World Rally Championship
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Established in 1973, the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) is an epic competition against the elements and the clock. It showcases high-performance cars derived from production vehicles and some of the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings: men and machines must master everything from forest tracks in winter conditions, high speed tarmac roads to rock-strewn mountain passes in blistering heat.
The 2020 season once again delivered an unpredictable and nail-biting battle for the title. As in 2019, several drivers emerged as the main title contenders – Toyota’s six-time champion Sébastien Ogier and team-mate Elfyn Evans, Hyundai’s Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville. Over the course of a season like no other following the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the twists and turns on the seven rounds resulted in intense highs and devastating lows, changing the face of the championship event by event. The thrilling fight ended with a final head-to-head battle between Ogier and Evans in an eventful championship final round at ACI Rally Monza.
Finally, Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia have ensured their place in motor sport history by claiming their seventh world title in eight seasons. The French pair have now won the WRC crown with three different manufacturers, this time in their first year with Toyota Gazoo Racing. Hyundai Motorsport have secured the FIA WRC Manufacturers’ title for the second consecutive time following a double podium result in Italy.
In 2021, the FIA WRC action has launched with 12 rallies across four continents. Following their cancellation in 2020 due to COVID, the return of Kenya’s Safari Rally, one of motorsport’s legendary contests, and Rally Japan provide a presence in the world’s largest two continents by size for the first time in more than two decades.
On the driver side, Ogier lines up with the #1 on his Toyota Yaris WRC and is chasing eight titles in nine seasons. He is once again joined by 2020 championship runner-up Elfyn Evans, hankering after his first taste of championship glory, as well as up-and-coming driver Kalle Rovanperä in an unchanged Toyota line-up. Thierry Neuville leads the Hyundai assault together with the 2019 champion Ott Tänak. The Belgian driver started the 2021 season with Martin Wydaeghe in the co-driver seat after deciding to part ways with long-term navigator Nicolas Gilsoul. Dani Sordo and Craig Breen are entered for a part-campaign in the i20 Coupe WRC.
In the M-Sport squad, Gus Greensmith contests his first full campaign with the Ford Fiesta WRC and intends to make the most of his first complete season with the top-specification car. In a second Ford Fiesta WRC, Teemu Suninen and young Frenchman, Adrien Fourmaux will contest a shared programme this year.
Pierre-Louis Loubet has begun his first full campaign aboard a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC entered by the 2C Competition team, while Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta also embarked on his first full season in an additional fourth Toyota Yaris WRC.
The teams all have potential rally winners amongst their squads in 2021 and predictions of who will top the podium at the culmination of Rally Japan in November would be folly.
Come the end of the season, the WRC will bid a fond farewell to the class of 1997: the World Rally Car. From next year, the new generation of top-flight hybrid powered machinery will be labelled Rally1.
The 2021 season offers the WRC the chance to remember some of the most memorable moments from a category which has delivered our heroes for the last 24 years.
In the support championships, which all went down to the wire in 2020, the FIA WRC2 class for registered Rally2 manufacturers features representatives such as 2020 champions Toksport (Škoda), Hyundai, M-Sport (Ford), , Sainteloc (Citroën) and Movisport (Volkswagen).
The same specification car is used in the FIA WRC3 Championship for private entrants, while the successful format of a one-make Ford Fiesta Rally4 supported series for the FIA Junior WRC Championship remains unchanged with the objective to continue supporting the progression of young talent.
New in 2021, Pirelli has commenced in January its four-year agreement with the FIA as exclusive provider to the world series’ leading competitors in the Top WRC and Rally2 classes.
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