Рубрика: Rally NEWS

Отец как сын: Йос Ферстаппен одержал впечатляющую победу на ралли

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Cпустя неделю после яркой победы Макса Ферстаппена на Гран При Бразилии настала очередь Йоса Ферстаппена преподнести мастер-класс конкурентам. 52-летний экс-пилот Формулы 1 в доминирующем стиле выиграл ралли Южный Лимбург в Бельгии.

По ходу трёхдневного соревнования Ферстаппен-старший за рулём Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 выиграл 11 из 12 спецучастков в общем зачёте. Ближайшему сопернику Йос привёз на финише 1 минуту 12 секунд.

Результат весьма впечатляющий, учитывая, что в такой интервал уместились следующие три гонщика. В топовом классе Ферстаппену-старшему противостояли 16 гонщиков.



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Hyundai’s 2025 WRC car will feature «reasonable change» as testing ramps up

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Hyundai’s revised 2025 World Rally Championship car will feature “some reasonable change” as the testing phase of upgrades continued last weekend.

The Korean manufacturer had planned to homologate a practically all-new version of its i20 N Rally1 for next year before plans were abandoned amid uncertainty over the 2025 regulations.

Following the FIA’s U-turn on 2025 technical regulations after pushback from the teams, Hyundai has been able to salvage part of its i20 N development plans courtesy of an agreement to bring forward its 2026 development jokers to be used for the 2025 campaign.

It means the team has four jokers it will utilise to complete a raft of updates to its car that are yet to be disclosed.

Hyundai has been testing its revised car in recent months, with that project continuing at last weekend’s Rally La Nucia-Mediterraneo where championship leader Thierry Neuville was evaluating some of the upgrades.

Neuville was joined by team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen, who was running s 2024 spec i20 N, as the pair also logged valuable asphalt mileage ahead of the season finale in Japan next week. Rally Japan will decide both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles with Neuville leading Tanak by 25 points, while Hyundai has a 15-point lead over Toyota.

Hyundai’s WRC programme manager Christian Loriaulx was tight-lipped on the details of the changes for next year’s car but hinted that there would be some significant differences.

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport

“We don’t want to say too much what we are doing for next year,” Loriaulx told Motorsport.com.

“It was a preparation for Japan for Mikkelsen and for Thierry, we are looking at some stuff for next year.

“We have submitted the homologation papers and it is still in the testing phase but for next year and 2026 we have four jokers. I would say we are looking at some reasonable change but I can’t say more.

“We are in the phase of testing it and it is quite busy as we need to prove reliability and gain performance.

«We know that what we will do will result in a good weight-saving gain but we have to work on the reliability. We have been testing it in very hard conditions and it has been reliable so far. Now we are working on the set-up and will see how it goes.”

Hyundai will once again field full-time entries for Neuville and Ott Tanak next year while its plans for its third car are expected to be announced following the Japan season finale. M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux has been heavily tipped to take up the drive.

Hyundai’s future in the WRC beyond 2025 is also yet to be confirmed following the brand’s move into the World Endurance Championship for 2026 under the Genesis banner.



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WRC champion Rovanpera tests Red Bull F1 car

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Reigning two-time world rally champion Kalle Rovanpera swapped a rally car for a Red Bull RB8 Formula 1 car in a test at the Red Bull Ring.

Suggestions the 15-time WRC rally winner could drive an F1 car emerged earlier this season while a picture posted on his Instagram of a visit to the Red Bull Racing workshop in Milton Keynes last month further fanned speculation.

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To prepare for the outing, Rovanpera visited Red Bull Racing’s headquarters for a seat fitting before taking part in a session on the team’s simulator.

«We did the seat fitting for the car to check I have everything well in the cockpit for the test and then we did a morning session on the simulator trying different smaller category formula cars building up to the bigger ones. I was able to get a hang of the track and stuff,» Rovanpera told Motorsport.com prior to the event. 

“I’m still a race driver so I want to show my potential and try to do well.»

Last week, Rovanpera headed to the Austrian Grand Prix venue, where he made his single-seater debut – first driving Formula 4 and Formula Renault 3.5 machinery, before stepping up to an older-generation Red Bull F1 car. 

Kalle Rovanpera test in a Red Bull Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring 

Kalle Rovanpera test in a Red Bull Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring 

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

The Finn completed between 40 and 50 laps at the circuit where he raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux series this year. 

“It was a great day, I got to drive three different formula cars. I got quite a few laps in and, of course, the F1 was something I had been looking forward to for a long time, so it was really cool to finally get to drive it. The day went well, and I was left with very good feelings,” said Rovanpera.

“The biggest differences between rally and F1 are obviously that a rally car moves a lot more from the body – F1 is a bit like a karting car, it doesn’t move much from its suspension, but it has an incredible amount of grip – and of course, F1 has a huge amount of downforce, which allows you to drive much faster in corners. It’s also physically quite different. 

“There’s a lot more lateral G-force, the car stops much more and turns more — it feels very different to the driver, there are a lot more G-forces and the car has an incredible amount of grip.

Kalle Rovanpera test in a Red Bull Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring 

Kalle Rovanpera test in a Red Bull Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring 

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“Indeed, the first time you sit in there, it feels quite different than in a rally car — you also sit in such a different position that it feels quite different — but it was really cool to get to feel it today.”

This year Rovanpera has expanded his motorsport horizons by venturing into circuit racing having opted to contest a partial World Rally Championship campaign for Toyota, ahead of a return to full-time competition next year.

Rovanpera’s circuit racing exploits have included a part campaign in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux series, which has yielded three race wins. The Finn also contested a round of the Italian Carrera Cup series at Monza last month. 

The 24-year-old is also a regular on the drifting scene, performing all over the world, and has revealed ambitions to one day compete at the Le Mans 24 Hours World Endurance Championship event.

Kalle Rovanpera test in a Red Bull Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring 

Kalle Rovanpera test in a Red Bull Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring 

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Rovanpera isn’t the first WRC star to pilot an F1 car, with 1995 champion Colin McRae and nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb famously enjoying outings. 

McRae piloted a 1996 Jordan F1 car at Silverstone as part of a car swap stunt that saw then-Jordan driver Martin Brundle drive McRae’s WRC Subaru Impreza. 

In 2007, Loeb drove a Renault F1 show car at the Paul Ricard Circuit before joining Red Bull at an F1 winter test in Barcelona 2008, where he set the eighth-fastest time driving a Red Bull RB4.



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What Lancia needs to do to transform its rally return to the WRC

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Lancia’s sporting director Eugenio Franzetti has explained why the brand is making its rally return in Rally4 and what is required to make a comeback to the World Rally Championship.

Lancia, the winner of a record 10 WRC constructors’ titles (1974-1976, 1983, 1987-1992), is set to return to the rally stages next year with its all-new Ypsilon Rally4 car. Officially launched last month, the car will compete in the Italian Rally Championship and the newly created one-make Lancia Rally Trophy.  

The creation of the two-wheel drive Ypsilon Rally4 marks a return to rally for Lancia, 50 years after it won its first WRC title with the legendary Stratos in 1974. 

While Lancia’s emergence has created much fanfare, there had been speculation it would consider a Rally2 programme. It ultimately confirmed a Rally4 project that will see the brand contest the 2026 European Rally Championship.

Lancia has not ruled out a future WRC comeback and would consider forming a business plan once the WRC has announced its 2027 technical regulations. The FIA is expected to reveal its new regulations in December this year.

According to Franzetti, the stability of the Rally4 regulations was among the considerations that swayed the car maker to make its return at the lower end of the rally pyramid.  

“What we need is to have the rules [2027 regulations], we need to know how the Rally2 of the future will be made and how the Rally1 of the future will be made. Once we understand this, in a few months we can also understand how much it costs to make them and how much. And then once we understand the rules, we can create a business plan,” Franzetti told Motorsport.com’s Italian edition. 

“Once the business plan has been created, we can put the costs on one side of the scale, and the value of visibility and the revenue on the other side, and understand if this scale is a scale that is positive. 

«We do motorsport and there is a return on investment. The return on investment is given on one hand by the technical and logistical costs of doing it, on the other hand it is substantially the value of visibility, which has a great significance. This visibility also brings you sponsors, partners and so on. All this clearly must be extremely positive. 

“Today the only certain rule is Rally4. We know how it is made, how much it costs and everything. That’s why Lancia is back with a Rally4. The only certain thing we know is the regulation, it’s clear, it’s an extraordinary product, interesting from a racing point of view and from a commercial point of view.”

Lancia Ypsilon Rally4

Lancia Ypsilon Rally4

Photo by: Lancia

Lowering costs and the introduction of a cost cap are factors that could interest Lancia to rejoin the WRC. 

Franzetti also admitted to be an admirer of the Rally2 class, which Lancia’s owner the Stellantis Group is already visible in through the Citroen C3 Rally2 programme.   

“Let’s try to create championships that cost a little less and that have a cost cap, after which, staying within it, you do what you want,” he added. 

“You have to make a championship with a finite number of millions, after which the engineers can unleash their imagination, knowing that motorsport is used as a promotional tool and therefore in any case everyone will bring what they know how to do also in terms and in the end it’s a show case. 

“Today we are all moving towards hybrid, electric, electrified. I imagine that everyone wants to demonstrate that they know how to do that thing there. But a cost cap would be enough and then leave space for the others.

«The Rally2 is a very interesting car because it’s fast, it lets you win [national] championships, obviously the European championship, which allows you to go very fast also in WRC. 

“Today, with few Rally1s [in WRC], if you have a Rally2 you can also get into the top 10, even get close to the top five and you have crazy visibility. And then it’s a commercial product, it’s a product that you sell and whoever buys it is happy, it [the car] runs well, has an acceptable cost per kilometre and so on. The Rally2 was an extremely clever specification.”

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WRC set to drop hybrid power in 2025

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The World Rally Championship is set to drop hybrid power from its Rally1 cars, beginning from next season.

The future of hybrid power in the WRC’s top class has proved to be a long-running saga this year with the debate re-ignited following a mid-season change to the hybrid unit user guide from control supplier Compact Dynamics.

Prior to last month’s Central European Rally, the future of hybrid power in Rally1 was put to an FIA e-vote. Today the matter was discussed during a WRC Commission meeting where Motorsport.com understands it was agreed to remove hybrid power from Rally1 cars, starting from next year. 

This decision is however yet to be officially ratified by the FIA, which is likely to happen at the next World Motor Sport Council meeting.

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This is the second U-turn over the use of hybrid power, introduced alongside the new Rally1 regulations in 2022, this year.

In February, the FIA’s working group formed to «evaluate and recommend the future direction of rallying» proposed to remove hybrid power as part of raft of changes for 2025.

However, WRC teams pushed back against the changes, resulting in the current Rally1 regulations staying put for 2025 and 2026 in what was seen as a U-turn from the FIA.

But the future of hybrid power came under the spotlight again following the introduction of Compact Dynamics safety guidelines at the Acropolis Rally Greece in September.  

The new regulations stipulate that if the 130kW hybrid unit suffers three shock errors over 15G or one over 25G, it has to be stripped apart and sent back to the supplier for a full repair that can take months to complete. Previously these units could be reset on site during a rally. 

Teams believe the change will significantly raise hybrid unit repair costs, with M-Sport-Ford arguing it would no longer be financially viable for the team to continue.

“It is not a request to remove it for what it is, it is a request to remove it because we can’t actually repair and run them at an economic price for M-Sport. We are talking a few extra million euro to do it and that is not something we can deal with,” M-Sport team principal Richard Millener told Motorsport.com at last month’s Central European Rally.

Rich Millener, Team principal M-Sport Ford Rally

Rich Millener, Team principal M-Sport Ford Rally

Photo by: M-Sport

Speaking at last month’s penultimate round of the championship, Toyota and Hyundai bosses both admitted they would support measures to remove hybrid if it meant it would ensure the current level of participants for the future.

“We will never actively or proactively request to remove the hybrid from WRC. Having said that, we also need to be pragmatic and recognise the fact that the WRC community is a small community, and as any small community, we need to look after one another,” said Hyundai’s team principal Cyril Abiteboul.

“So if there are any steps that must be taken in order to guarantee participants and competitors at the events we will accept to take those steps.”

Toyota’s Jari-Matti Latvala added: “Performance-wise, the cars are pretty good even without it. But it shouldn’t get too difficult for the teams, and if there is a risk that teams cannot be in the World Rally Championship because they are running out of units, then it shouldn’t be that way.”



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When a burly Skoda challenged the WRC’s big boys

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


It would be all too easy for Armin Schwarz to pick the Toyota Celica GT-Four as his favourite car. After all, from a career that graced the World Rally Championship podium with four different manufacturers, it was in the Group A weapon that he claimed his only WRC victory in Catalunya in 1991.

Yet the machine the German selects instead never won a WRC event. Finishing third on the Safari Rally in 2001 may have been the second-generation Skoda Octavia’s best WRC result, but Schwarz enjoyed rallying it more regardless.

Schwarz, who joined Hyundai for 2002 to develop its MSD-built Accent WRC, believes the underpowered Octavia was underrated. Certainly, as the 61-year-old acknowledges, “the Octavia never was highly rated a potential winning car from all the other teams and drivers”. But in 2001, despite a persistent lack of torque, it did muster a few giant-killing results and on occasion challenged for podiums.

“It was close in Monte Carlo, but it happened in Safari,” says Schwarz, whose co-driver throughout his time at Skoda, Manfred Hiemer, died aged 62 in 2023. “It also would have been possible in Greece [where Schwarz finished seventh despite a largely trouble-free event, power the main complaint]; the tough rallies, the car was really good.”

At Toyota, Schwarz had been cast in a supporting role to Carlos Sainz, its WRC champion in 1990. But when he joined Skoda in 1999 to drive the first iteration of the bulky Octavia, ending a hiatus that followed being abruptly dropped by Ford in 1997, Schwarz was the clear number one. Although it isn’t always reflected in the results, Schwarz reckons he reached a competitive peak from having regular seat time that he’d often lacked in stints with Toyota and Mitsubishi.

“I did all the development tests,” he says. “I was the first driver in the Octavia and so there was a lot of trust on my shoulder. It was for me a chance that I took in 2001 because I knew I can set-up the car like I need it and get all the support from the team.”

Schwarz only managed one podium in the Octavia, but has fond memories of the underdog challenger

Schwarz only managed one podium in the Octavia, but has fond memories of the underdog challenger

Photo by: Sutton Images

That counted for little initially as the car’s debut in Monte Carlo was an embarrassment due to problems with its engine management software. Schwarz suffered a clutch failure on his approach to the official start ramp in Casino Square, while team-mate Pavel Sibera didn’t make the start of the first stage proper either.

A distant fifth on the Acropolis in 2000, suffering from a fever, was Schwarz’s only points score, although there were signs of progress. Bruno Thiry had placed fourth on the 1999 Rally GB, while Schwarz delivered the Czech marque’s first-ever fastest stage time on Rally Catalunya in 2000.

“It was really bad weather,” recalls Schwarz. “And I think bad weather, always the cars showed their behaviour. It was giving you a lot of trust in difficult conditions.”

«If it would not dry up on the last two stages on Sunday in Monte Carlo, still today I’m pretty confident we would be on the podium, not Francois» Armin Schwarz

It was a different story when the Evo2 edition arrived, which coincided with “developments in all the respects of the team” run by Javel Paneba. Following a few toe-in-the-water outings in 2000, Schwarz went toe-to-toe with Monte Carlo specialist Francois Delecour in a Ford Focus for the final spot on the podium in 2001’s season opener, the eventual 20.7s gap belying how close it had been for much of the final leg. Autosport noted that the performance “has to go down as one of the bravest drives of the year”.

And following his Safari heroics, setting the fastest time on the opening stage to give Skoda the lead of a WRC event for the first time and its first-ever podium, fifth on Rally GB ensured Skoda finished level on points with Hyundai — but ahead on countback.

For Schwarz, one of the Octavia’s best traits was its handling resulting from its long wheelbase. “Compared to a Peugeot, a Citroen or a Subaru, it was a quite easy car to drive,” he observes.

This was especially important in the mixed conditions of the 2001 Monte. Schwarz believes on a fully dry rally, he would have faced an uphill task to reach the points, but his prospects were transformed when snow hit. Where rival manufacturers “have been very good on full snow, or full dry”, he recognised that the Octavia could work well in conditions where compromises were necessary.

Schwarz came close to beating Delecour to the rostrum on the snowy Monte Carlo

Schwarz came close to beating Delecour to the rostrum on the snowy Monte Carlo

Photo by: Ralph Hardwick

“If it would not dry up on the last two stages on Sunday in Monte Carlo, still today I’m pretty confident we would be on the podium, not Francois,” he states.

Durability was its other key upside. Schwarz’s team-mate Thiry had cause to be especially grateful for this after the farcical events of Rally Argentina. A fire engine responding to a blaze started accidentally by a spectators’ barbeque overturned and crashed into the two parked Octavias in parc ferme, with Thiry still inside his car. Skoda director Jens Pohlmann was seriously injured, and both cars were withdrawn.

Third place on the Safari was the product of extensive testing, which Schwarz says reminded him of days with Toyota – the marque having long regarded Kenya as an important priority.

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“You need to have a proper testing, a good development,” he explains. “Durability is the key for success in Kenya. So the strength what we had in 2001, the car was able maybe even to win.”

Schwarz says his ploy of pushing from the 117-kilometre first stage with a time of 55m05.0s was a deliberate strategy to put rivals under pressure. “Because nobody expects to be that fast in Safari,” he says. And it worked a treat, despite a puncture on stage three that dropped him to sixth at the end of the first day.

“That was the key to speed everybody up and more or less almost everybody ran into a big problem,” Schwarz remembers. “We didn’t run into any big problem. We had a couple of smaller [problems], but we kept it very linear until the end.”

Third on the Safari was the pinnacle of Schwarz's tenure with Skoda

Third on the Safari was the pinnacle of Schwarz’s tenure with Skoda

Photo by: Sutton Images



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FIA Rally Star initiative reveals 2025 plans

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The FIA Rally Star programme will provide extra support to rising star Romet Jurgenson and has opted to retain Taylor Gill and Max Smart to contest the 2025 FIA Junior WRC.

The three drivers have impressed after earning selection into the FIA’s fully-funded programme that aims to unearth future WRC talent.

Jose Caparo (Peru), Gill (Australia), Jurgenson (Estonia) and Smart (South Africa) impressed judges to earn fully funded drives in this year’s Junior WRC.

This year was intended to be a learning year although Jurgenson and Gill found themselves locked in a fight for the Junior WRC title with the former coming out on top.

As a result, the 24-year-old will receive a fully-funded drive in the WRC’s second tier WRC2 class. FIA rally Star has now confirmed it will extend its support from four events to six next year. Jurgenson will pilot an M-Sport-build Ford Fiesta Rally2 although his event schedule is yet to be announced.

“We were already looking forward to doing four WRC2 events with M-Sport as our prize for winning the Junior WRC title but to get two extra events thanks to the support of FIA Rally Star is really great and I can’t thank the FIA enough,” said Jurgenson.

“As in 2024, I am trying my best to add some events with my own sponsors, but the overall target is to get the maximum out of the year in terms of experience and developing as a Rally2 driver. It’s a new category for me, new car, new speeds, new events…

«Everything is different, but I still want to show my potential at some point in the year so it’s not all about gaining experience, but also to show my speed, which is really important for continuing my career.”

Romet Jurgenson, Oja Siim, Ford Fiesta R3

Romet Jurgenson, Oja Siim, Ford Fiesta R3

Photo by: Jaanus Ree — Red Bull Content Pool

After analysing extensive data and considering the recommendations of the FIA Rally Star team of experts, the FIA Rally Star Committee agreed that Gill and Smart will embark on their second seasons in the Junior WRC in 2025. Caparo and co-driver Esther Gutierrez will no longer be part of the programme.

“Since they were selected for the FIA Rally Star programme, Max, Romet and Taylor have not only demonstrated their talent but also their determination and it’s only right they have been rewarded with further opportunities to learn and progress in 2025, said FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid.

“At the same time, it’s a further demonstration of the success of FIA Rally Star that young hopefuls with limited experience who came through from grassroots level via selection events organised by FIA Member Clubs are preparing to embark on their second seasons in the FIA World Rally Championship.

“This will incentivise other aspiring WRC champions to start their motorsport adventures by joining their FIA Member Club and discovering the possibilities that exist.

“I’d also like to thank Abito and Esther for their contributions to FIA Rally Star and I look forward to seeing how the learnings and experience from this programme help them in their future motor sport journeys.”



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Toyota to fight for WRC title without Rovanpera in Japan

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Toyota will fight for the World Rally Championship manufacturers’ crown at Rally Japan season decider without Kalle Rovanpera.

Rally Japan has released its entry list for next month’s (21-24 November) title decider confirming that Toyota will field three GR Yaris Rally1 entries.

Toyota’s bid to overhaul Hyundai and claim a fourth consecutive WRC manufacturers’ crown will be led by full-time drivers Elfyn Evans and home hero Takamoto Katsuta, while the third car will be piloted by eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier.

Two-time world champion Rovanpera will be absent from the Japanese team’s roster at its home event as the Finn has completed the half-season of events he was contracted to contest this year.

After claiming back-to-back world titles last year, the Finn opted to scale back to a partial campaign this year ahead of a full-time return in 2025. Rovanpera has contested seven of the 13 events this season, taking four wins in Kenya, Poland, Latvia and Chile to boost Toyota’s championship hopes.

Toyota will head to Japan facing a 15-point deficit to rivals Hyundai as the Korean marque aims to seal its first manufacturers’ crowns since 2020.

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Hyundai will also field its customary three i20 N Rally1 entries driven by Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak, who will contest the drivers’ title, with the former holding a 25-point lead.

The third car will be driven by Andreas Mikkelsen in what will be his fifth event of the season.

M-Sport-Ford will field a pair of Puma Rally1 cars for Adrien Fourmaux and Gregoire Munster.

A total of 44 cars will tackle the event which will also decide the WRC2 title. Toyota’s Sami Pajari needed to finish first or second to beat current points leader Oliver Solberg to the crown.

World champion Auriol to make WRC return

Japan will also mark the return of 1994 world champion Didier Auriol, who will compete in a WRC event for the first time since the 2005 Monte Carlo Rally.

Auriol will drive a modified road-going Toyota GR Yaris prepared by Japanese team Fit-Easy Racing and will compete in the national class, driving alongside long-time co-driver Denis Giraudet.

The Frenchman’s WRC return arrives 30 years after he guided a Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205 to the 1994 WRC title with co-driver Bernard Occelli.



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Rally Japan signs new multi-year WRC deal

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Rally Japan will host a round of the World Rally Championship until at least 2028 after signing a new agreement with WRC Promoter.

The new three-year agreement is set to begin from 2026 and ensures the asphalt rally will continue to be based out of Toyota City, which has hosted the event since 2022. 

The announcement was made at this weekend’s Hyundai N and Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival at Everland Speedway, Yong-in, South Korea.

Japan made its WRC debut in 2004 as a gravel rally held in the Tokachi region before moving to Hokkaido in 2008 and 2010. 

The nation was due to return to the WRC after a 10-year hiatus in 2020, utilising asphalt roads around Toyota City and Nagoya. However, that event and the following in 2021 were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The challenging asphalt roads around Nagoya have hosted the WRC’s final round since 2022 with next month’s edition set to decide both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles. It has proved to be a favourite among the teams and fans.  

Rally Japan will however relinquish its season finale status next year which will be taken by the new Rally Saudi Arabia round that signed a 10-year-deal agreement with WRC that begins in 2025.

Dani Sordo, Candido Carrera, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1, Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1 after the crash

Dani Sordo, Candido Carrera, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1, Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1 after the crash

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“I am thrilled that the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) has decided to continue to hold a Japan round for the 2026-2028 seasons,” said Toyota City mayor Ota.

“Rally Japan has been highly acclaimed both in Japan and overseas for its backdrop of iconic Japanese scenery that includes beautiful mountains, lakes and Shinto shrine gates.

“We hope to use this acclaim to foster a strong rally culture and expand the fan base at home and abroad. We look forward to delivering excitement and thrills to fans through intense competition between the world’s top drivers.”

WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel added: “Toyota City has been incredibly welcoming to the WRC since we returned to Japan. The centralised service park results in an amazing fan experience in the heart of the city.

“We have an excellent partner in Toyota City that shares our values in sustainability and clearly sees the benefit that we bring to the city by extending our agreement there.”

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