The World Rally Championship (WRC) is a rallying series administered by Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body. The series currently consists of 13 three-day events driven on surfaces that range 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 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; the series was first contested in 1973. The drivers' championship was first awarded in 1977 and 1978 as an FIA Cup for Drivers title, to Sandro Munari and Markku Alén, respectively. The first official world champion in rallying was Björn Waldegård in 1979.
Each season normally consists of 12 to 16 rallies driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice. Points from these events are calculated towards the drivers', co-drivers' and manufacturers' world championships. The driver's championship and manufacturer's championship are separate championships, but are based on the same point system. In the current points system, points are awarded at the end of each rally to the top ten WRC (overall) drivers and co-drivers that qualify as follows: 25, 17, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1. In addition to those points, from 2011 each event holds 1 special stage, the Power Stage, in which drivers and co-drivers can score extra points – currently awarded to five fastest drivers (5, 4, 3, 2, 1). From 2025 points are awarded to the five fastest crews on Sunday (5, 4, 3, 2, 1).Rule changes summary juwra.com
Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier hold joint record for the most drivers' championships, winning nine during their career. Loeb holds the record for the most championships won in a row; he won his nine titles consecutively from 2004 to 2012. Kalle Rovanperä is the youngest world champion; he was 22 years old when he won the 2022 World Rally Championship. French drivers have won the most titles with 19 championships between 3 drivers. Finland are second with 16 championships between 8 drivers. Citroën cars have won the most drivers' championships with nine titles, all of them with Loeb.
Winners By season +List of World Rally Championship Drivers' championsSeasonCountryDriverCar1977Lancia Stratos HF1978Fiat 131 Abarth1979Ford Escort RS18001980Fiat 131 Abarth1981Ford Escort RS18001982Opel Ascona 4001983Audi Quattro A1/A21984Audi Quattro A2/Sport Quattro1985Peugeot 205 T16/E21986Peugeot 205 T16 E21987Lancia Delta HF 4WD1988Lancia Delta HF 4WD/Integrale1989Lancia Delta Integrale 16V1990Toyota Celica GT-Four ST1651991Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16V1992Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD ST1851993Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD ST1851994Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD ST1851995Subaru Impreza 5551996Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III1997Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV1998Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV/Evolution V1999Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI2000Peugeot 206 WRC2001Subaru Impreza WRC 20012002Peugeot 206 WRC2003Subaru Impreza WRC 20032004Citroën Xsara WRC2005Citroën Xsara WRC2006Citroën Xsara WRC2007Citroën C4 WRC2008Citroën C4 WRC2009Citroën C4 WRC2010Citroën C4 WRC2011Citroën DS3 WRC2012Citroën DS3 WRC2013Volkswagen Polo R WRC2014Volkswagen Polo R WRC2015Volkswagen Polo R WRC2016Volkswagen Polo R WRC2017Ford Fiesta WRC2018Ford Fiesta WRC2019Toyota Yaris WRC2020Toyota Yaris WRC2021Toyota Yaris WRC2022Toyota GR Yaris Rally12023Toyota GR Yaris Rally12024Hyundai i20 N Rally12025Toyota GR Yaris Rally12026Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
By driver
+List of World Rally Championship Drivers' Champions by driverDriverTotalSeasons 9, , , , , , , , 9, , , , , , , , 4, , , 4, , , 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
By nationality
+Championship wins by nationalityCountryDriversTotal wins3198163323221212111111
By manufacturer
Privateers and manufacturers counted MakeTotal Toyota11 Citroën9 Lancia5 Ford/M-Sport4 Mitsubishi4 Peugeot4 Volkswagen4 Subaru3 Audi2 Fiat2 Hyundai1 Opel1
Notes
References General eWRC-Results.com Top Stats
Specific
See also List of World Rally Championship Co-Drivers' champions List of World Rally Championship Manufacturers' champions List of World Rally Championship records
External links World Rally Championship official site FIA official site