2024 World Rally Championship
The 2024 FIA World Rally Championship is a planned motorsport championship that is scheduled to be the fifty-second occurrence of the World Rally Championship, an international rallying series organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and WRC Promoter GmbH. Teams and crews are set to compete for the World Rally Championships for Drivers, Co-drivers and Manufacturers. Crews are free to compete in cars complying with Groups Rally1 to Rally5 regulations; however, only manufacturers competing with Rally1 cars are eligible to score points in the manufacturers' championship. The championship is set to begin in January 2024 with the Monte Carlo Rally and would conclude in November 2024 with the Rally Japan. The series is supported by the World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3 categories at every round of the championship and by the Junior World Rally Championship at selected events.
Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen are the reigning drivers' and co-drivers' champions, having secured their second championship titles at the 2023 Central European Rally. However, they would only contest at selected events. Toyota are the defending manufacturers' champions.
Calendar
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The 2024 season is scheduled to be contested over thirteen rounds crossing Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.
| Round | Start date | Finish date | Rally | Rally headquarters | Surface | Stages | Distance | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 January | 28 January |  Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo
|
Gap, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | Mixed[a] | 17 | 324.44 km | [1] |
| 2 | 15 February | 18 February |  Rally Sweden
|
Umeå, Västerbotten County, Sweden | Snow | 18 | 300.10 km | [2] |
| 3 | 28 March | 31 March |  Safari Rally Kenya
|
Nairobi, Kenya | Gravel | 19 | 355.92 km | [3] |
| 4 | 18 April | 21 April |  Croatia Rally
|
Zagreb, Croatia | Tarmac | TBA | TBA | |
| 5 | 9 May | 12 May |  Rally de Portugal
|
Matosinhos, Porto, Portugal | Gravel | 21 | 335.26 km | [4] |
| 6 | 30 May | 2 June |  Rally Italia Sardegna
|
Olbia, Sardinia, Italy | Gravel | TBA | TBA | |
| 7 | 27 June | 30 June |  Rally Poland
|
Mikołajki, Warmian–Masurian, Poland | Gravel | TBA | TBA | |
| 8 | 18 July | 21 July |  Rally Latvia
|
Liepāja, Kurzeme Planning Region, Latvia | Gravel | TBA | TBA | |
| 9 | 1 August | 4 August |  Rally Finland
|
Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland | Gravel | TBA | TBA | |
| 10 | 5 September | 8 September |  Acropolis Rally Greece
|
Lamia, Central Greece, Greece | Gravel | TBA | TBA | |
| 11 | 26 September | 29 September |  Rally Chile
|
Concepción, Biobío, Chile | Gravel | TBA | TBA | |
| 12 | 31 October | 3 November |  Central European Rally
|
Passau, Bavaria, Germany | Tarmac | TBA | TBA | |
| 13 | 21 November | 24 November |  Rally Japan
|
Toyota, Aichi, Japan | Tarmac | TBA | TBA | |
| Sources:[5][6] | ||||||||
Calendar changes
The championship was expected to be expanded to fourteen rounds,[7] however WRC Promoter GmbH retained the existing total of thirteen events with the reasoning that it would aid participation of more Rally1 cars.[8]
- Rally Liepāja is set to step up from the European Rally Championship to hold a World Rally Championship event under new name, Rally Latvia.[9] The rally would be held on gravel roads that ranges from the cities of Rīga and Liepāja to the regions of Talsi, Tukums, Kuldīga and Dienvidkurzeme.[10] It would replace Rally Estonia on the calendar.[11]
- Rally Poland is scheduled to return to the championship.[12] This would mark the first time the event would be held as a WRC event since 2017.[13]
- Rally Mexico dropped off the calendar, but the organisers are seeking an opportunity for a 2025 return.[14]
The WRC Promoter GmbH is also working on the two key calendar expansions for the future.[15]
- While progress has been made for the candidate event in the United States, which was also aiming to join the championship in 2024,[16] the rally would join the rally of Saudi Arabia to seek for 2025 calendar spots.[17] Chattanooga, Tennessee is planned to be the rally headquarters and the event would be held on gravel surface.[18]
- The other key expansion is Rally China, which was last featured in 1999. The rally was also scheduled to be held in 2016, but it was ultimately cancelled due to the damage caused by the 2016 China floods.[19]
In addition, Saudi Arabia is also on the candidate list.[20] This is the rally that is a part of WRC Promoter GmbH's plan to deliver a desert event.[21] Rally Argentina is also bidding to return to the championship.[22]
Other changes
- The organizers of the Monte Carlo Rally are set to relocate its headquarters back to Gap in France.[23] The rally was previously based in Monaco.[24]
- The Kenyan Rally, which took place in June in the previous three seasons, will move ahead to March at the weekend of Easter as the third round of the season.[25]
Entries
The following manufacturers are set to contest the championship under Rally1 regulations.[26]
| Manufacturer | Entrant | Car | No. | Driver name | Co-driver name | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford |  M-Sport Ford WRT
|
Ford Puma Rally1 | 13 |  Grégoire Munster
|
 Louis Louka
|
1–2 |
| 16 |  Adrien Fourmaux
|
Alexandre Coria
|
1–2 | |||
| Hyundai |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
|
Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | 4 | Esapekka Lappi
|
Janne Ferm
|
2 |
| 6 |  Dani Sordo
|
Cándido Carrera
|
TBA | |||
| 8 |  Ott Tänak
|
Martin Järveoja
|
1–2 | |||
| 9 |  Andreas Mikkelsen
|
Torstein Eriksen
|
1 | |||
| 11 | Thierry Neuville
|
Martijn Wydaeghe
|
1–2 | |||
| Toyota | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
|
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 17 | Sébastien Ogier
|
Vincent Landais
|
1 |
| 18 | Takamoto Katsuta
|
 Aaron Johnston
|
1–2 | |||
| 33 | Elfyn Evans
|
Scott Martin
|
1–2 | |||
| 69 | Kalle Rovanperä
|
Jonne Halttunen
|
2 | |||
| Sources:[27][28] | ||||||
The following crews are entered in Rally1 cars as privateers or under arrangement with the manufacturers.
| Manufacturer | Entrant | Car | No. | Driver name | Co-driver name | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
|
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 37 | Lorenzo Bertelli
|
Simone Scattolin
|
2 |
| Sources:[28] | ||||||
In detail
M-Sport would feature a new line-up, with the crew led by Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster be the two full-time competitors.[29] Pierre-Louis Loubet, who drove for the team over the last two seasons, was announced to compete in the WRC-2 category with Toksport.[30] Long-time privateer Jourdan Serderidis retired at the end of 2023 season.[31]
Hyundai would retain the crew of Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe.[32] Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja would rejoin the team after spending one year with M-Sport.[33] Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm also remained with the team, but they would run with a reduced program.[34] Andreas Mikkelsen would return to Hyundai for his second stint the team, sharing a third car with the crew led by Dani Sordo and Lappi.[35]
Toyota would maintain the lineup from 2023, with the crews led by Elfyn Evans and by Takamoto Katsuta would be the two full-time competitors for the team.[36] Reigning world champion Kalle Rovanperä signed a multi-year contract with the team, but he only plans to contest a partial program in 2024.[37] Eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier would continue his approach to the season, competing at selected events.[38] They would not share a third car.[39]
Regulation changes
Points system is confirmed to have a major revision to prevent saving tyres for the Power Stage.[40] The top ten competitors in the overall classification by the end of Saturday to score 18–15–13–10–8–6–4–3–2–1 points respectively, and top seven runners who record least time in an accumulated leader board of Sunday to score 7–6–5–4–3–2–1 points respectively.[41]
Results and standings
Season summary
| Round | Event | Winning driver | Winning co-driver | Winning entrant | Winning time | Report | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo
|
Report | |||||
| 2 | Rally Sweden
|
Report | |||||
| 3 | Safari Rally Kenya
|
Report | |||||
| 4 | Croatia Rally
|
Report | |||||
| 5 | Rally de Portugal
|
Report | |||||
| 6 | Rally Italia Sardegna
|
Report | |||||
| 7 | Rally Poland
|
Report | |||||
| 8 | Rally Latvia
|
Report | |||||
| 9 | Rally Finland
|
Report | |||||
| 10 | Acropolis Rally Greece
|
Report | |||||
| 11 | Rally Chile
|
Report | |||||
| 12 | Central European Rally
|
Report | |||||
| 13 | Rally Japan
|
Report |
Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top ten crews in the overall classification by the end of Saturday, and top seven crews in an accumulated overall classification of Sunday in each event.[42] In the manufacturers' championship, teams are eligible to nominate three crews to score points, but these points are only awarded to the top two classified finishers representing a manufacturer and driving a 2022-specification Rally1 car. There are also five bonus points awarded to the winners of the Power Stage, four points for second place, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth. Power Stage points are awarded in the drivers', co-drivers' and manufacturers' championships.[43]
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall position by Saturday | 18 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Accumulated position of Sunday | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | ||
| Power Stage | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | ||||
FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers
The driver who records a points-scoring classification would be taken into account for the championship regardless of the categories.
|
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FIA World Rally Championship for Co-Drivers
The co-driver who records a points-scoring classification would be taken into account for the championship regardless of the categories.
|
Notes: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers
Only the best two results of each manufacturer in the respective overall classification and Power Stage at each rally would be taken into account for the championship.
|
Notes: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes
- ^ The Monte Carlo Rally is run on a tarmac and snow surface.
References
- ^ "Itinerary Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo 2024". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "Itinerary Rally Sweden 2024". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Itinerary Safari Rally Kenya 2024". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Itinerary Vodafone Rally de Portugal 2024". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Revealed: 2024 WRC Calendar". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "FIA WRC 2024 set for lift-off following calendar reveal". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ Howard, Tom (19 May 2023). "WRC closing in on 14-round 2024 calendar". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ Barry, Luke (15 August 2023). "WRC to unveil 13-round 2024 calendar before Greece". dirtfish.com. DirtFish. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ "FIA World Rally Championship adds Latvia to 2024 calendar". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ Howard, Tom (17 February 2023). "Latvia joins WRC calendar from 2024". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ Barry, Luke (24 July 2023). "WRC would be "stupid" to lose Rally Estonia – Tänak". dirtfish.com. DirtFish. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ Howard, Tom (9 October 2023). "Poland to rejoin WRC calendar in 2024". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Barry, Luke (9 October 2023). "Rally Poland returns to WRC for 2024". dirtfish.com. DirtFish. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Evans, David (27 September 2023). "Rally of nations returns as Mexico prepares WRC 2025 bid". dirtfish.com. DirtFish. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ Howard, Tom (28 September 2023). "WRC lists China and USA as key expansion targets". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ Howard, Tom (26 January 2023). "Rally USA a potential contender to join WRC in 2024". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ Howard, Tom (8 August 2023). "WRC set for 13-round 2024 calendar, Saudi Arabia to miss out". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Gilboy, James (17 March 2023). "Tennessee Could Host a WRC Race in 2024". thedrive.com. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
- ^ Evans, David (16 August 2016). "Rally China cancelled due to storm damage after organisers' request". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ Lindroos, Pontus (22 October 2022). "2023 WRC calendar to be presented later than expected". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ Howard, Tom (26 November 2022). "WRC pushes Middle East event plans to 2024 following calendar reveal". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ Howard, Tom (29 July 2023). "UK "unlikely" to secure 2024 WRC round, Argentina vying for Americas spot". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Barry, Luke (6 June 2022). "Monte Carlo Rally returns to Gap for 2024". dirtfish.com. DirtFish. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ^ "Monaco base for new-look Rallye Monte-Carlo". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "WRC Safari Rally 2024 Moved To March". 98.4 Capital FM. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "WRC manufacturers comfirm three-year hybrid agreement". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- ^ "Entry List Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo 2024". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Entry list Rally Sweden 2024". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ Bowen, James (22 December 2023). "M-sport unveils its 2024 WRC driver line-up". dirtfish.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Hotshot Loubet confirms WRC2 return". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ Barry, Luke (4 April 2023). "Serderidis to retire from WRC at end of the season". dirtfish.com. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ Howard, Tom (3 August 2023). "Deadline set for Hyundai WRC four car expansion decision". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Hyundai confirms Tänak return". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- ^ Barry, Luke (16 November 2023). "Lappi wanted part program for better home life". dirtfish.com. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Evans, David (6 December 2023). "Mikkelsen earns Rally1 chance with Hyundai". dirtfish.com. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "All-star Toyota Gazoo Racing line-up breaks cover for 2024". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Partial programme will help me 'recharge' for full-time return, says Kalle Rovanperä". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Evans, David (20 November 2023). "Rovanperä steps down to part WRC program in 2024". dirtfish.com. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "How Toyota plans to divide Ogier and Rovanperä's drives in 2024". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Howard, Tom (16 December 2023). "FIA publishes new 2024 WRC points system". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ Howard, Tom (16 December 2023). "FIA publishes new 2024 WRC points system". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ Evans, David (16 December 2023). "WRC's radical points change to stop "Sunday Driving"". dirtfish.com. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Power Stage points extended to manufacturers, WRC2 and WRC3". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
External links
- Official website (in English, French, and Spanish)
- FIA World Rally Championship 2024 at eWRC-results.com