The Canadian Rally Championship is an automobile rallying championship sanctioned by the Canadian Association of RallySport (CARS) held since 1957 in Canada. The Canadian Rally Championship follows a 2 class format; 2-Wheel Drive, 4/All-Wheel Drive.
Canadian rallying history The Canadian Rally Championship (CRC) is Canada's only national rallying series. 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Rally Championship, making it the longest running motorsport series in Canada. It has been run continuously since 1957 when Leslie Chelminski and Les Stanley from Montreal shared the very first national rally title in a factory-prepared Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. In the early days, the rally championship was based on a navigational (also called time-speed-distance or TSD) rally series which, at times, had as many as twenty events in the series. The most notable Canadian car rallies in those days were the Canadian Winter Rally and the Shell 4000. Some Rally champions from the TSD era include Art Dempsey, Bill Silvera, and Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame inductees John Bird, Paul S. Manson, and Bruce D. Simpson.
As the sport gradually changed and adopted the European "stage" format, performance rallying became part of the Canadian motorsport picture. As opposed to TSD rallies, where competitors are required to follow the organizer's schedule, travel below posted speed limits and otherwise adhere to the rules of the public roads they are traveling on, performance rallies incorporate high speed "special stages" on roads closed to vehicles other than the rally cars, which must be specially prepared with full safety equipment. In 1973, the Canadian Rally Championship became based solely on stage rallies, including the Rally of the Tall Pines, which is still the premier event, and is held in November every year.
2026 CRC Season The 2026 Canadian Rally Championship is a season of rally racing sanctioned by the Canadian Association of Rallysport (CARS). The championship features a calendar of eight events across Canada, held on surfaces including gravel, snow, and ice. The season's competition includes various vehicle classes, such as Open 4WD, Prepared 4WD, Open 2WD, and Prepared 2WD.
Calendar 2026 Event Calendar
RoundStart dateFinish dateRallyLocationClubSurfaceStagesDistance106 February07 February Rally Perce-Neige of ManiwakiManiwaki, QuebecCASLLSnow / Ice18193.84 km229 May31 May Rocky Mountain RallyInvermere, British ColumbiaCSCCGravel12165.38 km305 June06 June Pacific Forest RallyMerritt, British ColumbiaWCRAGravel10165.40 km426 June28 June International Rallye Baie des ChaleursNew Richmond, QuebecCRABGravel14209.13 km511 September12 September Rallye Defi Petite NationSaint-Victor-de-Beauce, QuebecCASLLGravel?? km630 October01 November Rallye de CharlevoixLa Malbaie, QuebecCASLLGravel19202.63 km720 November21 November Rally of the Tall PinesBancroft, OntarioMLRCGravel15170.72 km804 December05 December Big White Winter RallyKelowna, British ColumbiaWCRASnow / Ice12190.65 km
Results and standings Season summary RoundEventWinning driverWinning co-driverWinning carWinning time1 Rally Perce-Neige of Maniwaki Leonid Urlichich Crazy Leo Enzo Mahinc Subaru Impreza STi N12 2:07:39.02 Rocky Mountain Rally Martynas Samsonas Kajus Samsonas Subaru Impreza STi N14 1:16:33.13 Pacific Forest RallyCancelledCancelledCancelledCancelled4 Rallye Baie des Chaleurs Jean-Sébastien Besner Hubert Gaudreau Ford Fiesta Proto2:13:50.05 Rallye Défi Beauce-Appalaches 6 Rallye de Charlevoix 7 Novus Automotive Rally of the Tall Pines 8 Big White Winter Rally
2026 Drivers' Championship Standings Each driver earns 1 point for starting a rally and 1 additional point for finishing it. Position-based points are awarded according to standard CRC regulations.
+Overall StandingDriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 André Leblanc16th3rd4th282 Jérôme Mailloux5th2nd273 Jean-Sébastien Besner15th1st244 Leonid Urlichich1st224 Martynas Samsonas1st226 Yohan Tessier2ndDNF187 Hardy Schmidtke2nd178 Vincent Trudel7th5th168 Alexandre MoreauDNFDNF3rd1610 Olivier Martel3rd14
+Prepared 4WD StandingDriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 Michael Dimkovski1st1st182 Rose Oakhill1st93 Olivier Landreville2nd63 Vincent Bourque5th3rd63 Azam Deen2nd63 Alexandre Laviolette2nd67 Marc-André Drouin4th5th58 Simon Aubé3rd49 Karim Fodil-Lemelin4th310 Réjean Perron6th1
+2WD Overall StandingDriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 André Leblanc5th1st1st542 Dave St-Pierre4th6th3rd343 Maxime Galpin3rd2nd314 Vincent Lalande1stDNF235 Nicolas Laverdière2nd175 Kornelius Rempel2nd177 Aran Cook3rd148 Andrew Miller4th128 Bryan McCarthy4th1210 Mathieu Royer6th10th11
+Prepared 2WD StandingDriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 Mathieu Royer1st4th122 Aran Cook1st92 David Gagné1st94 Jim Stevens2nd6th75 Bryan McCarthy2nd65 Marc-Olivier Leblanc2nd67 Dan Galipeau3rd48 Philippe Normandeau5th2910
2026 Co-Drivers' Championship Standings Points for co-drivers are awarded using the same system as the drivers' championship.
+Overall StandingDriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 Philippe Poirier5th2nd272 Hubert GaudreauDNF1st233 Enzo Mahinc1st223 Kajus Samsonas1st225 Marie-France Desmarais Trepanier2ndDNF186 Stefan Trajkov2nd177 René Leblanc16th3rd168 Ian GuitéDNF3rd159 Michelle Miller9th5th149 Simon Levac6th7th14
+Prepared 4WD StandingDriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 Simon Levac1st1st182 Sarah Temporale1st93 Alexandre Marcoux2nd6th74 Simon Lamarre5th3rd64 Dan Bobyn2nd64 Samuel Motreff2nd67 Marc-André Briand4th5th58 Gabrielle St-Jacques3rd49 Jonathan Downing4th310
+2WD Overall StandingDriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 René Leblanc5th1st322 Fabien Craen1st222 Dave Cyr1st224 Éric Dubé4th6thDNF215 Marc-Olivier Lamontagne2nd175 Théo Mallet2nd175 Andrew Andrus2nd178 Jonathan G. Desgroseilliers3rd12th169 Robert Jackett3rd149 Pierre-Luc Chouinard3rd14
+Prepared 2WD StandingDriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 Alyssa Voyzelle-Montminy1st4th122 Robert Jackett1st92 Pierre-Charles Babin1st94 Brandon Pace2nd6th75 Chuck Bolger2nd65 Jean-Francois Brière2nd67 Colin Turk3rd48 Caroline Moreau5th2910
2026 Manufacturers' Championship Standings Points for the Manufacturers' Championship are awarded based on the best-placed entry for each manufacturer at each event, using the standard Canadian Rally Championship points system.
Overall Standing DriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 Subaru1st1st402 Mitsubishi8th2nd183 Ford3rd124 Honda5th86 Toyota7th46 Volkswagen8th37 Peugeot9th28910
2WD Standing DriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 Ford4th1st302 Peugeot1st203 Honda2nd154 Toyota3rd125 Volkswagen4th106 Subaru5th87 Nissan6th68 Suzuki7th4910
2026 Novice Championship Standings The Novice Cup in the Canadian Rally Championship is awarded to eligible new drivers who have competed in fewer than six performance rallies before the start of the season. Points are awarded based on a different system as the main drivers' championship, 9 points = 1st, 6 points = 2nd, 4 points = 3rd, 3 point = 4th, 2 points = 5th and 1 points = 6th. Only novice drivers are ranked in this category, and the top-placed novice at each event earns points from their overall position in the rally.
+Overall StandingDriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 Yohan Tessier1st91 Bryan McCarthy1st93 Michael Dimkovski2nd63 Leon Wawryk2nd65 Olivier Landreville3rd45 Rose Oakhill3rd47 Marc-André Drouin4th38 Vincent Bourque5th2910
2026 Ladies Cup Championship Standings In the realm of the Canadian Rally Championship, the Ladies Cup represents a special recognition for women behind the wheel. Using a points system aligned with that of the novice category, female competitors collect scores based on how they place among other eligible participants. This class is designed to foster inclusion, encourage more women to take part in rallying, and highlight their ongoing contributions and competitive consistency throughout the series.
+Overall StandingDriverRPNRMRPFRBDCDPNRDCRTPBWRPoints1 Marie-France Desmarais Trepanier1st91 Celine Pepperdine1st93 Gabrielle Saint-Jacques2nd63 Josie Rimmer2nd63 Michelle Miller2nd66 Karianne Hubert3rd46 Erika Seguin3rd46 Rose Oakhill3rd46 Sarah Temporale3rd410 Alyssa Voyzelle-Montminy4th3
Statistiques Champions Year Driver Co-Driver Marque 1957 Leslie Chelminski Les Stanley Volkswagen 1958 Leslie Chelminski 1959 Art Dempsey Bill A. Silvera 1960 Art Dempsey Bill A. Silvera 1961 William Silvera Bill A. Silvera 1962 John C. Wilson 1963 John Bird Volkswagen 1964 John Bird Volkswagen 1965 John Bird Volkswagen 1966 Bruce Simpson Volvo 1967 Bruce Simpson Datsun 1968 Keith Ronald John Slade Volkswagen 1969 Bruce Schmidt Betty Schmidt/Paul S. Manson Datsun 1970 Walter Boyce Doug Woods Datsun 1971 Walter Boyce Doug Woods Datsun 1972 Walter Boyce Doug Woods Datsun 1973 Walter Boyce Doug Woods Fiat 1974 Walter Boyce Doug Woods Toyota 1975 Jean-Paul Pérusse John Bellefleur Fiat 1976 Jean-Paul Pérusse John Bellefleur Fiat 1977 Toyota 1978 Toyota 1979 Toyota 1980 Toyota 1981 Randy Black Bob Lee Toyota 1982 Toyota 1983 Randy Black Nissan 1984 Tim Bendle Mary Crundwell Toyota 1985 Tim Bendle Louis Belanger Toyota 1986 Bo Skowronnek Terry Epp Volvo 1987 Alain Bergeron Martin Headland Toyota 1988 Alain Bergeron Raymond Cadieux Toyota 1989 Paul Choiniere Martin Headland Audi 1990 Tom McGeer Trish Sparrow Audi 1991 Frank Sprongl Dan Sprongl Audi 1992 Tom McGeer Trish Sparrow Audi 1993 Tom McGeer Trish Sparrow Subaru 1994 Frank Sprongl Dan Sprongl Audi 1995 Frank Sprongl Mike Koch Audi 1996 Carl Merrill Yorgi Bittner Eagle 1997 Frank Sprongl Dan Sprongl Audi 1998 Frank Sprongl Dan Sprongl Audi 1999 Frank Sprongl Dan Sprongl Audi 2000 Tom McGeer Mark Williams Subaru 2001 Tom McGeer Mark Williams Subaru 2002 Patrick Richard Ian McCurdy Subaru 2003 Tom McGeer Philip Erickson Subaru 2004 Patrick Richard Nathalie Richard Subaru 2005 Peter Thomson Rod Hendrickson Subaru 2006 Antoine L'Estage Ole Holter Hyundai 2007 Antoine L'Estage Nathalie Richard Hyundai 2008 Patrick Richard Alan Ockwell Subaru 2009 Patrick Richard Alan Ockwell Subaru 2010 Antoine L'Estage Nathalie Richard Mitsubishi 2011 Antoine L'Estage Nathalie Richard Mitsubishi 2012 Antoine L'Estage Nathalie Richard Mitsubishi 2013 Antoine L'Estage Nathalie Richard Mitsubishi 2014 Antoine L'Estage Alan Ockwell Mitsubishi 2015 Antoine L'Estage Alan Ockwell Subaru 2016 Antoine L'Estage Darren Garrod Subaru 2017 Antoine L'Estage Alan Ockwell Subaru 2018 Karel Carré Samuel Joyal Subaru 2019 Karel Carré Samuel Joyal Subaru 2021 André Leblanc René Leblanc Subaru 2022 Jerome Mailloux Philippe Poirier Subaru2023Jean-Sébastien BesnerYvan JoyalFord2024Jean-Sébastien BesnerAlan OckwellFord2025Ricardo CorderoMarco HernandezCitroen
Canadian Performance Rally Lifetime Standings
The following standings are based on an individual's placings in the first six overall positions on all Canadian Championship Performance Rallies from 1973 to 2024. There are 14 drivers and 10 co-drivers who have attained Grand Master status (>2000 points)
+Driver Driver Lifetime Points CARS Points Career WinsAntoine L'Estage7060156857 5580111040Frank Sprongl5060107936 Tom McGeer4990105321John Buffum490077843Patrick Richard416089422Jean-Paul Perusse386078421Walter Boyce292059312Randy Black288057010Jean-Sebastian Besner25606084Sylvain Vincent25405711Bo Skowronnek23905035Carl Merril23503828Bjorn Anderson21204206
+Co-Driver Driver Lifetime Points CARS Points Career Wins6080121139Dan Sprongl452096732Nathalie Richard393087529John Bellefleur393076520Alan Ockwell377086329Trish McGeer28606365Yvan Joyal22805885Martin Headland22505097Gilles Lacroix21405613Mark Williams205036117
Top 10 Canadian Rally Championship
+Most ChampionshipDriverTotal1 Antoine L'Estage 102 Frank Spongl 62 Tom McGeer 64 54 Walter Boyce 56 Patrick Richard 47 Jean-Sébastian Besner 27 Randy Black 27 Karel Carré 27 Alain Bergeron 2