Oliver Solberg sets the pace to grab early lead
World Rally Championship points leader Oliver Solberg kicked off Rally Sweden in fine style by winning the opening stage to grab an early lead on Thursday night. The Monte Carlo winner, spurred on by his home crowd, kicked off the championship’s only dedicated snow rally by setting the benchmark in the 10.23km Umea super special […]
Dacia announces exit from Rally-Raid, rules out 2027 Dakar
Dacia has confirmed that it will compete in the entire 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship before bringing its project to a close at the season-ending event in Abu Dhabi – ruling out a return to the Dakar in 2027. The tracks had barely cleared in the desert following the latest triumph for Dacia at the 2026 […]
Oliver Solberg keeping feet on the ground ahead of “dream” WRC homecoming
Oliver Solberg says he is “taking everything rally-by-rally” and still has a lot to learn despite emerging as an early contender for this year’s World Rally Championship. Toyota’s new signing tops the championship standings after scoring a dominant victory in Monte Carlo last month. In doing so he has become the first Swede to lead […]
Esapekka Lappi thought his WRC career was over, but he’s back
Esapekka Lappi is surprised and excited to make his World Rally Championship return at Rally Sweden after admitting he thought his top-level rallying career was over. The two-time WRC event winner will rejoin Hyundai next week, which will mark the first round of a part-time programme. He previously contested a full-season programme with the Korean […]
Kalle Rovanpera co-driver Jonne Halttunen lands Toyota rally management role
Toyota has named Jonne Halttunen, former co-driver to Kalle Rovanpera, as project manager for the brand’s move into the American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship this year. The Japanese marque announced plans to contest the championship last year with its newly developed GR Corolla RC2 rally car, which will be piloted by Toyota’s World Rally […]
Iconic Ouninpohja stage dropped from 2026 WRC Rally Finland route
The iconic Ouninpohja stage, regarded as one of most revered in the World Rally Championship, has been dropped from Rally Finland this year as part of an event itinerary revamp. The 32.98km gravel rollercoaster, which has earned cult status over the years, made its return to Rally Finland in 2024 after a then-seven-year hiatus. Last […]
New WRC winter tyre expected in 2027 after Monte Carlo criticism
Hankook plans to introduce a new winter tyre in 2027 after the previous specification drew criticism from World Rally Championship crews at Rally Monte Carlo last weekend. Extreme winter weather rendered conditions the toughest witnessed at the asphalt WRC season opener in more than decade, as crews faced treacherous snow, ice and slush-covered roads. Prior […]
Why Thierry Neuville struggled in “most difficult” Monte Carlo Rally
Thierry Neuville has previously conquered the Monte Carlo Rally twice, but a fundamental lack of confidence to push his Hyundai to the limit left the 2024 world champion on the back foot.Neuville had flagged even before last weekend’s season opener that he would be “lying a bit” if he said he felt confident behind the […]
Rally USA return edges closer for 2027 as WRC plans test
The World Rally Championship making a return to the USA next year is a step closer, with a candidate test rally planned later this year. The WRC has long held an ambition to return to the USA for the first time since the 1988 Olympus Rally, with the project a key part of its plan […]