World Rally Championship
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The World Rally Championship (WRC) is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's championship and manufacturer's championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. This means, for example, that Petter Solberg driving for Subaru can win the driver's championship but Citroën can win the manufacturer's championship, which is what happened in 2003, and twice more in 2006 and 2007 when Sébastien Loeb took his third and fourth WRC titles but Ford won the manufacturer's championship. The competition first received the designation of WRC in 1973. The sport's commercial rights are administered by International Sportsworld Communicators.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early
The 1973 World Rally Championship season was the inaugural season of the World Rally Championship and began with the 42ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo on January 19. The season consisted of 13 events, of which seven have usually been part of the WRC schedule to this day; the Monte Carlo Rally, Swedish Rally, Rally Portugal, Acropolis Rally, 1000 Lakes Rally (now known as Rally Finland), RAC Rally (Wales Rally Great Britain) and Tour de Corse. Gravel events formed the majority of the programme, as with following years.
Alpine-Renault won the first manufacturer's world championship with its Alpine A110, after which Lancia took the title three years in a row with the Ferrari V6 -powered Lancia Stratos, the first car designed and manufactured specifically for rallying. The first drivers' world championship was not awarded until 1979, although 1977 and 1978 seasons included an FIA Cup for Drivers, won by Italy's Sandro Munari and Finland's Markku Alén respectively. Sweden's Björn Waldegård became the first official world champion, edging out Finland's Hannu Mikkola by one point. Fiat took the manufacters' title with the Fiat 131 Abarth in 1977, 1978 and 1980, Ford with its Escort RS1800 in 1979 and Talbot with its Sunbeam Lotus in 1981. Waldegård was followed by German Walter Röhrl and Finn Ari Vatanen as drivers' world champions.
[edit] Group B era
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The 1980s saw the rear-wheel-drive Group 2 and the more popular Group 4 cars be replaced by more powerful four-wheel-drive Group B cars. FISA legalized all-wheel-drive in 1979, but most manufacturers believed it was too complex to be successful. However, after Audi started entering Mikkola and the new four-wheel-drive Quattro in rallies for testing purposes with immediate success, other manufacturers started their all-wheel-drive projects. Group B regulations were introduced in the 1982 season, and with only a few restrictions turned out to mean almost unlimited power. Audi took the constructors' title in 1982 and 1984 and drivers' title in 1983 (Mikkola) and 1984 (Stig Blomqvist). Audi's French female driver Michèle Mouton came close to winning the title in 1982, but had to settle for second place after Opel rival Röhrl. 1985 title seemed to go to Vatanen and his Peugeot 205 T16 but a bad accident at the Rally Argentina left him to watch compatriot and team-mate Timo Salonen take the title instead. Italian Attilio Bettega had even a more severe crash with his Lancia 037 at the Tour de Corse and died instantly.
The 1986 season started with impressive performances by Finns Henri Toivonen and Alén in Lancia's new turbo- and supercharged Delta S4, which could reportedly accelerate from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.3 seconds, on a gravel road.[1] However, the season soon took a dramatic turn. At the Rally Portugal, three spectators were killed and over 30 injured after Joaquim Santos lost control of his Ford RS200. At the Tour de Corse, championship favourite Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Cresto died in a fireball accident after plunging down a cliff. Only hours after the crash, Jean-Marie Balestre and the FISA decided to freeze the development of the Group B cars and ban them from competing in 1987. More controversy followed when Peugeot's Juha Kankkunen won the title after FIA annulled the results of the San Remo Rally, taking the title from fellow Finn Alén.
[edit] Group A era
As the planned Group S was also canceled, Group A regulations became the standard in the WRC until 1997. A separate Group A championship had been organized as part of the WRC already in 1986, with Sweden's Kenneth Eriksson taking the title with a Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V.[2] Lancia was quickest in adapting to the new regulations and controlled the world rally scene with Lancia Delta Integrale, winning the constructors' title six years in a row from 1987 to 1992. Kankkunen and Miki Biasion both took two drivers' titles with the Integrale.
The 1990s then saw the Japanese manufacturers, Toyota, Subaru and Mitsubishi, become title favourites. Spain's Carlos Sainz driving for Toyota Team Europe took the 1990 and 1992 titles with a Toyota Celica GT-Four. Kankkunen moved to Toyota for the 1993 season and won his record fourth title, with Toyota taking its first manufacturers' crown. Frenchman Didier Auriol brought the team further success in 1994, and soon Subaru and Mitsubishi continued the success of the Japanese constructors. Subaru's Scotsman Colin McRae won the drivers' world championship in 1995 and Subaru took the manufacturers' title three years in a row. Finland's Tommi Mäkinen driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution won the drivers' championship four times in a row, from 1996 to 1999. Mitsubishi also won the manufacturers' title in 1998.
[edit] World Rally Car era
In the 1998 season, Group A was replaced by World Rally Car regulations. After the success of Mäkinen and the Japanese manufacturers, France's Peugeot made a very successful return to the World Rally Championship. Finn Marcus Grönholm took the drivers' title in his first full year in the series and Peugeot won the manufacturers' crown. England's Richard Burns won the 2001 title with a Subaru Impreza WRC, but Grönholm and Peugeot took both titles again in the 2002 season. 2003 saw Norway's Petter Solberg become drivers' champion for Subaru and Citroën continue the success of the French manufacturers. Citroën's Sébastien Loeb went on to control the following seasons with his Citroën Xsara WRC. Citroën took the constructors' title three times in a row and Loeb equaled Mäkinen's record of four drivers' titles in a row. After many titleless years at the top with their Ford Focus WRC, Ford took the 2006 and 2007 manufacturers' titles with drivers Grönholm and Mikko Hirvonen.
[edit] Cars
The championship currently features 15 rallies and production-based 2.0 L turbocharged four-wheel drive cars built to World Rally Car regulations racing across tarmac, gravel and snow. The power output has been limited to around 300 bhp (225 kW). Current cars in the championship include the Citroën C4, Ford Focus RS, Peugeot 307, Škoda Fabia, Suzuki SX4, Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer WRC. Citroën, Peugeot, Škoda and Mitsubishi pulled out of the championship for 2006 and those cars, although in use by privateers, are not in further development. Citroën returned to WRC in 2007 using the C4. The Suzuki World Rally Team joins the 2008 championship for the first time with their SX4.
The WRC was formerly held for Group A and Group B rallycars. However, due to the increasing power, lack of reliability and the fatal accidents on the 1986 season, Group B was permanently banned. Later, in 1997, the Group A cars evolved into the WRC car spec, to ease the development of new cars and bring new makes to the competition.
Cars in the Production car World Rally Championship are limited to production-based cars homologated under Group N or Super 2000 rules. Most cars in the Junior World Rally Championship are homologated under Super 1600 rules, but Group N and selected Group A cars can also contest the series.
[edit] Calendar
The 2007 season calendar included 16 rallies, of which nine were driven mostly on gravel roads, five on tarmac and two, the Swedish Rally and Rally Norway, on snow. Norway was a new round introduced to the championship, along with Ireland and the re-introduction of Portugal. Cyprus and Turkey were the rounds replaced. The Rally Australia was not run, but it will return in 2009 and will be relocated to the state of Queensland, reportedly through to 2011, after previously being held in the state of Western Australia since 1988.
In the 2008 Season, there will be 15 rounds of the championship, with the introduction of Jordan and Turkey returning. Norway, Portugal and Ireland will be off the calendar for the season coming up.
[edit] 2008
| Dates | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|
| 24-27 January |  Monte Carlo Rally |
Tarmac |
| 08-10 February |  Swedish Rally |
Snow |
| 28 February-2 March |  Rally Mexico |
Gravel |
| 27-30 March |  Rally Argentina |
Gravel |
| 24-27 April |  Jordan Rally |
Gravel |
| 16-18 May |  Rally d'Italia Sardegna |
Gravel |
| 29 May-01 June |  Acropolis Rally |
Gravel |
| 13-15 June |  Rally of Turkey |
Gravel |
| 31 July-03 August |  Rally Finland |
Gravel |
| 15-17 August |  Rallye Deutschland |
Tarmac |
| 28-31 August |  Rally New Zealand |
Gravel |
| 02-05 October |  Rally Catalunya |
Tarmac |
| 10-12 October |  Tour de Corse |
Tarmac |
| 31 October-02 November |  Rally Japan |
Gravel |
| 05-07 December |  Wales Rally GB |
Gravel |
[edit] Coverage
[edit] TV
ISC TV produce daily updates of each event after the day's stages have finished and the TV coverage has been processed. These daily highlight programs are around 30 minutes in duration and cover in depth the day's stages, with in-car footage as well as driver interviews. Before the rally there is also a Rally Preview that normally incorporates special driver, technical and team features as well as providing an overview of the upcoming rally's route. There is also a review program, which lasts approximately an hour, that summarises the rally and the big events that took place during the duration; the stages are not in such detail as the daily updates as it is a review program.
This is then shown in 186 different countries in multiple languages, each day of the event. The make up & format for the telecast can change from country to country pending on the local broadcaster but it all uses ISC TV feeds.
Also, an approximate 15-minute JRC/PWRC (depends on the event) review program airs, which also highlights the main events and dramas in the respective round.
In the UK coverage of the 3 day event is shown on Dave on Sundays after the event is completed, Dave also shows different programmes on rallying before they show coverage of the event. For example they show programmes of The Greatest WRC cars, crashes etc.
[edit] Radio
Live radio coverage is provided in English by World Rally Radio via the internet. Featuring end of stage reports direct from the drivers & teams plus service park news. It also features contemporary music during breaks in rally coverage. This coverage can even simulcast on local radio or via a temporary licence, pending on the event & its organisers.
They are also responsible for producing podcasts for each day of each event available for download.
The event is also broadcast on Eurosport TV, available across 59 markets.
[edit] Points system
Points are awarded at the end of each rally to the top 8 WRC/JRC/PWRC drivers that qualify for drivers are as follows: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Despite how many drivers are in one team, constructors can only nominate 2 drivers to score points for the team as well as scoring for themselves. Also only nominated drivers are counted while awarding points, so even competitors placed further down than eighth overall (if preceded by private drivers) can score them.
[edit] Results
- Current standings: 2008 World Rally Championship season
The 2008 championship standings are as follows:
[edit] Drivers' championship
| Place | Driver | Car | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mikko Hirvonen |
Ford | 43 pts (1 win) |
| 2. | Sébastien Loeb |
Citroën | 40 pts (4 wins) |
| 3. |  Chris Atkinson |
Subaru | 31 pts |
| 4. | Jari-Matti Latvala |
Ford | 24 pts (1 win) |
| 5. | Dani Sordo |
Citroën | 21 pts |
| 6. | Gianluigi Galli |
Stobart Ford | 17 pts |
| 7. |  Henning Solberg |
Munchi's Ford World Rally Team | 11 pts |
| 8. | Petter Solberg |
Subaru | 9 pts |
| 9. | Federico Villagra |
Munchi's Ford World Rally Team | 8 pts |
| 10. |  Matthew Wilson |
Stobart Ford | 7 pts |
[edit] Manufacturers' Championship
| Place | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team |
71 pts (2 wins) |
| 2. | Citroën Total World Rally Team |
64 pts (4 wins) |
| 2. | Subaru World Rally Team |
42 pts |
| 4. | Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team |
34 pts |
| 5. | Munchi's Ford World Rally Team |
16 pts |
| 6. | Suzuki World Rally Team |
7 pts |
[edit] Champions
[edit] Records
| Driver championships | Driver rally wins | Manufacturer championships | Manufacturer rally wins | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Driver | Titles | Place | Driver | Wins | Place | Manufacturer | Titles | Place | Manufacturer | Wins | |||
| 1 | Juha Kankkunen |
4 | 1 | Sébastien Loeb |
40 | 1 | Lancia |
10 | 1 | Lancia |
73 | |||
| Tommi Mäkinen |
4 | 2 | Marcus Grönholm |
30 | 2 | Peugeot |
5 | 2 | Ford |
64 | ||||
| Sébastien Loeb |
4 | 3 | Carlos Sainz |
26 | 3 | Fiat |
3 | 3 | Peugeot |
48 | ||||
| 4 | Walter Röhrl |
2 | 4 | Colin McRae |
25 | Toyota |
3 | 4 | Subaru |
47 | ||||
| Massimo Biasion |
2 | 5 | Tommi Mäkinen |
24 | Subaru |
3 | 5 | Citroën |
44 | |||||
| Carlos Sainz |
2 | 6 | Juha Kankkunen |
23 | Citroën |
3 | 6 | Toyota |
43 | |||||
| Marcus Grönholm |
2 | 7 | Markku Alén |
20 | Ford |
3 | 7 | Mitsubishi |
34 | |||||
| 8 | 10 drivers are tied with a single championship each. | Didier Auriol |
20 | 8 | Audi |
2 | 8 | Audi |
24 | |||||
| 9 | Hannu Mikkola |
18 | 9 | 3 manufacturers tied with a single championship each | 9 | Fiat |
21 | |||||||
| 10 | Massimo Biasion |
17 | 10 | Datsun / Nissan |
9 | |||||||||
- Note: Bold text indicates active drivers and teams.
[edit] Other classes
The World Rally Championship also features support championships called the Production car World Rally Championship (PWRC) and the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC). In 2007, the junior championship had no events outside Europe so it was known simply as the Junior Rally Championship (JRC).
The Production car World Rally Championship began in 2002, replacing the FIA Group N Cup which had been contested from 1987. Cars in the championship are production-based and homologated under Group N or Super 2000 rules.[3] The Junior World Rally Championship was started in 2001, and can be contested with Super 1600, Group N and selected Group A cars. Drivers in the championship have to be 28 years or younger. There is no age limit for co-drivers.[4]
[edit] Video games
There have been many video games based on the World Rally Championship, and due to lack of licenses, many more based on only certain cars, drivers or events. Sega Rally was released in 1995, V-Rally and Top Gear Rally in 1997 and the first game in the very popular Colin McRae Rally series in 1998. Rally Trophy, released in 2001 for Microsoft Windows by Bugbear, concentrated on historic cars such as Alpine A110 and Lancia Stratos. RalliSport Challenge, released in 2002 for Windows and Xbox by Digital Illusions CE, featured classic Group B cars and hillclimb models along with modern WRC cars.
Fully FIA licensed WRC: World Rally Championship was released in 2001 for PlayStation 2 by Evolution Studios. The video game series had its fifth game, WRC: Rally Evolved, in 2005. Racing simulator Richard Burns Rally, released in 2004 for several platforms, has gathered recognition for its realism. Recent top-selling games include Colin McRae: Dirt and Sega Rally Revo.
[edit] References
- ^ Biggs, Henry. Top 10: Group B rally cars. MSN Cars UK. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ World Rally Championship for Drivers Champions. RallyBase. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
- ^ FIA Production car World Rally Championship. WRC.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
- ^ FIA Junior Rally Championship. WRC.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
[edit] External links
- News and information
- Results
- RallyBase.nl — result database;
- eWRC-results.com — complex and up-to-date results database; (Czech)
- juwra.com - World Rally Archive — database and statistics;
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