
|align=center| 9
 +
|}
 +
:''Note: '''bold''' text indicates active drivers and teams.''
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Other classes==
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Renault Clio S1600.jpg|thumb|A [[Super 1600]] class [[Renault Clio]].]]
 +
The World Rally Championship also features support championships called the [[Production car World Rally Championship]] (PWRC) and the [[Junior World Rally Championship]] (JWRC). These championships are contested on the same events and stages as the WRC. In 2008, The PWRC includes eight and the JWRC seven events. In 2007, the junior championship had no events outside Europe so it was known simply as the Junior Rally Championship (JRC).
 +
 
 +
The Production car World Rally Championship began in 2002, replacing the FIA [[Group N]] Cup which had been contested from 1987. Cars in the championship are production-based and homologated under Group N or [[Super 2000]] rules. The Junior World Rally Championship was started in 2001, and can be contested with [[Super 1600]], Group N and selected [[Group A]] cars. Drivers in the championship have to be 28 years or younger. There is no age limit for [[co-driver]]s.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Video games==
 +
There have been many [[video game]]s based on the World Rally Championship, and due to lack of licenses, many more based on only certain cars, drivers or events. ''[[Sega Rally]]'' was released in 1995, ''[[V-Rally]]'' and ''[[Top Gear Rally]]'' in 1997 and the first game in the very popular ''[[Colin McRae Rally]]'' series in 1998. ''[[Rally Trophy]]'', released in 2001 for [[Microsoft Windows]] by [[Bugbear Entertainment|Bugbear]], concentrated on historic cars such as [[Alpine A110]] and [[Lancia Stratos]]. ''[[RalliSport Challenge]]'', released in 2002 for Windows and [[Xbox]] by [[Digital Illusions CE]], featured classic [[Group B]] cars and [[hillclimb]] models along with modern WRC cars.
 +
 
 +
Fully FIA licensed ''[[World Rally Championship (video game series)|WRC: World Rally Championship]]'' was released in 2001 for [[PlayStation 2]] by [[Evolution Studios]]. The video game series had its fifth game, ''[[WRC: Rally Evolved]]'', in 2005. [[Sim racing|Racing simulator]] ''[[Richard Burns Rally]]'', released in 2004 for several platforms, has gathered recognition for its realism. Recent top-selling games include ''[[Colin McRae: Dirt]]'' and ''[[Sega Rally Revo]]''. ''[[Gran Turismo 5]]'' will include the WRC totally licensed.
  
−
{| table BORDER=5 CELLSPACING=4 CELLPADDING=5 style="font-size: 95%"
 
−
|- tr BGCOLOR="darkred"
 
−
!  Year
 
−
!  Drivers' Championship(car)
 
−
!  Manufacturers' Championship
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[2005]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Sébastien Loeb]] ([[Citroën]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Citroën]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[2004]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Sébastien Loeb]] ([[Citroën]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Citroën]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[2003]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Petter Solberg]] ([[Subaru]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Citroën]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[2002]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Marcus Grönholm]] ([[Peugeot]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Peugeot]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[2001]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Richard Burns]] ([[Subaru]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Peugeot]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[2000]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Marcus Grönholm]] ([[Peugeot]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Peugeot]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1999]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Tommi Mäkinen]] ([[Mitsubishi]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Toyota]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1998]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Tommi Mäkinen]] ([[Mitsubishi]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Mitsubishi]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1997]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Tommi Mäkinen]] ([[Mitsubishi]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Subaru]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1996]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Tommi Mäkinen]] ([[Mitsubishi]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Subaru]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1995]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Colin McRae]] ([[Subaru]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Subaru]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1994]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Didier Auriol]] ([[Toyota]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Toyota]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1993]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Juha Kankkunen]] ([[Toyota]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Toyota]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1992]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Carlos Sainz]] ([[Toyota]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Lancia]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1991]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Juha Kankkunen]] ([[Lancia]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Lancia]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1990]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Carlos Sainz]] ([[Toyota]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Lancia]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1989]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Massimo Biasion|Massimo 'Miki' Biasion]] ([[Lancia]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Lancia]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1988]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Massimo Biasion|Massimo 'Miki' Biasion]] ([[Lancia]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Lancia]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1987]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Juha Kankkunen]] ([[Lancia]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Lancia]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1986]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Juha Kankkunen]] ([[Peugeot]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Peugeot]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1985]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Timo Salonen]] ([[Peugeot]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Peugeot]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1984]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Stig Blomqvist]] ([[Audi]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Audi]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1983]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Hannu Mikkola]] ([[Audi]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Lancia]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1982]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Walter Röhrl]] ([[Opel]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Audi]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1981]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Ari Vatanen]] ([[Ford Motor Company|Ford]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Talbot]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1980]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Walter Röhrl]] ([[Fiat]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Fiat]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1979]]
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Björn Waldegård]] ([[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]/[[Mercedes-Benz]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1978]]
 
−
| ''FIA Cup for Drivers'':
 
−
[[Markku Alén]] ([[Fiat]]/[[Lancia]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Fiat]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1977]]
 
−
| ''FIA Cup for Drivers'':
 
−
[[Sandro Munari]] ([[Lancia]])
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Fiat]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1976]]
 
−
|
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Lancia]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1975]]
 
−
|
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Lancia]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1974]]
 
−
|
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Lancia]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| 
 
−
[[1973]]
 
−
|
 
−
| 
 
−
[[Alpine (car)|Alpine-Renault]]
 
−
|}
 
  
−
==World Rally Championship event wins==
 
−
# 26 – [[Carlos Sainz]] (Spain)
 
−
# 25 – [[Colin McRae]] (Great Britain)
 
−
# 24 – [[Tommi Mäkinen]] (Finland) / [[Sébastien Loeb]] (France)
 
−
# 23 – [[Juha Kankkunen]] (Finland)
 
−
# 20 – [[Didier Auriol]] (France) / [[Marcus Grönholm]] (Finland)
 
−
# 19 – [[Markku Alén]] (Finland)
 
−
# 18 – [[Hannu Mikkola]] (Finland)
 
−
# 17 – [[Massimo Biasion]]
 
−
# 16 – [[Björn Waldegård]] (Sweden)
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
−
* [http://www.wrc.com World Rally Championship] (official site)
 
−
* [http://www.Rallystuff.net Rallystuff.net] (Unofficial WRC Fan Site)
 
−
* [http://www.rallybase.nl/index.php RallyBase]
 
−
* [http://www.rallye-info.com Rallye-Info.com] (formerly WRC-Online.net)
 
  
 +
; News and information
 +
* [http://www.wrc.com/ WRC.com] — official site;
 +
* [http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/home/ Crash.net] — news;
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; Results
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* [http://www.rallybase.nl/index.php RallyBase.nl] — result database;
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* [http://www.ewrc-results.com/index.php eWRC-results.com] — complex and up-to-date results database; {{Cs icon}}
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* [http://www.juwra.com/statistics.html juwra.com - World Rally Archive] — database and statistics;
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{{World Rally Championship results}}
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{{Main world championships}}
  
  
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[[Category:Auto racing competitions]]
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[[Category:World Rally Championship| ]]
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[[Category:Rally competitions]]
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[[Category:1973 introductions]]
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[[Category:World Rally Championship]]
 
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Revision as of 11:06, 20 November 2009

World Rally Championship
WRC.png
The World Rally Championship (WRC) logo.
CategoryWorld Rally Car
Country or regionInternational
Inaugural season1973
Drivers12 (manufacturer teams)
Teams5 (manufacturer teams)
Tyre suppliersTemplate:Country data ITA Pirelli
Drivers' championTemplate:Country data FRA Sébastien Loeb
Makes' championTemplate:Country data FRA Citroën
Official websitewrc.com
Motorsport current event.svg Current season
Template:World Rally Championship


The World Rally Championship (WRC) is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver, co-driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 12 three-day events driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice. Each rally is split into 15-25 special stages which are run against the clock on closed roads. The sport's commercial rights are administered by International Sportsworld Communicators, who also produce the daily event highlights shown in 186 countries.

The WRC was formed from well-known and popular international rallies, most of which had previously been part of the European Rally Championship and/or the International Championship for Manufacturers, and the series was first contested in 1973. The World Rally Car is the current car specification in the series. It evolved from Group A cars which replaced the banned Group B supercars. World Rally Cars are built on production two-litre four-cylinder cars, but feature turbochargers, anti-lag systems, four-wheel-drive, sequential gearboxes, aerodynamic parts and other enhancements bringing the price of a WRC car to around US$1 million (€700,000).

The WRC features two support championships, the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC) and the Production World Rally Championship (PWRC), which are contested on the same events and stages as the WRC, but with different regulations. The production car and junior entrants race through the stages after the WRC drivers.


History

Early

Group 4 Lancia Stratos HF.

The World Rally Championship was formed from well-known international rallies, nine of which were previously part of the International Championship for Manufacturers (IMC), which was contested from 1970 to 1972. The 1973 World Rally Championship season was the inaugural season of the WRC and began with the 42ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo on January 19.

Alpine-Renault won the first manufacturer's world championship with its Alpine A110, after which Lancia took the title three years in a row with the Ferrari V6-powered Lancia Stratos, the first car designed and manufactured specifically for rallying. The first drivers' world championship was not awarded until 1979, although 1977 and 1978 seasons included an FIA Cup for Drivers, won by Italy's Sandro Munari and Finland's Markku Alén respectively. Sweden's Björn Waldegård became the first official world champion, edging out Finland's Hannu Mikkola by one point. Fiat took the manufacters' title with the Fiat 131 Abarth in 1977, 1978 and 1980, Ford with its Escort RS1800 in 1979 and Talbot with its Sunbeam Lotus in 1981. Waldegård was followed by German Walter Röhrl and Finn Ari Vatanen as drivers' world champions.


Group B era

Group B Audi Quattro S1.

The 1980s saw the rear-wheel-drive Group 2 and the more popular Group 4 cars be replaced by more powerful four-wheel-drive Group B cars. FISA legalized all-wheel-drive in 1979, but most manufacturers believed it was too complex to be successful. However, after Audi started entering Mikkola and the new four-wheel-drive Quattro in rallies for testing purposes with immediate success, other manufacturers started their all-wheel-drive projects. Group B regulations were introduced in the 1982 season, and with only a few restrictions allowed almost unlimited power. Audi took the constructors' title in 1982 and 1984 and drivers' title in 1983 (Mikkola) and 1984 (Stig Blomqvist). Audi's French female driver Michèle Mouton came close to winning the title in 1982, but had to settle for second place after Opel rival Röhrl. 1985 title seemed set to go to Vatanen and his Peugeot 205 T16 but a bad accident at the Rally Argentina left him to watch compatriot and team-mate Timo Salonen take the title instead. Italian Attilio Bettega had even a more severe crash with his Lancia 037 at the Tour de Corse and died instantly.

Group B Lancia Delta S4.

The 1986 season started with impressive performances by Finns Henri Toivonen and Alén in Lancia's new turbo- and supercharged Delta S4, which could reportedly accelerate from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.3 seconds, on a gravel road. However, the season soon took a dramatic turn. At the Rally Portugal, three spectators were killed and over 30 injured after Joaquim Santos lost control of his Ford RS200. At the Tour de Corse, championship favourite Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Cresto died in a fireball accident after plunging down a cliff. Only hours after the crash, Jean-Marie Balestre and the FISA decided to freeze the development of the Group B cars and ban them from competing in 1987. More controversy followed when Peugeot's Juha Kankkunen won the title after FIA annulled the results of the San Remo Rally, taking the title from fellow Finn Alén.


Group A era

Group A Toyota Celica GT-Four.

As the planned Group S was also cancelled, Group A regulations became the standard in the WRC until 1997. A separate Group A championship had been organized as part of the WRC already in 1986, with Sweden's Kenneth Eriksson taking the title with a Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V. Lancia was quickest in adapting to the new regulations and controlled the world rally scene with Lancia Delta Integrale, winning the constructors' title six years in a row from 1987 to 1992. Kankkunen and Miki Biasion both took two drivers' titles with the Integrale.

The 1990s then saw the Japanese manufacturers, Toyota, Subaru and Mitsubishi, become title favourites. Spain's Carlos Sainz driving for Toyota Team Europe took the 1990 and 1992 titles with a Toyota Celica GT-Four. Kankkunen moved to Toyota for the 1993 season and won his record fourth title, with Toyota taking its first manufacturers' crown. Frenchman Didier Auriol brought the team further success in 1994, and soon Subaru and Mitsubishi continued the success of the Japanese constructors. Subaru's Scotsman Colin McRae won the drivers' world championship in 1995 and Subaru took the manufacturers' title three years in a row. Finland's Tommi Mäkinen driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution won the drivers' championship four times in a row, from 1996 to 1999. Mitsubishi also won the manufacturers' title in 1998.


World Rally Car era

Peugeot 307 WRC and Ford Focus WRC in Monte Carlo.

For the 1997 season, the World Rally Car regulations were introduced as an intended replacement for Group A (only successive works Mitsubishis still conforming to the latter formula; until they, too, homologated a Lancer Evolution WRC from the 2001 San Remo Rally). After the success of Mäkinen and the Japanese manufacturers, France's Peugeot made a very successful return to the World Rally Championship. Finn Marcus Grönholm took the drivers' title in his first full year in the series and Peugeot won the manufacturers' crown. England's Richard Burns won the 2001 title with a Subaru Impreza WRC, but Grönholm and Peugeot took back both titles in the 2002 season. 2003 saw Norway's Petter Solberg become drivers' champion for Subaru and Citroën continue the success of the French manufacturers. Citroën's Sébastien Loeb went on to control the following seasons with his Citroën Xsara WRC. Citroën took the constructors' title three times in a row and Loeb surpassed Mäkinen's record of four drivers' titles earning his fifth with the 2008 season win. After many titleless years at the top with their Ford Focus WRC, Ford took the 2006 and 2007 manufacturers' titles with drivers Marcus Grönholm and Mikko Hirvonen.


Structure

Škoda preparing their cars a day before the shakedown.

Each season normally consists of 13 rallies driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice. Points from these events are calculated towards the drivers' and manufacturers' world championships. The driver's championship and manufacturer's championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. This means, for example, that Petter Solberg driving for Subaru can win the driver's championship but Citroën can win the manufacturer's championship, which is what happened in 2003, and again in 2006 and 2007 when Sébastien Loeb took his third and fourth WRC titles but Ford won the manufacturer's championship. In the current points system, points are awarded at the end of each rally to the top eight WRC (overall), junior and production car drivers that qualify as follows: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Despite how many drivers are in one team, constructors can only nominate two drivers to score points for the team as well as scoring for themselves. As only nominated drivers are counted while awarding points, even competitors placed further down than eighth overall (if preceded by privateer drivers) can score them.

A stadium-based super special stage in Argentina.

In the current era, each rally usually consists of 15-35 special stages of distances ranging from under Template:Km to mi (super specials) to over Template:Km to mi. These competitive stages driven on closed roads are linked by non-competitive road sections which are on open roads on which all road laws of that country must be adhered to. On average a day consists of a total of Template:Km to mi of driving. A WRC event begins with reconnaissance (recce) on Tuesday and Wednesday, allowing crews to drive through the stages and create or update their pacenotes. On Thursday, teams can run through the shakedown stage to practice and test their set-ups. The competition begins on Friday and ends on Sunday. Cars start the stages at one or two minute intervals. Each day, or leg, has a few designated service parks between the stages, where the teams can – within strict time limits – perform maintenance and repairs on their cars. The service park also allows spectators and the media to get close to the teams and their cars and drivers. Between the days, after a 45-minute end of day service, cars are locked away in the guarded parc fermé.


Cars

Andy Priaulx driving a Ford Focus WRC at the 2007 Race of Champions.

The production-based 2.0 L turbocharged four-wheel drive cars are built to World Rally Car regulations racing across tarmac, gravel and snow. The power output has been limited to around 300 bhp (225 kW). Current cars in the championship include the Citroën C4 and Ford Focus RS. Citroën, Peugeot, Škoda and Mitsubishi pulled out of the championship for 2006 and those cars, although in use by privateers, are not in further development. Citroën returned to WRC in 2007 using the C4. The Suzuki World Rally Team joined the 2008 championship for the first time with their SX4 but they have pulled out of the 2009 championship together with Subaru because of the economic downturn currently affecting the automotive industry.

The WRC was formerly held for Group A and Group B rallycars. However, due to the increasing power, lack of reliability and the fatal accidents on the 1986 season, Group B was permanently banned. Later, in 1997, the Group A cars evolved into the WRC car spec, to ease the development of new cars and bring new makes to the competition.

Cars in the Production car World Rally Championship are limited to production-based cars homologated under Group N or Super 2000 rules. Most cars in the Junior World Rally Championship are homologated under Super 1600 rules, but Group N and selected Group A cars can also contest the series.


Teams and drivers

See 2010 WRC season for a list of the teams and drivers.

20 different manufacturers have won a World Rally Championship event, and a further ten have finished on the podium.

For The 2009 season, the championship has two manufacturer teams (Citroën Total World Rally Team and BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team) and three semi-factory teams (Stobart VK M-Sport Ford, Munchi's Ford and the Citroën Junior Team) that will be eligible for the manufacturers' championship.

Suzuki and Subaru pulled out of the WRC at the end of the 2008 championship, both citing the economic downturn currently affecting the automotive industry for their withdrawal.

A typical WRC team will consist of about 40 people on the events, with a further 60-100 at the team base.

Manufacturers and manufacturer-backed teams usually have two or three drivers participating in each rally and eligible to score points. The total number of crews (driver and his co-driver) in the rallies varied from 47 (Monte Carlo and Mexico) to 108 (Great Britain) during the 2007 season.


2010 Calendar

Marcus Grönholm at the Bunnings Jumps of the 2006 Rally Australia.
Juuso Pykälistö during the 2003 Swedish Rally.
See 2010 WRC season
Round Dates Rally Name Rally HQ Support Category Surface
01 14 February Swedish Rally Template:Country data Sweden Karlstad PWRC/WRC Cup Ice and snow covered gravel
02 07 March Rally Mexico Template:Country data Mexico León PWRC/WRC Cup Gravel
03 04 April Jordan Rally Template:Country data Jordan Amman PWRC/WRC Cup Gravel
04 18 April Rally Turkey Template:Country data Turkey Istanbul JWRC Gravel
05 09 May Rally New Zealand Template:Country data New Zealand Auckland PWRC/WRC Cup Gravel and Asphalt
06 30 May Rally de Portugal Template:Country data Portugal Vilamoura JWRC/WRC Cup Gravel
07 10 July (Saturday finish) Rally Bulgaria Template:Country data Bulgaria Borovets JWRC Asphalt
08 01 August Rally Finland Template:Country data Finland Jyväskylä PWRC/WRC Cup Gravel
09 22 August Rallye Deutschland Template:Country data Germany Trier JWRC/PWRC/WRC Cup Asphalt
10 12 September Rally Japan Template:Country data Japan Sapporo PWRC/WRC Cup Gravel
11 03 October Tour de Corse Template:Country data France Ajaccio JWRC/PWRC/WRC Cup Asphalt
12 24 October Rally Catalunya Template:Country data Spain Salou JWRC Asphalt
13 14 November Wales Rally GB 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Cardiff PWRC/WRC Cup Gravel

Coverage

TV

A cameraman at a hairpin turn at the 2007 Rallye Deutschland.

ISC TV produce daily updates of each event after the day's stages have finished and the TV coverage has been processed. These daily highlight programs are around 30 minutes in duration and cover in depth the day's stages, with in-car footage as well as driver interviews. Before the rally there is also a Rally Preview that normally incorporates special driver, technical and team features as well as providing an overview of the upcoming rally's route. There is also a review program, which lasts approximately an hour, that summarises the rally and the big events that took place during the duration; the stages are not in such detail as the daily updates as it is a review program.

The service park area during the 2006 Rally Finland.

This is then shown in 186 different countries in multiple languages, each day of the event. The make up and format for the telecast can change from country to country depending on the local broadcaster but it all uses ISC TV feeds. ISC TV also provides coverage of all of the events in the Junior World Rally Championship and the Production World Rally Championship in a 26-minute highlights package.

Also produced after each event is the lifestyle entertainment programme called WRC All Access, focused on a behind the scenes experience of WRC life, both on and off the road. These programmes focus on all elements of each country visited including culture, food, people, attractions as well as the WRC event itself. Rally World, a weekly rally programme reviews events from all around the planet, including the WRC, the PWRC, the JWRC as well as Asia Pacific Rally Championship, the Australian Rally Championship and the Middle East Rally Championship among others.

In the United Kingdom, coverage of the three-day event is shown on Dave on Sundays after the event is completed. Dave also shows different programmes on rallying – for example about WRC cars or crashes – before showing coverage of the event.

During the 2007 season, the cumulative worldwide TV audience for ISC's WRC programming was 816 million. The programming was available in over 180 countries, and was broadcast on over 250 different TV channels. The total number of dedicated broadcasts was 12,445, and the total number of hours of coverage was 5,457.


Radio

Live radio coverage is provided in English by World Rally Radio via the Internet, featuring end of stage reports direct from the drivers and teams plus service park news. It also features contemporary music during breaks in rally coverage. This coverage can even simulcast on local radio or via a temporary licence, pending on the event and its organisers. They are also responsible for producing podcasts for each day of each event available for download.

Champions

Template:Main

Petter Solberg at the 2006 Cyprus Rally.
Chris Atkinson during the Rally Argentina 2008.
Season Championship for Drivers Championship for Manufacturers
Driver Car Manufacturer Car
2009 Template:Country data France Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC Template:Country data France Citroën Citroën C4 WRC
2008 Template:Country data France Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC Template:Country data France Citroën Citroën C4 WRC
2007 Template:Country data France Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC Template:Country data USA Ford Ford Focus WRC
2006 Template:Country data France Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC Template:Country data USA Ford Ford Focus WRC
2005 Template:Country data France Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC Template:Country data France Citroën Citroën Xsara WRC
2004 Template:Country data France Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC Template:Country data France Citroën Citroën Xsara WRC
2003 Template:Country data Norway Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza WRC Template:Country data France Citroën Citroën Xsara WRC
2002 Template:Country data Finland Marcus Grönholm Peugeot 206 WRC Template:Country data France Peugeot Peugeot 206 WRC
2001 Template:Country data GBR Richard Burns Subaru Impreza WRC Template:Country data France Peugeot Peugeot 206 WRC
2000 Template:Country data Finland Marcus Grönholm Peugeot 206 WRC Template:Country data France Peugeot Peugeot 206 WRC
1999 Template:Country data Finland Tommi Mäkinen Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Template:Country data Japan Toyota Toyota Corolla WRC
1998 Template:Country data Finland Tommi Mäkinen Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Template:Country data Japan Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
1997 Template:Country data Finland Tommi Mäkinen Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Template:Country data Japan Subaru Subaru Impreza WRC
1996 Template:Country data Finland Tommi Mäkinen Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Template:Country data Japan Subaru Subaru Impreza 555
1995 Template:Country data GBR Colin McRae Subaru Impreza 555 Template:Country data Japan Subaru Subaru Impreza 555
1994 Template:Country data France Didier Auriol Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD Template:Country data Japan Toyota Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1993 Template:Country data Finland Juha Kankkunen Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD Template:Country data Japan Toyota Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1992 Template:Country data Spain Carlos Sainz Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia Lancia Delta HF Integrale
1991 Template:Country data Finland Juha Kankkunen Lancia Delta Integrale 16V Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale 16V
1990 Template:Country data Spain Carlos Sainz Toyota Celica GT-Four Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale 16V
1989 Template:Country flagicon2 Miki Biasion Lancia Delta Integrale Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale
1988 Template:Country flagicon2 Miki Biasion Lancia Delta Integrale Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia Lancia Delta Integrale
1987 Template:Country data Finland Juha Kankkunen Lancia Delta HF 4WD Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia Lancia Delta HF 4WD
1986 Template:Country data Finland Juha Kankkunen Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Template:Country data France Peugeot Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
1985 Template:Country data Finland Timo Salonen Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Template:Country data France Peugeot Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
1984 Template:Country data Sweden Stig Blomqvist Audi Quattro Template:Country data Germany Audi Audi Quattro
1983 Template:Country data Finland Hannu Mikkola Audi Quattro Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia Lancia Rally 037
1982 Template:Country data Germany Walter Röhrl Opel Ascona 400 Template:Country data Germany Audi Audi Quattro
1981 Template:Country data Finland Ari Vatanen Ford Escort RS1800 Template:Country data GBR Talbot Talbot Sunbeam Lotus
1980 Template:Country data Germany Walter Röhrl Fiat 131 Abarth Template:Country flagicon2 Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth
1979 Template:Country data Sweden Björn Waldegård Ford Escort RS1800* Template:Country data USA Ford Ford Escort RS1800
1978 Template:Country data Finland Markku Alén*** Fiat 131 Abarth** Template:Country flagicon2 Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth
1977 Template:Country flagicon2 Sandro Munari*** Lancia Stratos HF Template:Country flagicon2 Fiat Fiat 131 Abarth
1976 No drivers' championship Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia Lancia Stratos HF
1975 No drivers' championship Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia Lancia Stratos HF
1974 No drivers' championship Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia Lancia Stratos HF
1973 No drivers' championship Template:Country data France Alpine-Renault Alpine A110
* - Björn Waldegård drove a Mercedes 450 SLC in two rallies in 1979
** - Markku Alén drove a Lancia Stratos HF in two rallies in 1978
*** - In 1977 and 1978, the drivers championship was the FIA Cup for Rally Drivers
No drivers title 1973-1976

Records

Template:Main

Driver championships Driver rally wins Manufacturer championships Manufacturer rally wins
Place Driver Titles Place Driver Wins Place Manufacturer Titles Place Manufacturer Wins
1 Template:Country data France Sébastien Loeb 6 1 Template:Country data France Sébastien Loeb 54 1 Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia 10 1 Template:Country flagicon2 Lancia 73
2 Template:Country data Finland Juha Kankkunen 4 2 Template:Country data Finland Marcus Grönholm 30 2 Template:Country data France Citroën 5 Template:Country data USA Ford 73
Template:Country data Finland Tommi Mäkinen 4 3 Template:Country data Spain Carlos Sainz 26 Template:Country data France Peugeot 5 3 Template:Country data France Citroën 60
4 Template:Country data Germany Walter Röhrl 2 4 Template:Country data Great Britain Colin McRae 25 4 Template:Country data Japan Toyota 3 4 Template:Country data France Peugeot 48
Template:Country flagicon2 Massimo Biasion 2 5 Template:Country data Finland Tommi Mäkinen 24 Template:Country data Japan Subaru 3 5 Template:Country data Japan Subaru 47
Template:Country data Spain Carlos Sainz 2 6 Template:Country data Finland Juha Kankkunen 23 Template:Country flagicon2 Fiat 3 6 Template:Country data Japan Toyota 43
Template:Country data Finland Marcus Grönholm 2 7 Template:Country data Finland Markku Alén 20 Template:Country data USA Ford 3 7 Template:Country data Japan Mitsubishi 34
8 11 drivers are tied with a single championship each. Template:Country data France Didier Auriol 20 8 Template:Country data Germany Audi 2 8 Template:Country data Germany Audi 24
9 Template:Country data Finland Hannu Mikkola 18 9 3 manufacturers tied with a single championship each 9 Template:Country flagicon2 Fiat 21
10 Template:Country flagicon2 Massimo Biasion 17 10 Template:Country data Japan Datsun / Nissan 9
Note: bold text indicates active drivers and teams.


Other classes

A Super 1600 class Renault Clio.

The World Rally Championship also features support championships called the Production car World Rally Championship (PWRC) and the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC). These championships are contested on the same events and stages as the WRC. In 2008, The PWRC includes eight and the JWRC seven events. In 2007, the junior championship had no events outside Europe so it was known simply as the Junior Rally Championship (JRC).

The Production car World Rally Championship began in 2002, replacing the FIA Group N Cup which had been contested from 1987. Cars in the championship are production-based and homologated under Group N or Super 2000 rules. The Junior World Rally Championship was started in 2001, and can be contested with Super 1600, Group N and selected Group A cars. Drivers in the championship have to be 28 years or younger. There is no age limit for co-drivers.


Video games

There have been many video games based on the World Rally Championship, and due to lack of licenses, many more based on only certain cars, drivers or events. Sega Rally was released in 1995, V-Rally and Top Gear Rally in 1997 and the first game in the very popular Colin McRae Rally series in 1998. Rally Trophy, released in 2001 for Microsoft Windows by Bugbear, concentrated on historic cars such as Alpine A110 and Lancia Stratos. RalliSport Challenge, released in 2002 for Windows and Xbox by Digital Illusions CE, featured classic Group B cars and hillclimb models along with modern WRC cars.

Fully FIA licensed WRC: World Rally Championship was released in 2001 for PlayStation 2 by Evolution Studios. The video game series had its fifth game, WRC: Rally Evolved, in 2005. Racing simulator Richard Burns Rally, released in 2004 for several platforms, has gathered recognition for its realism. Recent top-selling games include Colin McRae: Dirt and Sega Rally Revo. Gran Turismo 5 will include the WRC totally licensed.


External links

News and information
Results

Template:World Rally Championship results Template:Main world championships

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