World Rally Championship 234243 225814086 2008-07-15T15:05:41Z Scancoaches 1582352 /* 2008 */ table fix {{for|the video game series|World Rally Championship (video game series)}} {| style="float:right" |- |{{Infobox motorsport championship | logo = WRC.jpg | pixels = 180px | caption = The World Rally Championship logo. | current_season = 2008 World Rally Championship season | category = [[World Rally Car]] | country/region = [[International]] | inaugural = 1973 | folded = | drivers = 15 | teams = 6 | tyres = {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Pirelli]] | champion driver = {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] | champion team = {{flagicon|USA}} [[BP Ford World Rally Team]] | manufacturer = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ford of Europe|Ford]] | website = [http://www.wrc.com wrc.com] }} |- |{{World Rally Championship}} |- | |} The '''World Rally Championship''' (WRC) is a [[rallying]] series organised by the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|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 World Rally Championship season|2003]], and twice more in [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]] and [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]] when [[Sébastien Loeb]] took his third and fourth WRC titles but [[Ford of Europe|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]]. ==History== ===Early=== [[Image:Lancia-Stratos-HF-Group-4-'.jpg|thumb|left|Group 4 [[Lancia Stratos HF]].]] 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 [[List of World Rally Championship Constructors' Champions|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 [[List of World Rally Championship Drivers' Champions|drivers' world championship]] was not awarded until [[1979 World Rally Championship season|1979]], although [[1977 World Rally Championship season|1977]] and [[1978 World Rally Championship season|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 World Rally Championship season|1980]], [[Ford of Europe|Ford]] with its [[Ford Escort RS1800|Escort RS1800]] in 1979 and [[Talbot]] with its [[Talbot Sunbeam Lotus|Sunbeam Lotus]] in [[1981 World Rally Championship season|1981]]. Waldegård was followed by [[Germany|German]] [[Walter Röhrl]] and Finn [[Ari Vatanen]] as drivers' world champions. ===Group B era=== {{main|Group B}} [[Image:Audi Quattro - 2007 Rallye Deutschland (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Group B [[Audi Quattro S1]].]] The 1980s saw the [[rear-wheel-drive]] [[Group 2]] and the more popular [[Group 4 (racing)|Group 4]] cars be replaced by more powerful [[four-wheel-drive]] [[Group B]] cars. [[Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile|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 [[Audi Quattro|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 World Rally Championship season|1982 season]], and with only a few restrictions turned out to mean almost unlimited power. Audi took the constructors' title in 1982 and [[1984 World Rally Championship season|1984]] and drivers' title in [[1983 World Rally Championship season|1983]] (Mikkola) and 1984 ([[Stig Blomqvist]]). Audi's [[France|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 World Rally Championship season|1985]] title seemed to go to Vatanen and his [[Peugeot 205|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. [[Image:Lancia Delta S4 005.JPG|thumb|Group B [[Lancia Delta S4]].]] The [[1986 World Rally Championship season|1986 season]] started with impressive performances by Finns [[Henri Toivonen]] and Alén in Lancia's new turbo- and supercharged [[Lancia Delta S4|Delta S4]], which could reportedly accelerate from 0-60&nbsp;[[Miles per hour|mph]] (96&nbsp;[[Kilometres per hour|km/h]]) in 2.3&nbsp;seconds, on a gravel road.<ref>{{cite web | author=Biggs, Henry | title=Top 10: Group B rally cars | work=[[MSN]] Cars UK | url=http://cars.uk.msn.com/News/car_news_article.aspx?cp-documentid=475269 | accessdate=2007-12-18}}</ref> 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. ===Group A era=== [[Image:Toyota Celica GT-FOUR 02.jpg|thumb|left|Group A [[Toyota Celica GT-Four]].]] 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]].<ref>{{cite web | title=World Rally Championship for Drivers Champions | work=RallyBase | url=http://www.rallybase.nl/index.php?type=championlist&subchamptype=wcd | accessdate=2007-12-21}}</ref> 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 World Rally Championship season|1987]] to [[1992 World Rally Championship season|1992]]. Kankkunen and [[Miki Biasion]] both took two drivers' titles with the Integrale. The 1990s then saw the [[Japan]]ese manufacturers, [[Toyota]], [[Subaru]] and [[Mitsubishi]], become title favourites. [[Spain]]'s [[Carlos Sainz]] driving for [[Toyota Team Europe]] took the [[1990 World Rally Championship season|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 World Rally Championship season|1994]], and soon Subaru and Mitsubishi continued the success of the Japanese constructors. [[Subaru]]'s [[Scotland|Scotsman]] [[Colin McRae]] won the drivers' world championship in [[1995 World Rally Championship season|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 World Rally Championship season|1996]] to [[1999 World Rally Championship season|1999]]. Mitsubishi also won the manufacturers' title in [[1998 World Rally Championship season|1998]]. {{-}} ===World Rally Car era=== [[Image:Grönholm vs. Loeb.jpg|thumb|[[Marcus Grönholm|Grönholm]] and [[Sébastien Loeb|Loeb]] compete in a ''[[super special stage]]'' in [[Rally Argentina|Córdoba, Argentina]].]] 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 World Rally Championship season|2001]] title with a [[Subaru Impreza WRC]], but Grönholm and Peugeot took both titles again in the [[2002 World Rally Championship season|2002 season]]. [[2003 World Rally Championship 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]], [[BP Ford World Rally Team|Ford]] took the [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]] and [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]] manufacturers' titles with drivers Grönholm and [[Mikko Hirvonen]]. {{-}} ==Cars== {{main|Group B|Group A|World Rally Car}} [[Image:Subaru Monte-Carlo 2005.jpg|thumb|left|[[Stéphane Sarrazin]] driving a [[Subaru Impreza WRX STI|Subaru Impreza WRC]] on the [[Monte Carlo Rally]].]] The championship currently features 15 rallies and production-based 2.0&nbsp;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&nbsp;bhp (225&nbsp;kW). Current cars in the championship include the [[Citroën C4#C4 in rallying|Citroën C4]], [[Ford Focus WRC|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 World Rally Championship season|2007]] using the [[Citroën C4#C4 in rallying|C4]]. The [[Suzuki World Rally Team]] joins the [[2008 World Rally Championship season|2008 championship]] for the first time with their [[Suzuki SX4|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 World Rally Championship season|1986 season]], [[Group B]] was permanently banned. Later, in [[1997 World Rally Championship season|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. {{-}} ==Calendar== [[Image:Marcus Grönholm Bunnings Jumps.jpg|thumb|right|[[Marcus Grönholm]] at the Bunnings Jumps of the [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]] [[Rally Australia]].]] [[Image:Peugeot 206 WRC.jpg|thumb|[[Juuso Pykälistö]] during the [[2003 World Rally Championship season|2003]] [[Swedish Rally]].]] The [[2007 World Rally Championship season|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 [[Rally Ireland|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 World Rally Championship season|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. ===2008=== {| class="wikitable" ! Dates ! Location ! Surface |- | 24-27 January || {{flagicon|Monaco}} [[Monte Carlo Rally]] || Tarmac |- | 08-10 February || {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Swedish Rally]] || Snow |- | 28 February-2 March || {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Rally Mexico]] || Gravel |- | 27-30 March || {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Rally Argentina]] || Gravel |- | 24-27 April || {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Jordan Rally]] || Gravel |- | 16-18 May || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Rally d'Italia Sardegna]] || Gravel |- | 29 May-01 June|| {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Acropolis Rally]] || Gravel |- | 13-15 June || {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Rally of Turkey]] || Gravel |- | 31 July-03 August || {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Rally Finland]] || Gravel |- | 15-17 August || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Rallye Deutschland]] || Tarmac |- | 28-31 August || {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Rally New Zealand]] || Gravel |- | 02-05 October || {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Rally Catalunya]] || Tarmac |- | 10-12 October || {{flagicon|France}} [[Tour de Corse]] || Tarmac |- | 31 October-02 November || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Rally Japan]] || Gravel |- | 05-07 December || {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Wales Rally GB]] || Gravel |} ==Coverage== [[Image:Wrc fin 2006 day2 servicepark gronholm.jpg‎|thumb|The service park area in [[Jyväskylä]], during the 2006 [[Rally Finland]].]] ===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. 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. There's also coverage of all of the events in the FIA Juniors World Rally Championship and Production Car World Rally Championship in a 26-minute highlights package. Apart from that, is Rally World, a weekly rally programme that reviews events from all around the planet, including the Asia Pacific Rally Championship ([http://www.fiaaprc.com] / [http://www.aprc.tv]), the Australian Rally Championship ([http://www.rally.com.au]) and the Middle East Rally Championship ([http://www.merc-fia.com]) among others. Also produce after each event there's a lifestyle entertainment programme called WRC All Access, focused on a behind the scenes experience of WRC life, both on and off the road. It gives a 360 degree insight into the world of rally and the flavour of a true lifestyle experience. These programmes focus on all elements of each country visited including culture, food, people, attractions as well as the WRC event itself. More information can be found here: [http://www.wrc.com/resources/2007%20WRC%20Fact%20Book.pdf] ===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. ==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. ==Results== {{main|World Rally Championship seasons}} :''Current standings: [[2008 World Rally Championship season]] The 2008 championship standings are as follows: ===Drivers' championship=== [[Image:Sébastien Loeb - 2005 Cyprus Rally.jpg|thumb|120px|[[Sébastien Loeb]] in 2005.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! Place ! Driver ! Car ! Points |- | 1. || {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]||[[Ford of Europe|Ford]] || 59 pts |- | 2. || {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]]||[[Citroën]] || 56 pts |- | 3. || {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Jari-Matti Latvala]]||[[Ford of Europe|Ford]] || 34 pts |- | 4. || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Chris Atkinson]]||[[Subaru]] || 31 pts |- | 5. || {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Dani Sordo]]||[[Citroën]] || 30 pts |- | 6. || {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Petter Solberg]]||[[Subaru]] || 20 pts |- | 7. || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Gianluigi Galli]]||[[Stobart Ford]] || 17 pts |- | 8. || {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Henning Solberg]]||[[Munchi's Ford World Rally Team]] || 16 pts |- | 9.|| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Matthew Wilson]]||[[Stobart Ford]] || 12 pts |- | 10. || {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Federico Villagra]]||[[Munchi's Ford World Rally Team]] || 8 pts |} ===Manufacturers' Championship=== [[Image:Paris 2006 - Citroen C4 WRC.JPG|thumb|The [[Citroën C4|Citroën C4 WRC]] was [[Citroën]]'s entry in the series during the [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007 season]].]] {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! Place ! Team ! Points |- | 1. || {{flagicon|USA}} [[BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team]] || 99 pts |- | 2. || {{flagicon|France}} [[Citroën Total World Rally Team]] || 90 pts |- | 2. || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Subaru World Rally Team]] || 53 pts |- | 4. || {{flagicon|UK}} [[Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team]] || 41 pts |- | 5. || {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Munchi's Ford World Rally Team]] || 19 pts |- | 6. || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Suzuki World Rally Team]] || 10 pts |} ==Champions== {{main|List of World Rally Championship Drivers' Champions|List of World Rally Championship Constructors' Champions}} [[Image:Petter Solberg - 2006 Cyprus Rally.jpg|thumb|[[Petter Solberg]] at the 2006 [[Cyprus Rally]].]] {| class="wikitable" align=center style="font-size:90%;" |- |- bgcolor="#efefef" !rowspan=2 width=75px| Season !colspan=2 width=300px| Championship for Drivers !rowspan=37 width=5px| !colspan=2 width=270px| Championship for Manufacturers |- !width=155px| Driver !width=145px| Car !width=125px| Manufacturer !width=145px| Car |- ! [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]] | {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] || [[Citroën C4#C4_in_rallying|Citroën C4 WRC]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ford of Europe|Ford]] || [[Ford Focus (Europe)|Ford Focus]] |- ! [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]] | {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] || [[Citroën Xsara WRC]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ford of Europe|Ford]] || [[Ford Focus (Europe)|Ford Focus]] |- ! [[2005 World Rally Championship season|2005]] | {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] || [[Citroën Xsara WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Citroën]] || [[Citroën Xsara]] |- ! [[2004 World Rally Championship season|2004]] | {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] || [[Citroën Xsara WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Citroën]] || [[Citroën Xsara]] |- ! [[2003 World Rally Championship season|2003]] | {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Petter Solberg]] || [[Subaru Impreza WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Citroën]] || [[Citroën Xsara]] |- ! [[2002 World Rally Championship season|2002]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Marcus Grönholm]] || [[Peugeot 206 WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] || [[Peugeot 206]] |- ! [[2001 World Rally Championship season|2001]] | {{flagicon|UK}} [[Richard Burns]] || [[Subaru Impreza WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] || [[Peugeot 206]] |- ! [[2000 World Rally Championship season|2000]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Marcus Grönholm]] || [[Peugeot 206 WRC]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] || [[Peugeot 206]] |- ! [[1999 World Rally Championship season|1999]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]] || [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]] || [[Toyota Corolla]] |- ! [[1998 World Rally Championship season|1998]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]] || [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Mitsubishi]] || [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] |- ! [[1997 World Rally Championship season|1997]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]] || [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Subaru]] || [[Subaru Impreza]] |- ! [[1996 World Rally Championship season|1996]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]] || [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Subaru]] || [[Subaru Impreza]] |- ! [[1995 World Rally Championship season|1995]] | {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Colin McRae]] || [[Subaru Impreza]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Subaru]] || [[Subaru Impreza]] |- ! [[1994 World Rally Championship season|1994]] | {{flagicon|France}} [[Didier Auriol]] || [[Toyota Celica]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]] || [[Toyota Celica]] |- ! [[1993 World Rally Championship season|1993]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]] || [[Toyota Celica]] || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]] || [[Toyota Celica]] |- ! [[1992 World Rally Championship season|1992]] | {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Carlos Sainz]] || [[Toyota Celica]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta]] |- ! [[1991 World Rally Championship season|1991]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]] || [[Lancia Delta]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta]] |- ! [[1990 World Rally Championship season|1990]] | {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Carlos Sainz]] || [[Toyota Celica]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta]] |- ! [[1989 World Rally Championship season|1989]] | {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Massimo Biasion|Massimo 'Miki' Biasion]] || [[Lancia Delta]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta]] |- ! [[1988 World Rally Championship season|1988]] | {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Massimo Biasion|Massimo 'Miki' Biasion]] || [[Lancia Delta]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta]] |- ! [[1987 World Rally Championship season|1987]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]] || [[Lancia Delta]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Delta]] |- ! [[1986 World Rally Championship season|1986]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]] || [[Peugeot 205]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] || [[Peugeot 205]] |- ! [[1985 World Rally Championship season|1985]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Timo Salonen]] || [[Peugeot 205]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] || [[Peugeot 205]] |- ! [[1984 World Rally Championship season|1984]] | {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Stig Blomqvist]] || [[Audi Quattro]] || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Audi]] || [[Audi Quattro]] |- ! [[1983 World Rally Championship season|1983]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Hannu Mikkola]] || [[Audi Quattro]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Rally 037]] |- ! [[1982 World Rally Championship season|1982]] | {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Walter Röhrl]] || [[Opel]] || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Audi]] || [[Audi]] |- ! [[1981 World Rally Championship season|1981]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Ari Vatanen]] || [[Ford of Europe|Ford]] || {{flagicon|France}} [[Talbot]] || [[Chrysler Sunbeam|Talbot Sunbeam Lotus]] |- ! [[1980 World Rally Championship season|1980]] | {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Walter Röhrl]] || [[Fiat 131 Abarth]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Fiat]] || [[Fiat 131 Abarth]] |- ! [[1979 World Rally Championship season|1979]] | {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Björn Waldegård]] || [[Ford Escort RS1800]]* || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ford of Europe|Ford]] || [[Ford Escort RS1800]] |- ! [[1978 World Rally Championship season|1978]] | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Markku Alén]]*** || [[Fiat 131 Abarth]]** || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Fiat]] || [[Fiat 131 Abarth]] |- ! [[1977 World Rally Championship season|1977]] | {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Sandro Munari]]*** || [[Lancia Stratos HF]] || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Fiat]] || [[Fiat 131 Abarth]] |- ! [[1976 World Rally Championship season|1976]] ||||| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Stratos HF]] |- ! [[1975 World Rally Championship season|1975]] ||||| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Stratos HF]] |- ! [[1974 World Rally Championship season|1974]] ||||| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] || [[Lancia Stratos HF]] |- ! [[1973 World Rally Championship season|1973]] ||||| {{flagicon|France}} [[Alpine (car)|Alpine Renault]] || [[Alpine Renault A110 1800]] |- |colspan=6| * - [[Björn Waldegård]] drove a [[Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class|Mercedes 450 SLC]] in two rallies in 1979 |- |colspan=6| ** - [[Markku Alén]] drove a [[Lancia Stratos HF]] in two rallies in 1978 |- |colspan=6| *** - In 1977 and 1978, the drivers championship was the ''FIA Cup for Rally Drivers'' |} == Records == {{main|List of World Rally Championship records}} {| class="wikitable" width="100%" align=center style="font-size:90%;" |- |- bgcolor="#efefef" !width=23% colspan=3| Driver championships !width=2% rowspan=12| !width=23% colspan=3| Driver rally wins !width=2% rowspan=12| !width=24% colspan=3| Manufacturer championships !width=2% rowspan=12| !width=24% colspan=3| Manufacturer rally wins |- bgcolor="#efefef" ! Place ! Driver ! Titles ! Place ! Driver ! Wins ! Place ! Manufacturer ! Titles ! Place ! Manufacturer ! Wins |- !rowspan=3| 1 | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]] |align=center| 4 ! 1 | {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Sébastien Loeb]]''' |align=center| 40 ! 1 | {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] |align=center| 10 ! 1 | {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Lancia]] |align=center| 73 |- | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]] |align=center| 4 ! 2 | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Marcus Grönholm]] |align=center| 30 ! 2 | {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] |align=center| 5 ! 2 | {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Ford of Europe|Ford]]''' |align=center| 64 |- | {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Sébastien Loeb]]''' |align=center| 4 ! 3 | {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Carlos Sainz]] |align=center| 26 !rowspan=5| 3 | {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Fiat]] |align=center| 3 ! 3 | {{flagicon|France}} [[Peugeot]] |align=center| 48 |- !rowspan=4| 4 | {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Walter Röhrl]] |align=center| 2 ! 4 | {{flagicon|Great Britain}} [[Colin McRae]] |align=center| 25 | {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]] |align=center| 3 ! 4 | {{flagicon|Japan}} '''[[Subaru]]''' |align=center| 47 |- | {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Massimo Biasion]] |align=center| 2 ! 5 | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Tommi Mäkinen]] |align=center| 24 | {{flagicon|Japan}} '''[[Subaru]]''' |align=center| 3 ! 5 | {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Citroën]]''' |align=center| 44 |- | {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Carlos Sainz]] |align=center| 2 ! 6 | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Juha Kankkunen]] |align=center| 23 | {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Citroën]]''' |align=center| 3 ! 6 | {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]] |align=center| 43 |- | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Marcus Grönholm]] |align=center| 2 !rowspan=2| 7 | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Markku Alén]] |align=center| 20 | {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Ford of Europe|Ford]]''' |align=center| 3 ! 7 | {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Mitsubishi]] |align=center| 34 |- !rowspan=3| 8 |rowspan=3 colspan=2 align=center| 10 drivers are tied with a single championship each. | {{flagicon|France}} [[Didier Auriol]] |align=center| 20 !8 | {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Audi]] |align=center| 2 ! 8 | {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Audi]] |align=center| 24 |- ! 9 | {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Hannu Mikkola]] |align=center| 18 !rowspan=2| 9 |rowspan=2 colspan=2 align=center| 3 manufacturers tied with a single championship each ! 9 | {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Fiat]] |align=center| 21 |- ! 10 | {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Massimo Biasion]] |align=center| 17 ! 10 | {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Datsun]] / [[Nissan]] |align=center| 9 |} :''Note: '''Bold text''' indicates active drivers and teams.'' ==Other classes== {{main|Production World Rally Championship|Junior World Rally Championship}} [[Image:Renault Clio S1600.jpg|thumb|A [[Super 1600]] class [[Renault Clio]].]] 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.<ref>{{cite web | title=FIA Production car World Rally Championship | work=WRC.com | url=http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=a21&featureid=204 | accessdate=2007-01-26}}</ref> 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-driver]]s.<ref>{{cite web | title=FIA Junior Rally Championship | work=WRC.com | url=http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=921&featureid=203 | accessdate=2007-01-26}}</ref> ==Video games== There have been many [[video game]]s 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 Entertainment|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 ''[[World Rally Championship (video game series)|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. [[Sim racing|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]]''. ==See also== [[Portal:WRC|World Rally Championship portal]] {{portal}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons|Category:World Rally Championship|World Rally Championship}}<!-- PLEASE DO NOT ADD SPAM-LINKS HERE. It is not and advertisement area, not WRC-related top-list. --> ; News and information * [http://www.wrc.com WRC.com] &mdash; official site; * [http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/home/ Crash.net] &mdash; news; ; Results * [http://www.rallybase.nl/index.php RallyBase.nl] &mdash; result database; * [http://www.ewrc-results.com/index.php eWRC-results.com] &mdash; complex and up-to-date results database; {{Cs icon}} * [http://www.juwra.com/statistics.html juwra.com - World Rally Archive] &mdash; database and statistics; {{World Rally Championship results}} [[Category:World Rally Championship| ]] [[bg:Световен рали шампионат]] [[ca:Campionat Mundial de Ral·lis]] [[de:Rallye-Weltmeisterschaft]] [[es:Campeonato Mundial de Rally]] [[fr:Championnat du monde des rallyes]] [[ko:월드 랠리 챔피언십]] [[hr:Svjetsko prvenstvo u reliju]] [[id:World Rally Championship]] [[it:Campionato del mondo rally]] [[lv:WRC]] [[li:World Rally Championship]] [[hu:Rali-világbajnokság]] [[nl:World Rally Championship]] [[ja:世界ラリー選手権]] [[no:Verdensmesterskapet i rally]] [[nn:World Rally Championship]] [[pl:Rajdowe Mistrzostwa Świata]] [[pt:Campeonato Mundial de Rali]] [[ru:Чемпионат мира по ралли]] [[fi:Rallin maailmanmestaruussarja]] [[sv:Rally-VM]] [[tr:Dünya Ralli Şampiyonası]] [[uk:Чемпіонат світу з ралі]] [[zh:世界拉力锦标赛]]