2024 World Rally Championship

Junior WRC ‘Spirit of Rallying’ Award set to honour Craig Breen

Posted: February 13, 2024 8:27 AM

Former FIA Junior WRC champion and stalwart supporter of grassroots rallying Craig Breen will be honoured by the Junior WRC championship this season, with the announcement of the Craig Breen Spirit of Rallying Award.

Announced today (13 February) ahead of the opening round of the 2024 FIA Junior WRC season, which takes this weekend on the snow-covered roads of Sweden, the Craig Breen Spirit of Rallying Award winner will be selected from the 2024 junior field, which stands at a record-breaking 19 entrants for this opening round.

It will be awarded to the driver who, over the course of the season, best embodies Breen’s finest characteristics: a willingness to overcome adversity, an unwavering determination to take on every obstacle to complete every rally, and an outgoing positive demeanor in their interactions with fellow competitors, marshals and volunteers, media and their engineers and mechanics.

The award is an appropriate honour for Irishman Breen, who was universally loved for his never-give-up attitude. It was this approach that saw him clinch the 2011 title, fighting until the final stage in Great Britain to claim a tie-break victory over Estonia’s Egon Kaur.

Following on from his championship-winning junior career, Breen went on to compete at the elite level of rallying for manufacturers including Citroën, Hyundai and M-Sport Ford, claiming a total of nine top-flight podiums.

Breen tragically lost his life on 13 April 2023 at the age of 33, leaving a gaping void in the sport his life had revolved around since childhood.

M-Sport Poland Managing Director and Junior WRC manager Maciej Woda said: “Craig has left an incredible mark on the Junior WRC, first as a competitor and later as a mentor. He always found the time to offer advice and support to our next generation of stars.

“He also holds an incredibly special place in my own memory, as the first champion after the series became run by M-Sport Poland. It is important that we acknowledge his incredible impact on the championship, and we believe this award best honours his legacy.”

The award recipient will be decided by an independent judging panel and will be announced following the fifth and final round of the 2024 Junior WRC series, set to take place at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece from 5 - 8 September.

Junior WRC attracts record entry for 2024

Posted: January 22, 2024 10:35 AM

This season welcomes the largest FIA Junior WRC line-up in two decades with an astonishing 19 crews registered for the 2024 season-opening Rally Sweden.

The mega entry list includes crews from across five continents representing 21 different nationalities, all of whom will pilot identical Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evos exclusively equipped with Pirelli tyres and Wolf Lubricants. Of the 19-strong field, a whopping 13 are newcomers.

Action begins next month on the snow and ice of Sweden (15 – 18 February) before the Tarmac twists of the Croatia Rally (18 – 21 April). Gravel fixtures in Italy (30 May – 2 June), Finland (1 – 4 August) and Greece (5 – 8 September) round out the season.

Wolf Stage Wins will once again be a unique aspect of the championship with a single championship point awarded for every stage win in 2024. Double classification points will also be on offer at the season-ending EKO Acropolis Rally Greece for drivers who enter at least three Junior WRC rallies in 2024.

Up for grabs is a life-changing prize comprising an arrive and drive package to contest four European rounds of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 car, the natural progression from Junior WRC. The champion will also have the option to compete in two additional European rounds at a subsidised rate.

Maciej Woda, FIA Junior WRC Championship Manager, said:
“The number of entries we received this year exceeded our expectations. This remarkable turnout not only underscores the Junior WRC’s strong appeal, but also highlights its global significance and its role as a key platform for emerging rally talent. All of this is a testament to the hard work and dedication shown by the whole Junior WRC and M-Sport Poland team and, without them, none of this would be possible.

“The international representation and the results seen in 2023 affirm that the Fiesta Rally3 Evo is an excellent car for young drivers. Now we look forward to some more great action and exciting battles in 2024!”

Introducing the Class of 2024:

Nataniel Bruun (BOL) / Pablo Olmos (ARG)
At just 18 years old, Bruun is the youngest driver in the FIA Junior WRC field. He has rallied a Kia Rio Proto extensively in his native Bolivia and posted a top-three stage time on his FIA Junior WRC debut in Greece last year.

Eamonn Kelly (IRL) / Conor Mohan (IRL)
Kelly graduated to FIA Junior WRC in 2023 having claimed the Junior British Rally Championship title the previous year. A consistent drive earned him his sole victory on what was only his second WRC rally in Croatia.

Diego Dominguez (PRY) / Rogelio Peñate (ESP)
One of the most experienced drivers in the field, Dominguez celebrated podium finishes on four out of five events in 2023. He finished runner-up to William Creighton, falling short of the title by just eight points.

Gerardo Rosselot Valenzuela (CHL) / Marcelo Brizio (ARG)
Rosselot made his FIA World Rally Championship debut on home soil last year in Chile. Like many of his peers, he has never rallied on snow before and will complete a pre-event test in Rovaniemi, Finland, ahead of round one in Sweden.

Raúl Hernández (ESP) / José Murado (ESP)
Hailing from Lanzarote, Hernández was named as the ‘Best Driver in the Canary Islands 2022’. He started three Junior WRC rounds in 2023, a fifth-place finish in Sweden being his best result.

Roberto Blach (ESP) / Mauro Barreiro (ESP)
Having claimed multiple national titles in his native Spain, Blach graduated to Junior WRC in 2023 and finished fourth in the series. A trio of fastest stage times in Croatia were proof of the 27-year-old’s impressive speed on asphalt.

Tom Rensonnet (BEL) / Loïc Dumont (BEL)
One of Belgium’s brightest young stars, Rensonnet hopes to follow in the footsteps of his countryman and current WRC driver Thierry Neuville. Podiums in Croatia and Greece last year were highlights during his debut season.

Jakub Matulka (POL) / Daniel Dymurski (POL)
Brand-new to Junior WRC but with plenty of experience in the Fiesta Rally3, Matulka has been driving M-Sport-built machinery since very early in his career. He started an impressive 17 rallies in 2023 and finished second overall in the ERC3 championship.

Petr Borodin (KAZ) / Roman Cheprassov (KAZ)
Borodin dipped his toe into WRC competition during 2023 when he drove a Fiesta Rally3 in Finland as well as at Central European Rally. He has claimed numerous outright victories on national rallies in his native Kazakhstan.

Bruno Bulacia (BOL) / Gabriel Morales (BRA)
With impressive speed and South American flair, Bulacia has been competing regularly in WRC2 over the past two years. The 2024 season marks his first foray into Junior WRC. He is the younger brother of fellow WRC2 regular Marco.

Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMN) / Ata Al-Hmoud (JOR)
Al-Rawahi, who hails from Oman, is the reigning FIA Middle East Rally Champion. He became the first driver to share the title after he tied for points in a dead heat with multiple MERC champion Nasser Al-Attiyah.

Fabio Schwarz (DEU) / Bernhard Ettel (AUT)
Son of former works driver and WRC rally winner Armin, Schwarz boasts vast experience despite being just 18 years old. He steps up to Junior WRC in 2024 having previously competed in events across Latvia, Estonia and his native Germany.

Mille Johansson (SWE) / Johan Grönvall (SWE)
A product of the FIA Junior ERC, 2024 marks Johansson’s debut in Junior WRC. In 2023 he successfully campaigned a front-wheel drive Ford Fiesta Rally4.

Norbert Maior (ROU) / Francesca Maior (ROU)
Brother and sister duo Norbert and Francesca Maior earned their place in this year’s championship by securing the FIA Junior ERC title in 2023. They have not previously competed on the world stage.

Taylor Gill (AUS) / Daniel Brkic (AUS) Coming all the way from Australia, Gill is one of four new entrants from the FIA Rally Star programme. In 2023 – his first year of international competition, the 20-year-old finished every rally he started.

Romet Jürgenson (EST) / Siim Oja (EST)
Winner of FIA Rally Star’s European competition, Jürgenson showed blistering speed when he drove a Fiesta Rally3 on various rallies across Europe in 2023. His best result – third overall at MAHLE Rally Nova Gorica – saw him outperform several drivers with Rally2 cars.

Max Smart (ZAF) / Cameron Fair (GBR)
Smart began his career in motocross but switched to rallying after winning FIA Rally Star’s African continental final in 2022. He is co-driven by Cameron Fair, who guided Jon Armstrong to last year’s ERC3 championship title.

Jose 'Abito' Caparó (PER) / Esther Gutierrez (ESP)
Like Smart, Caparó had never rallied before he won the FIA Rally Star American final. Impressive performances in 2023 earned the Peruvian a place in this year’s Junior WRC and he has new co-driver Esther Guitierrez alongside.

André Martinez (PER) / Guillermo Sierra Ovalle (PER)
Martinez is another newcomer to Junior WRC. He made his FIA World Rally Championship debut at last year’s Rally Chile Bío Bio where he finished 25th overall and 12th in his class.

Creighton announces full WRC2 campaign in 2024

Posted: January 18, 2024 10:59 AM

Reigning FIA Junior World Rally Champion William Creighton will take a significant step in his motorsport career, by tackling the FIA World Rally Championship WRC2 series in 2024 behind the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2.

Creighton, from Moira in Co. Armagh secured a four-round WRC2 programme and Pirelli tyre package thanks to winning the coveted FIA Junior World Rally Championship title in 2023. Thanks to the support of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, Creighton and co-driver Liam Regan will bolster their campaign to seven events, enabling the crew to compete for the WRC2 and WRC Challenger category, considered the feeder series to the top-flight Rally1.

“Winning the Junior WRC title last year gave us a really good WRC2 programme to look forward to courtesy of the fantastic prize put on offer by M-Sport Poland and Pirelli,” says Creighton.

“But thanks to the support of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, we have managed to increase our campaign to seven rounds in 2024 and it’s quite simply an unbelievable opportunity, which Liam and I are determined to make the most of”.

Creighton has enjoyed a dynamic and successful motorsport career. Starting on the racetrack, he became the Ulster Kart champion in 2012 before moving into rallying and the Junior 1000 series, developing into one of the most experienced Junior drivers of the current era.

He would go on to become Junior British Rally Champion before launching onto the world’s stage, tackling two seasons in the hotly contested Junior WRC, before finally clinching the prestigious title with a last-round thriller in Greece at the Acropolis Rally. His progression up the FIA rally development pyramid was textbook, using the Rally4 to Rally3 ladder to maximum effect.

Creighton believes he has had the proper grounding to enable him to tackle one of the most competitive series in the world.

“I’ve worked hard throughout every stage of my career and progressed up the ranks from national level into the Junior WRC. Each season has been valuable and my time in the Junior WRC was incredible. I learned so much about the sport, my driving, resilience, and attitude. I feel it’s a good time in my career to make the full-time transition to a Rally2 Fiesta.”

Two outings in Rally2 machinery came with PCRS Rallysport at Rally Spain in 2022 and Rallye Monte Carlo the following year, offering a glimpse into the forthcoming season for the young driver. But with the WRC2 elite enjoying many years of experience at that level, Creighton remains realistic about the season ahead.

“It’s the most challenging campaign I've ever had and I`ve been working hard over the winter with the Academy to ensure that I am fit and ready to hit the ground running. To prepare for the high-speed roads found in WRC Sweden, we will be heading to the LBC-Ruschen rally the week before to get seat time and snow miles under our belts before we start the WRC2 Campaign”.

“The level of competition at the front of WRC2 is extremely high so I`m under no illusion of the challenge that lies ahead of us. The goal is most certainly to build our experience as the year progresses and as I become comfortable with the Fiesta Rally2 we will look to target the events that I have experience of”.

“I'm hugely privileged to be continuing this journey with the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy alongside me and representing Ireland on the world’s stage. I can't thank them and my partners enough for all their support. I am also delighted to continue my long-term partnership with Liam [Regan], we enjoyed great success together throughout 2023 and are both very excited to get the 2024 season underway.”

“Being part of a world-class team like M-Sport is also very exciting indeed and having collaborated with them for several years in JWRC, I’m confident I’m in the right hands. It's going to be an incredibly special season and I can’t wait to get underway.”

Maciej Woda, Director of M-Sport Poland

“It’s a pleasure for me to see William stepping up into the Rally2 car, following his win in Junior WRC last year”.

“He joined Juniors three years ago and to see his progression and the transition from inexperienced youngster, into a mature driver, capable of winning rallies on all surfaces, was something great to watch”.

“Both William and Liam are great characters, so for sure we will miss them at Junior WRC, but we will all watch them and will follow their next steps of their career. We wish William and Liam all the best and can’t wait to see them on the stages.”

Richard Millener, M-Sport Team Principal

"We're thrilled to have Will join the team in WRC2 this year. Seeing him make the step up to the Fiesta Rally2 from his win in the Junior category perfectly exemplifies M-Sport's progression pyramid, and we're looking forward to seeing him progress this season."

It's a big step up to Rally2, but Will is aware of the challenges that face him and we know he's excited to learn all he can and take this opportunity to develop as a driver."

FINLAND JOINS EXCITING 2024 FIA JUNIOR WRC CALENDAR

Posted: January 1, 2024 12:10 PM

The 2024 FIA Junior WRC championship calendar has been approved and the series will be contested across five FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) rounds in 2024 - including a highly-anticipated return to Finland.

A field of M-Sport Poland-built Fiesta Rally3 Evos, all exclusively equipped with Pirelli tyres and Wolf Lubricants, will battle across a variety of surface types and conditions in the hunt for the biggest prize package in rallying.

The biggest prize package in question includes four fully funded WRC2 drives behind the wheel of the latest specification M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2, with 200 Pirelli tyres available plus a full pre-event test day before each round.

A single championship point will be available for every stage win on 2024, while double classification points will also be awarded at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece for drivers who enter at least three Junior WRC rounds in 2024.

Also helping to keep each crew's title hopes alive is the chance to discount their worst classification score, providing they contest all five rounds. All of the above will make sure to provide an unpredictable and exciting championship battle.

2024 promises to raise the bar in competition too, with the championship debuts of several FIA Rally Star drivers as well as recently crowned FIA Junior ERC champion Norbert Maior, who has won a prize package to compete at the highest level of junior rallying.

1. Rally Sweden 15 – 18 February
The rally has regularly played host to the launch of the Junior WRC season since 2018, making it one of the most anticipated rounds of the season. The town of Umeå now hosts the rally and, after two editions, it is becoming favoured for its amazing scenery and snow-white vistas. Snow and ice are classic surfaces that all drivers in WRC must master should they aspire to have any success at the sport’s highest level. Make no mistake: snow and ice doesn’t mean the drivers are clumsily stuttering around without traction. With studded Pirelli Sottozero Ice tyres fitted to every car, it’s one of the fastest rallies of the year. Expect to witness some elegant driving spectacles with one of the most iconic backdrops in rallying.

2. Croatia Rally 18 – 21 April
Croatia Rally is a recent addition to the WRC calendar and hosted the Junior WRC’s curtain-raiser in 2021. The rally quickly became a favourite for all involved, offering stage characteristics never before seen in the WRC and providing crews with a tough and testing challenge. Croatia’s asphalt roads feature characteristics more commonly found on fast gravel events and include fast corners sweeping over treacherous blind crests which require supreme confidence and total commitment. Due to the high speeds and technical nature, crews must analyse every detail of their pace notes.

3 Rally Italia Sardegna 30 May – 02 June
Rally Italia Sardegna returned to the Junior WRC after a three-year hiatus in 2023, with four different leaders throughout the event as every crew hit trouble. The home round of longstanding Junior WRC partner Pirelli, Italy represents the first of three gravel events in 2023. Crews will face fast but narrow stages with loose gravel which is a continuously developing surface as the soft and sandy top layer covers hard and immovable bedrock beneath.

4 Secto Rally Finland 01 – 04 August
No rally can match the lightning pace and prestige of Secto Rally Finland. The Jyväskylä-based event is the fastest on the calendar, featuring breathless gravel roads with blind crests and jumps, plus flowing fourth and fifth-gear corners which entice drivers to keep their foot planted on the throttle. The forest roads are wide, so picking the correct line is key to unlocking the speed which has helped the rally earn its unofficial moniker of the ‘Finnish Grand Prix’. Drivers will need plenty of sisu – a word the Finns use to describe implacable courage.

5 EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 05 – 08 September
Greece has so far made for a dramatic closer to the Junior WRC since returning in 2022. A balance of speed and maturity are the fundamental qualities a successful driver must have at their core, values which are also essential to conquer this rally. Greece offers many challenges and obstacles for crews to overcome, including a mammoth opening day of rallying without a midday service. Heat will test every driver’s fitness and concentration levels with ambient air temperatures exceeding 30 degrees centigrade.

Maciej Woda, FIA Junior WRC Championship Manager, said:
“2024 is shaping up to be a stellar year for Junior WRC with the return of Finland’s famous roads alongside other completely unique and popular events. I think this calendar offers the best way to sample almost every surface the WRC has to offer and will help to nurture young talents who are focused on growing and developing on the world stage.

“I am particularly excited to turn our attention to next season now, as we are already speaking with several interested competitors. The calendar is the final piece in the puzzle for those who may have had one or two question marks over their plans for next year."

“This calendar comes as a result of close cooperation with the FIA and WRC Promoter. We wanted to find a balance between selecting the most appealing rallies whilst also keeping reasonable spacing between events to help competitors complete their necessary preparations."

Peter Thul, WRC Promoter Senior Director Sport, said:
"The FIA Junior WRC is a fundamental building block in developing future stars of the WRC. Most recent champions Sami Pajari and Robert Virves are now establishing successful Rally2 campaigns while a host of graduates have also achieved accolades at the sport’s highest level.

"We will be particularly excited to follow the footsteps of recently-crowned FIA Junior ERC champion Norbert Maior, who like Laurent Pellier this year, has earned a spot in the 2024 FIA Junior WRC programme as part of his prize-winning Junior ERC package. This highlights the WRC Promoter’s commitment to creating clear pathways for young drivers to move their way through the FIA Rally Pyramid."

Excitement guaranteed as WRC classics combine with new and returning additions for 2024

Posted: January 1, 2024 12:08 PM

The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) is poised for another exhilarating season in 2024 after today’s (19 October) calendar reveal.

In its 52nd season, the WRC will venture to 13 captivating destinations across four continents, delivering a perfect blend of tradition and innovation that aligns with rallying’s enduring legacy.

The iconic Rallye Monte-Carlo (25 - 28 January) once again lifts the lid on the 2024 campaign, taking in the famous Col de Turini passes high in the French Alps which test drivers like no other. Following closely are the frozen forests of Rally Sweden (15 - 18 February), the only pure snow and ice fixture on the calendar.

A significant shift takes place at Safari Rally Kenya, which returns to a more traditional 28 - 31 March date, having run during June in recent years. This shift to Easter weekend will provide an even sterner test as it coincides with the beginning of Naivasha’s rainy season.

Croatia Rally (18 - 21 April) has drawn in hundreds of thousands of spectators since its WRC debut in 2021. Its unique asphalt tracks based the around the capital of Zagreb vary from smooth to badly broken and are set to return in all their glory, as will the legendary gravel tests of Vodafone Rally de Portugal (9 - 12 May) – also a huge hit with the crowds.

Mediterranean charm awaits at Rally Italia Sardegna (30 May - 2 June) before the eagerly anticipated return of ORLEN 80th Rally Poland (27 - 30 June), back after a hiatus at the sport’s top level since 2017. Poland's lightning-fast gravel roads promise a thrilling spectacle which will only be amplified further by the country’s enthusiastic fanbase.

WRC is thrilled to welcome a newcomer in Tet Rally Latvia (18 - 21 July), located in the vibrant southern coastal city of Liep?ja. Building on years of success at FIA European Rally Championship level, the loose-surface fixture underscores the clear pathway for events to ascend to the global stage of WRC.

Speed enthusiasts can look forward to the high-octane Secto Rally Finland (1 - 4 August), renowned for its jaw-dropping speeds and gravity-defying jumps. The excitement then takes a different form at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece (5 - 8 September), offering a very different flavour with its winding, rocky mountain stages.

Once again, South America asserts its presence with Rally Chile Bio Bío (26 - 29 September), reaffirming the championship's global reach.

Central European Rally (31 October – 3 November) will sweep across Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany as the penultimate round before the grand finale unfolds in Asia at FORUM8 Rally Japan (21 - 24 November).

Commenting on the calendar, WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel said: “We're eagerly anticipating another action-packed season in 2024 with a calendar that not only celebrates our esteemed traditions, but also propels us into an exciting future.

“Our return to Poland and our debut in Latvia underscore our commitment to delivering a fresh and exciting WRC experience for fans and competitors alike.”

Every round of the WRC season will be broadcast live on WRC’s groundbreaking new platform Rally.TV, as well as via traditional broadcast partners around the globe.

Championship Rounds

Posted: January 1, 2024 12:06 PM

1. Monte Carlo (WRC) - 25-28 Jan 24
2. Sweden (WRC) J - 15-18 Feb 24
3. Kenya Safari Rally (WRC) - 28-31 Mar 24
4. Croatia (WRC) J - 18-21 Apr 24
5. Portugal (WRC) - 9-12 May 24
6. Italy (WRC) J - 30 May-2 Jun 24
7. Rally Poland (WRC) - 27-30 Jun 24
8. Rally Liepaja (Latvia) WRC - 18-21 Jul 23
9. Finland (WRC) J - 1-4 Aug 24
10. Greece (WRC) J - 5-8 Sep 24
11. Chile (WRC) - 26-29 Sep 24
12. Central European Rally (WRC) - 31 Oct-3 Nov 24
13. Japan (WRC) - 21-24 Nov 24
    
    J - Counting Round WRC Junior Championship

www.wrc.com