World Rally Championship facts for kids
 |
|
| Category | Rallying |
|---|---|
| Country | International |
| Inaugural season | 1973 |
| Manufacturers | 3 |
| Tyre suppliers | Pirelli |
| Drivers' champion |  Thierry Neuville |
| Co-Drivers' champion | Martijn Wydaeghe |
| Manufacturers' champion |  Toyota |
 Current season |
|
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is a top international rallying competition. It is run by the FIA. The WRC started in 1973, making it the second oldest FIA world championship after Formula One.
Each WRC season lasts one year. Drivers, co-drivers, and car manufacturers all compete for separate championship titles. There are also support championships like WRC2 and WRC3. These use the same events and stages as the WRC. However, the cars allowed in these races are less powerful and cost less. Junior WRC is another championship for younger drivers. It takes place during five WRC events.
A WRC season usually has about 13 rallies. Each rally lasts three to four days. Drivers race on different surfaces, including gravel, tarmac, snow, and ice. Each rally has 15 to 25 special stages. These are timed races on closed roads, covering up to 350 kilometers (217 miles).
Contents
The different championships
The WRC has several championships. Each one has its own rules for who can score points.
World Rally Championship for Manufacturers
Car manufacturers must sign up to score points in this championship. They need to race in every rally of the season. They use special Group Rally1 cars. These cars were called World Rally Cars from 1997 to 2021.
The manufacturer teams use the fastest cars and best drivers. This means their drivers usually get most of the points in the drivers' championship. These teams also invest a lot of money. Because of this, WRC promotions often focus on the manufacturer teams. These crews are called "Priority 1" (P1). They race the stages before other teams.
World Rally Championships for Drivers and Co-Drivers
Any team that enters a WRC rally can score points here. It does not matter what type of car they use. It also does not matter how many rallies they enter. Co-drivers can drive the cars if there is a serious problem.
Support championships
The World Rally Championship also has support championships. These are called WRC2 and WRC3. They use the same events and stages as the main WRC. But they have stricter rules for the cars allowed.
WRC2
WRC2 uses only Rally2 cars. There are championships for drivers, co-drivers, and teams. Drivers and co-drivers can enter up to 7 events. Their best 6 results count towards their score. Teams must enter two cars in up to 7 events. Points from 5 or 6 European events count. Points from a 7th rally outside Europe also count. Extra points are given for the "Power Stage."
Drivers, co-drivers, and teams must say if they want to score points before a rally. They can do this separately. So, the same team might score points in different events. WRC2 crews are "Priority 2" (P2). They race right after the P1 crews. WRC2 replaced the SWRC in 2013.
In 2023, new WRC2 Challenger championships started. These are for drivers and co-drivers who have not won the series before. They also cannot have driven for a manufacturer team in the last 5 years.
WRC3
WRC3 uses only Group Rally3 cars. From 2020 to 2021, it used Group Rally2 cars. This championship is for drivers and co-drivers. WRC3 is designed for private drivers. It has lower entry costs than WRC2. There are also rules about who can enter, testing, and professional help.
Drivers and co-drivers can enter up to 5 rallies. Their best 4 results count for points. They must also choose which rounds will count beforehand. WRC3 crews are "Priority 3" (P3). They race after the WRC2 crews.
Junior WRC
.jpg)
Junior WRC is a special championship. Drivers use Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars provided by M-Sport. It runs over 5 WRC events. Drivers must be under 29 years old and register. Titles are given to drivers and co-drivers. There is no age limit for co-drivers.
WRC Masters Cup
The FIA WRC Masters Cup started in 2023. It is for drivers and co-drivers over 50 years old. They can use any WRC-eligible car except Rally1 cars. This cup replaced the WRC2 Masters Cup from 2022.
Past support championships
Many other championships have supported the WRC over the years. These include:
- The WRC Academy (2011-2012)
- The World Rally Championship Ladies Cup (1990-1995)
- The Production car World Rally Championship (P-WRC) (1987-2012)
- The 2-Litre World Rally Cup (1993-1999)
- The Super 2000 World Rally Championship (S-WRC) (2010-2012)
- The WRC Trophy (2017)
- WRC 2 Pro (2019)
Some private rally tournaments also ran alongside the WRC. Examples include the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy and the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy.
| Evolution of the WRC Championships | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Overall Championships | Manufacturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIA Cup | Drivers and Co-Drivers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Support Championships | PWRC | WRC 3 (2WD) | WRC 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JWRC | JWRC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Litre Cup | SWRC | WRC 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History of the WRC
How it all started
The World Rally Championship was created from famous international rallies. Nine of these were part of the International Championship for Manufacturers (IMC) from 1970 to 1972. The 1973 World Rally Championship was the first WRC season. It began with the Monte Carlo Rally on January 19.
Alpine-Renault won the first manufacturer's world championship. They used their Alpine A110 car. Then, Lancia won the title three years in a row with the Lancia Stratos HF. This was the first car made just for rallying.
The first drivers' world championship was not given out until 1979. Before that, there was an "FIA Cup for Drivers." Italy's Sandro Munari won it in 1977. Finland's Markku Alén won it in 1978. Sweden's Björn Waldegård became the first official world champion in 1979. He beat Finland's Hannu Mikkola by one point.
The exciting Group B era
The 1980s brought very powerful cars called Group B cars. These replaced the older Group 2 and Group 4 cars. The FISA allowed all-wheel-drive in 1979. But many car makers thought it was too complicated.
Then, Audi started racing their new four-wheel-drive Quattro. It was very successful right away. Other manufacturers then started their own all-wheel-drive projects. Group B rules began in 1982. These rules allowed cars to have almost unlimited power.
Audi won the manufacturers' title in 1982 and 1984. Their drivers, Mikkola and Stig Blomqvist, won the drivers' titles in 1983 and 1984. French driver Michèle Mouton almost won the title in 1982. She was the first woman to come so close.
The 1986 season started with fast cars like the Lancia Delta S4. This car could go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds on a gravel road! However, the season became very sad. At the Rally Portugal, three people died after a crash. At the Tour de Corse, driver Henri Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Cresto died in a fiery accident.
After these tragedies, FISA decided to stop Group B cars. They were banned from racing in 1987.
The Group A era
Since Group B was banned, Group A cars became the main type in WRC until 1997. Lancia quickly adapted to the new rules. They dominated with their Lancia Delta HF. Lancia won the manufacturers' title six years in a row, from 1987 to 1992. They are still the most successful car brand in WRC history.
In the 1990s, Japanese car makers like Toyota, Subaru, and Mitsubishi became top contenders. Spain's Carlos Sainz won titles in 1990 and 1992 with a Toyota Celica GT-Four. Finland's Tommi Mäkinen won the drivers' championship four times in a row, from 1996 to 1999.
World Rally Car era
New World Rally Car rules were introduced in 1997. After Mäkinen's success, France's Peugeot made a strong return. Finn Marcus Grönholm won the drivers' title in his first full year. Peugeot also won the manufacturers' title.
England's Richard Burns won the 2001 title with a Subaru Impreza WRC. But Grönholm and Peugeot won both titles back in 2002. In 2003, Norway's Petter Solberg became drivers' champion for Subaru. Citroën continued the success for French manufacturers.
Citroën's Sébastien Loeb then dominated the sport. He won nine championships in a row until 2012. Suzuki and Subaru left the WRC in 2008 due to money problems. Mini and Ford also left in 2012 for similar reasons.
Volkswagen Motorsport joined in 2013. Sebastien Ogier then won six titles in a row. Hyundai also returned to the series in 2014. New World Rally Car rules in 2017 made cars faster and look more aggressive.
In 2018, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT won the manufacturers' title. This was Toyota's first since 1999. Tommi Mäkinen led the team. He became the first person to win a championship as both a driver and a team boss. In 2019, Ott Tänak won the driver's title. He broke the long winning streak of the French Sebastians (Loeb and Ogier). Hyundai won the manufacturers' title in 2019 and 2020. Ogier won again in 2020 and 2021 with a Toyota Yaris. The World Rally Car era ended in 2021 after 25 years.
How rallies work
Rally calendar
Each WRC season has several rallies in one year. They should usually happen on at least 3 continents. In the past, the championship has visited every continent except Antarctica. Recently, there have been about 13 rallies. In 2020, there were only 7 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rallies are held on different surfaces like gravel, tarmac, snow, and ice.
The rallies themselves
The timed special stages are on closed roads. These are connected by non-competitive "road sections." These roads are open to the public. All traffic laws must be followed. Teams get a "road book" with details for these sections. They must reach the next stage or "time control" point on time. If they are late, they get penalties. Teams carry a "timecard" that officials fill out. A typical day involves driving about 400 kilometers (248 miles).
Today, each rally usually has 15 to 30 special stages. These stages can be from under 2 km (1.2 miles) to over 50 km (31 miles) long. The total length of timed stages is not more than 350 km (217 miles). A "super special stage" is any stage that is different from normal. These are often short and made for spectators or promotion. They might be on a different surface. Sometimes, two cars start at the same time on a loop track.
Since 2021, rallies must use only one surface type. Short super special stages are allowed if they do not need car setup changes. In the past, some rallies had gravel one day and asphalt the next. This needed big changes to the car's setup. Asphalt setups use 18-inch wheels. Gravel or snow setups use 13-inch wheels. Other parts like suspension also need changes.
A WRC event starts with "reconnaissance" (recce) on Tuesday and Wednesday. This lets teams drive the stages. They can create or update their pace notes. On Thursday, teams can practice on a "shakedown" stage. This helps them test their car setups. The competition usually starts on Thursday evening or Friday morning. It ends on Sunday with the Power Stage. Cars start stages two minutes apart. If visibility is bad, they start three minutes apart.
Each rally has a main "service park." Here, cars are prepared and fixed after each loop and leg. Some rallies might have a smaller "remote service" area closer to the stages. The rally's plan says how much time teams can spend working on the car. Between days, after the final service, cars are put in "parc fermé." This is a special area where teams cannot touch their cars.
Championship points
Points are given out after each rally. These points add up for the world championship titles. The team with the most points at the end of the season wins. Until 2023, points were given to the top finishers in each rally. Since 2011, extra points were also given for the Power Stage. A new point system started for the 2024 World Rally Championship.
The driver's championship and manufacturer's championship are separate. But they use a similar point system. Manufacturers must choose up to three teams to score points for them before an event. The two fastest chosen teams from each manufacturer get points for the manufacturer championship. Teams that retire cannot score points unless they restart. It is common for a team to finish low overall but still score manufacturer points.
A driver can win the driver's championship. But a different manufacturer can win the manufacturer's championship. This has happened many times, most recently from 2018 to 2020.
Power Stage
The "Power Stage" was first used in 2011. It is the last stage of the rally. It is usually shown live on TV. The rally's award ceremony happens right after it. Extra World Championship points are given to the five fastest drivers and co-drivers on this stage. This is true no matter where they finish in the rally overall. The fastest team gets five points, the second fastest gets four, and so on. The fifth fastest gets one point. Since 2021, manufacturers also score Power Stage points.
Restarting after retirement
Teams are allowed to restart the next day if they have to stop racing. For each stage they miss, a ten-minute penalty is added to their total time. Plus, the winning stage time for their group is added. This rule was first called "SuperRally" and later "Rally 2." It helps teams get more value from their efforts. It also gives spectators more action. The "Rally 2" name was dropped in 2019. This is because restarting became normal. Teams are now expected to restart unless they say they are quitting for good. Organizers can still decide if a team can restart, especially after a bad crash.
Rally cars
The rules for WRC cars are set by the FIA. When WRC started in 1973, cars had to be "Series Production Cars." This meant a certain number had to be made to be approved by the FIA. This changed in 2022 with Group Rally1 cars. These cars are built specially for racing.
The rules have changed over time. This is to fit economic conditions, improve safety, use new technology, and attract more car makers. Cars can be of one type, like the World Rally Car. Or they can be from a group with different performance levels, like Group R. In 2014, the FIA made new sporting classes. RC1 cars are the fastest, and RC5 cars are the slowest allowed in WRC.
To enter a WRC rally in 2022, cars must be approved in certain groups or classes. These include World Rally Car 1.6L, any of the Groups Rally, and R3 or R-GT from Group R.
World Rally Car 1.6L
These cars have 1.6L direct injection turbo engines and four-wheel drive. They are built to World Rally Car rules. Their power is limited to about 280 kW (375 hp). The newer "WRC+" cars (like the Ford Fiesta WRC and Toyota Yaris WRC) could not be driven by those who scored manufacturer points from 2017 to 2021. Older WRC cars from 2011 (like the Volkswagen Polo R WRC) were allowed without these rules. 2021 was the last season for these cars at the top level. They were replaced by Rally1 cars in 2022.
Groups Rally
.jpg)
The Groups Rally has six types of rally cars allowed in WRC:
- Rally1 cars started in 2022. They replaced the World Rally Cars for the manufacturer's championship. These cars use hybrid power for the first time in rallying. They also have simpler parts to save money.
- Rally2 cars, used to be called R5 cars. They are the second fastest cars. They are the only cars allowed in WRC-2.
- Rally2-Kit cars, once known as R4-kit, can also enter. Rally2 and Rally2-Kit are in the same class (RC2).
- Rally3 cars started in 2021. They are used in WRC3 since 2022.
- Rally4 cars, used to be R2 cars. They do not have a special support championship.
- Rally5 cars, used to be R1 cars. They also do not have a special support championship.
Group R
Starting in 2008, Group R cars were introduced. They replaced Group A and Group N cars for rallying only. Cars were put into six categories based on their engine, wheelbase, and drivetrain. Group R cars still needed to be approved as Group A or N cars.
R5, R4, R2, and R1 cars from Group R are now part of the new Groups Rally. As of 2021, R3 and R-GT cars can still enter. R3 cars are now in the RC4 class. Neither R3 nor R-GT cars have their own WRC support championships.
Cars used in the past
When WRC began in 1973, FISA allowed cars from Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4. These groups were also used in other racing. In 1982, new groups were formed: Group N replaced Group 1, Group A replaced Group 2, and Group B replaced Group 4.
Group B was banned in 1986 due to high power, unreliability, and fatal accidents. In 1987, Group A became the top car type. Private drivers often used the cheaper Group N cars. A Group N car only won a WRC rally once, in 1989. Group N cars were allowed in WRC2 until 2016 and in overall rallies until 2018.
In 1997, the World Rally Car was introduced. This made it easier to develop new cars. It also brought new car makers to the sport. These cars were used in the manufacturer's championship. In 2011, World Rally Cars changed. Their engine size was limited to 1.6L. This allowed for smaller, cheaper cars. Further changes in 2017 made cars more aerodynamic and safer.
Super 2000 cars could enter rallies from 2007 to 2018. They were in the PWRC and then had their own championship. They were also accepted in WRC2. Super 1600 cars were only allowed in Junior WRC until 2010.
| Evolution of Car Groups and Classes used in the WRC Manufacturers Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Series Production | Group 4 | Group B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group 2 | Group A | World Rally Car 2.0L | World Rally Car 1.6L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group 1 | Group N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competition Car | Rally1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary of Car Groups and Classes otherwise permitted to enter rallies or in support championships | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Group N | N4 (>2.0L) | PWRC | WRC2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| N1-N3 (<=2.0L) | PWRC | PWRC 2.0L Cup |
PWRC | PWRC JWRC |
PWRC | WRC2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group A | A8 (>2.0L) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A5-A7 (<=2.0L) | 2.0L Cup | JWRC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Super 1600 | JWRC Only | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Super 2000 | PWRC | SWRC | WRC2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRC 1.6L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group R & Groups Rally |
R1 (Rally5) | JWRC | PWRC | WRC3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| R2 (Rally4) | JWRC | JWRC PWRC |
JWRC WRC3 |
WRC3 | JWRC WRC3 |
JWRC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| R3 | JWRC | PWRC | WRC3 | JWRC WRC3 |
WRC3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RGT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| R4 / (Rally2-Kit) | SWRC PWRC |
WRC2 | Excl-Europe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| R5 (Rally2) | WRC2 | WRC2 WRC3 |
WRC2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rally3 | WRC3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tyres
Many different brands have supplied tyres to WRC teams over time. Pirelli was the only tyre supplier for the top class from 2008 to 2010. Then Michelin supplied tyres from 2019 to 2020. Pirelli returned from 2021 to 2024. Hankook will be the only tyre supplier from 2025 to 2027.
WRC teams use different tyres for different conditions. They have tyres for dry asphalt, wet asphalt, gravel, snow, and ice. Some snow and ice tyres have studs (spikes) for extra grip. Teams cannot cut their own patterns into the tyre treads. For the 2023 season, Rally1 cars can use a maximum of 28 tyres per rally.
How WRC is promoted
WRC Promoter GmbH manages the business side of WRC. They handle media coverage, sponsorships, and getting more people to join. This company is owned by Red Bull Media House and KW25 Beteiligungs GmbH. WRC provides news, articles, and photos for media outlets for free. The WRC.com website and mobile apps offer news, live rally times, results, and championship standings.
The commercial rights were first sold in 1996. The current promoter, WRC Promoter GmbH, started in 2013.
Online videos
In 2014, a paid online video service called WRC+ was launched. It offered video clips and live broadcasts of some stages. This included the power stage. It also had onboard camera footage and live maps of the cars. In 2018, WRC+ All Live started. For the first time, every special stage from each rally was shown live. It had English commentary. Spanish commentary was added in 2019. German and Japanese commentary became available in 2021.
In 2023, WRC+ All Live was replaced by a new service called Rally.TV. This service also includes the FIA World Rallycross Championship. It offers live coverage of all European Rally Championship rounds. There is also a TV channel with footage and documentaries between events.
Short, free videos are also shared on social media. The first run of the Shakedown stage is often shown live on YouTube and Facebook. Red Bull also makes longer shows for Red Bull TV. These use WRC TV footage and their own presenters.
WRC TV
WRC TV creates preview shows, daily highlights, and event reviews for each rally. They also make other shows like season reviews for TV. Some TV stations show the Power Stage and other stages live. This is usually two stages on a Saturday and the first run of the Power Stage.
The shows can be different in each country. This depends on the local TV station and how popular local drivers are. In 2016, over 700 million people worldwide watched WRC TV shows. This grew to 836 million in 2019. The shows are available in over 150 countries.
Radio and podcasts
Live radio coverage was provided by "World Rally Radio." It was a free service broadcast online. It had reports from drivers and teams, results, and news. It also made podcasts. World Rally Radio stopped in 2018.
An official WRC podcast is often produced. The latest version, "Backstories," has interviewed drivers and co-drivers since 2020.
Records and statistics
Manufacturers
21 different car manufacturers have won a World Rally Championship event. These include Citroën, Ford, Lancia, and Toyota. Another 11 manufacturers have finished on the podium. Lancia has won the most manufacturers' championships, with ten titles.
Champions
| Season | Championship for drivers | Championship for manufacturers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Car | Manufacturer | Car | |
| 1973 | No drivers' championship |  Alpine-Renault |
Alpine-Renault A110 | |
| 1974 |  Lancia |
Lancia Stratos HF | ||
| 1975 | Lancia |
Lancia Stratos HF | ||
| 1976 | Lancia |
Lancia Stratos HF | ||
| 1977 | Sandro Munari |
Lancia Stratos HF | Fiat |
Fiat 131 Abarth |
| 1978 |  Markku Alén |
Fiat 131 Abarth | Fiat |
Fiat 131 Abarth |
| 1979 |  Björn Waldegård |
Ford Escort RS1800 |  Ford |
Ford Escort RS1800 |
| 1980 |  Walter Röhrl |
Fiat 131 Abarth | Fiat |
Fiat 131 Abarth |
| 1981 | Ari Vatanen |
Ford Escort RS1800 | Talbot |
Talbot Sunbeam Lotus |
| 1982 | Walter Röhrl |
Opel Ascona 400 | Audi |
Audi Quattro |
| 1983 | Hannu Mikkola |
Audi Quattro | Lancia |
Lancia Rally 037 |
| 1984 | Stig Blomqvist |
Audi Quattro | Audi |
Audi Quattro |
| 1985 | Timo Salonen |
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 | Peugeot |
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 |
| 1986 | Juha Kankkunen |
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2 | Peugeot |
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2 |
| 1987 | Juha Kankkunen |
Lancia Delta HF 4WD | Lancia |
Lancia Delta HF 4WD |
| 1988 | Miki Biasion |
Lancia Delta Integrale | Lancia |
Lancia Delta Integrale |
| 1989 | Miki Biasion |
Lancia Delta Integrale | Lancia |
Lancia Delta Integrale |
| 1990 |  Carlos Sainz |
Toyota Celica GT-Four | Lancia |
Lancia Delta Integrale 16V |
| 1991 | Juha Kankkunen |
Lancia Delta Integrale 16V | Lancia |
Lancia Delta Integrale 16V |
| 1992 | Carlos Sainz |
Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | Lancia |
Lancia Delta HF Integrale |
| 1993 | Juha Kankkunen |
Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | Toyota |
Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD |
| 1994 | Didier Auriol |
Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | Toyota |
Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD |
| 1995 | Colin McRae |
Subaru Impreza 555 | Subaru |
Subaru Impreza 555 |
| 1996 | Tommi Mäkinen |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III | Subaru |
Subaru Impreza 555 |
| 1997 | Tommi Mäkinen |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV | Subaru |
Subaru Impreza WRC |
| 1998 | Tommi Mäkinen |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V | Mitsubishi |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V |
| 1999 | Tommi Mäkinen |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI | Toyota |
Toyota Corolla WRC |
| 2000 | Marcus Grönholm |
Peugeot 206 WRC | Peugeot |
Peugeot 206 WRC |
| 2001 | Richard Burns |
Subaru Impreza WRC 2001 | Peugeot |
Peugeot 206 WRC |
| 2002 | Marcus Grönholm |
Peugeot 206 WRC | Peugeot |
Peugeot 206 WRC |
| 2003 |  Petter Solberg |
Subaru Impreza WRC 2003 | Citroën |
Citroën Xsara WRC |
| 2004 | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën Xsara WRC | Citroën |
Citroën Xsara WRC |
| 2005 | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën Xsara WRC | Citroën |
Citroën Xsara WRC |
| 2006 | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën Xsara WRC | Ford |
Ford Focus RS WRC 06 |
| 2007 | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën C4 WRC | Ford |
Ford Focus RS WRC 06/07 |
| 2008 | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën C4 WRC | Citroën |
Citroën C4 WRC |
| 2009 | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën C4 WRC | Citroën |
Citroën C4 WRC |
| 2010 | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën C4 WRC | Citroën |
Citroën C4 WRC |
| 2011 | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën DS3 WRC | Citroën |
Citroën DS3 WRC |
| 2012 | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën DS3 WRC | Citroën |
Citroën DS3 WRC |
| 2013 | Sébastien Ogier |
Volkswagen Polo R WRC | Volkswagen |
Volkswagen Polo R WRC |
| 2014 | Sébastien Ogier |
Volkswagen Polo R WRC | Volkswagen |
Volkswagen Polo R WRC |
| 2015 | Sébastien Ogier |
Volkswagen Polo R WRC | Volkswagen |
Volkswagen Polo R WRC |
| 2016 | Sébastien Ogier |
Volkswagen Polo R WRC | Volkswagen |
Volkswagen Polo R WRC |
| 2017 | Sébastien Ogier |
Ford Fiesta WRC | M-Sport |
Ford Fiesta WRC |
| 2018 | Sébastien Ogier |
Ford Fiesta WRC | Toyota |
Toyota Yaris WRC |
| 2019 |  Ott Tänak |
Toyota Yaris WRC |  Hyundai |
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC |
| 2020 | Sébastien Ogier |
Toyota Yaris WRC | Hyundai |
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC |
| 2021 | Sébastien Ogier |
Toyota Yaris WRC | Toyota |
Toyota Yaris WRC |
| 2022 | Kalle Rovanperä |
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | Toyota |
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 |
| 2023 | Kalle Rovanperä |
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | Toyota |
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 |
| 2024 | Thierry Neuville |
Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | Toyota |
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 |
Event wins
Updated after Rally Japan. Drivers and manufacturers who have participated in the 2024 World Rally Championship are in bold.
|
|
|
Video games and esports
Many video games have been made about the World Rally Championship. Some are based on specific cars, drivers, or events. Sega Rally (1995) and V-Rally (1997) were arcade-style games. They did not focus much on realistic damage or physics.
The Colin McRae Rally series, started in 1998, was one of the first to feel more like a realistic racing simulator. Rally Trophy (2001) focused on old cars like the Alpine A110. RalliSport Challenge (2002) featured classic Group B cars and modern WRC cars. The racing simulator Richard Burns Rally (2004) is known for its realism.
The first official FIA-licensed WRC: World Rally Championship game came out in 2001 for PlayStation 2. Recent popular games include Colin McRae: DiRT 2 and Dirt 3. Gran Turismo 5 also includes WRC-licensed cars.
In 2010, Black Bean Games released WRC: FIA World Rally Championship. This game featured cars, drivers, and events from the 2010 World Rally Championship. It also included the support categories. A special download allowed players to drive Group B cars. The WRC video game license moved to Kylotonn in 2013. Their first WRC game was WRC 5 in 2015. The WRC license will go to Codemasters from 2023 to 2027.
eSports WRC is an online championship. It uses the latest official video game. It started in 2016. Anyone with the game can join for free. Each esports season ends with a Grand Finale. Competitors meet in person to race, often at a real rally event. Some eSports WRC champions, like Jon Armstrong, are also real rally drivers.
See also
In Spanish: Campeonato Mundial de Rally para niños
