WRC to retain hybrid-powered Rally1 cars until 2026 after FIA U-turn
As previously reported, it was widely expected that the FIA would make a U-turn on its February proposal to phase out Rally1 cars in their current guise. The decision was ratified at today’s WMSC meeting held at Samarkand, Uzbekistan. February’s proposal made by the FIA’s working group was built around a move to remove hybrid […]
WRC future regulations set to be defined after months of debate
The WRC has been working towards Tuesday’s World Motor Sport Council meeting, where several questions are expected to be answered. At the top of the agenda are the technical regulations for next year and 2026 which has sparked plenty of heated debate since the FIA unveiled its proposals for the future of the WRC in […]
WRC champion Rovanpera narrowly misses podium on circuit racing debut
The reigning two-time champion is dovetailing a partial WRC campaign with a four-round stint in the one-make Porsche series this year, with this weekend’s visit to the Dutch Grand Prix venue marking the start of his circuit racing career. The factory Toyota WRC driver finished fourth and fifth from a field of 23 cars, driving […]
The petrolhead obsession that drives WRC champion Rovanpera
Rallying, circuit racing, drifting and starring in a hip-hop video are all activities in Kalle Rovanpera’s 2024 ‘gap year’ calendar. It’s fair to say life is pretty good at the moment for the reigning two-time World Rally champion, who has rewritten the record books. The common denominator that links all of these pursuits together, even […]
Toyota hands Rally1 debut to rising WRC star in Latvia
Pajari and co-driver Enni Malkonen will step up from driving Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car in WRC2 to pilot a fourth GR Yaris Rally1 at the gravel rally that will make its WRC debut from 18-21 July. The news comes just days after the pair claimed their second career WRC2 win after finishing sixth overall […]
Motorsport Ireland reveals “progressive step” to revive WRC bid
Ireland tabled a bid to secure a three-year contract to host the WRC from next year, before it was halted in April after failing to obtain the required government funding. The WRC Promoter had approved plans to bring the championship back to the island nation for the first time since 2009, if the required funding […]
WRC champion Rovanpera set for circuit racing debut
The two-time world champion is expanding his motorsport horizons this year following a decision to conduct a part-time WRC campaign with Toyota. Rovanpera announced plans in February to contest four of the six Carrera Cup Benelux rounds, with the first outing arriving at Zandvoort – the home of the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix. The […]
Did the WRC’s shorter sprint-style format work?
Now that the dust has settled on an event that delivered the joint-closest finish in WRC history, the championship and the FIA will evaluate how the 48-hour, 266.12km format performed. This trial was the latest step the WRC is undertaking to improve its overall appeal by offering event organisers more options when it comes to […]
Sordo’s WRC future unknown after Sardinia podium
The 41-year-old capped his 191st WRC start by coming through to finish third behind Hyundai team-mate Ott Tanak and Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier, as the top two were separated by just by 0.2s. Sardinia was Sordo’s second start of the season driving Hyundai’s third i20 N following an outing in Portugal where he finished fifth. These […]