WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2025
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2025
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25-01-29 WRC’s Young Driver Team Prepares for Snowy Sweden Showdown
Claire Schönborn and Lyssia Baudet to battle for coveted FIA Junior WRC prize drive.
Rising stars Claire Schönborn and Lyssia Baudet are ready to face their biggest challenge yet when they line up for Rally Sweden (13 – 16 February), round one of the 2025 FIA Junior WRC.
Based out of Umeå, eastern Sweden, the iconic event will be the snow-and-ice debut for the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme drivers as they battle for one seat for the remaining rounds of the 2025 FIA Junior WRC series.
Launched in 2024 by WRC Promoter, the Women’s Driver Development Programme is part of the Beyond Rally initiative and is designed to boost female representation at the highest levels of rallying, providing a crucial stepping stone for emerging female drivers.
Chosen from a pool of 15 talented drivers following an intense three-day assessment at M-Sport Poland’s Krakow headquarters last year, Baudet (Belgium), Schönborn (Germany), and Suvi Jyrkiäinen (Finland) had the opportunity to showcase their skills at the Central European Rally – the penultimate round of the 2024 WRC.
While all three demonstrated immense potential, it was Baudet and Schönborn who stood out, delivering near-identical performances. As a result, both will head to Sweden where the final decision will be made on who will claim the coveted prize.
Both drivers will be behind the wheel of identical M-Sport Poland-supplied Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars, equipped with Hankook tyres and entered under the WRC Young Driver Team banner. A crucial pre-event test at the John Haugland Winter Rally School next week will give them the opportunity to refine their skills in sub-zero conditions before the action kicks off.
Schönborn, a hillclimb racing champion who is gearing up for just her fourth-ever rally, is excited about the snow-and-ice challenge ahead. “This is going to be a huge experience,” she said. “Driving on studded tyres is something I’ve never done before, but I’ve heard that the grip is incredible – I can’t wait to experience it for myself.”
Since her debut at Central European Rally, Schönborn has been hard at work, honing her skills on the simulator and refining her pace note system. “My system was basic at first, but during the rally I learned a lot of new techniques to add more detail to my notes,” she explained.
Baudet, 22, who regularly competes in the Belgian Rally Championship, has been working closely with ex-works WRC driver Alex Bengué to prepare for her snow rally debut. “After CER, we did a rally in a Renault Clio Rally5 in Belgium,” she said. “It was great for improving my pace note system and mechanical skills, and I’ve also started working with our coach for Sweden, Alex Bengué.”
In addition to physical and mental training, Baudet has sought advice from specialists to ensure she’s fully prepared. “I can’t wait for Rally Sweden, but I’m also grateful for the extra time to prepare,” she added. “It’s going to be a big challenge!”
The official Home of World Rallying: wrc.com
25-01-27 Oliver Solberg med en stark Toyota-debut
Toyota-debuten bjöd på starka sju sträcksegrar och en sjätteplats totalt för Oliver Solberg i Rally Monte-Carlo.
23-åringen hade vunnit sin klass men en skada på framvagnen ledde till flera minuters tidsförlust redan på den första specialsträckan under torsdagen.
– Förutom det olyckliga ögonblicket på torsdagskvällen har allt gått väldigt bra. Vi har lärt oss så mycket om den nya bilen. Jag måste bara skicka ett stort tack till co-driver Elliott Edmondson och teamet, sa Oliver Solberg.
Solberg visade imponerande körning och hämtade in mycket av torsdagens tidstapp i sin debuttävling med Printsport-teamet. Solberg säkrade sju av 18 sträcksegrar i sin nya Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
– Bilen var ganska annorlunda än vad jag kört innan, men vi testade mycket som verkligen hjälpte mig att hitta en bra känsla. Tiderna vi lyckades sätta var väldigt starka, det var fantastiskt att få vinna många av sträckorna. Jag tror att vi hade momentum för att vinna. Det är lite frustrerande att vi fick den här skadan i torsdags kväll, men så är spelet och det är så den här sporten är.
23-åringen var inte registrerad för WRC2-poäng i säsongsinledningen, som vanns av fransmannen Yohan Rossel. Nu riktar Oliver Solberg och Elliott Edmondson blicken mot Rally Sweden 13-16 februari. Där ska de slåss om VM-poäng.
– Nu är det dags för snö och vi åker hem för att tävla i Umeå. Jag ser fram emot att köra den nya bilen på de vägarna. Solberg har vunnit Rally Sweden de senaste två åren.
25-01-26 Sébastien Ogier Strikes 10 at Rallye Monte-Carlo
Frenchman triumphs on the WRC’s season opener for a record-extending 10th time.
Sébastien Ogier etched his name further into the history books by claiming a record-extending 10th victory at Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship.
Driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Ogier secured victory by a margin of 18.5sec over his Toyota GAZOO Racing team-mate Elfyn Evans after a nail-biting final day through the French Alps.
Sunday’s decisive final leg threatened to turn the tide. Ogier and his Toyota GAZOO Racing team-mate Elfyn Evans opted to carry four studded Hankook tyres and only two super-soft slicks - an approach that proved effective on the icy roads of Avançon - Notre-Dame du Laus but left them vulnerable on the drier penultimate test at Digne-les-Bains / Chaudon-Norante. There, Adrien Fourmaux shone on a full-slick setup, outpacing both Toyotas by a 23.9sec and 17.8sec respectively and momentarily threatening to disrupt the podium order.
Fourmaux, making his Hyundai WRC debut after an off-season switch from M-Sport Ford, had hoped for drier conditions on the rally-ending Wolf Power Stage to maximise his slick tyre advantage. Instead, the icy Col de Turini levelled the playing field, leaving him on the same mixed-tyre setup as Ogier and Evans.
Ogier capitalised with another stage win, while Evans held off Fourmaux’s late charge by just 7.5sec despite a heart-stopping brush with a rock face.
“What a weekend,” reflected Ogier, whose first triumph here came during Rallye Monte-Carlo’s IRC days in 2009.
“I don't know where to start, what a weekend. I think I have had my lucky star with me this weekend - my uncle, who we lost one year ago. I am sure he was bringing me everything and this one is for him. I have no idea if it is my last [Rallye Monte-Carlo] now. It would be a good place to stop.”
The drama extended far beyond the podium battle, as Sunday’s treacherous conditions wreaked havoc further down the field. Toyota’s Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta both slid off the road on SS17, while Grégoire Munster’s M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 met a similar fate on the very next stage.
Behind Evans, Hyundai’s Ott Tänak ceded fourth position to Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä on the final day due to his own tyre misjudgement. The pair finished just 4.7sec apart, with both drivers now eager to bounce back on next month’s Rally Sweden as previous winners of the snow-and-ice fixture.
Defending champion Thierry Neuville salvaged sixth place after a tumultuous event. A combination of broken suspension from an early crash, a deflated tyre and an unexplained electrical issue cost him over five minutes, thwarting his hopes of defending last year’s win.
M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean impressed with a solid seventh-place finish on his Rally1 debut, while Rally2 competitors Yohan Rossel, Nikolay Gryazin and Gus Greensmith rounded out the top 10. Rossel’s standout performance earned him an early lead in the WRC2 championship.
Round two of the WRC takes place on the snow and ice of Sweden. The series' only pure winter fixture is based in Umeå from 13 – 16 February.
Rally Classification:
1. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris 3h 19m 6.1s
2. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris +18.5
3. A Fourmaux / A Coria FRA Hyundai i20 N +26.0s
4. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +54.3s
5. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +59.0s
6. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N +5m 44.6s
Drivers' Championship Standings (After Round 1 of 14):
1. S Ogier 33pts
2. E Evans 26pts
3. A Fourmaux 20pts
Manufacturers' Championship Standings (After Round 1 of 14):
1. Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT 60pts
2. Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 36pts
3. M-Sport Ford WRT 11pts
25-01-25 Ogier Turns the Tables to Lead Rallye Monte-Carlo on Friday
Frenchman rebounds from early setback as defending champion Thierry Neuville falters.
Sébastien Ogier staged an impressive comeback on Friday at Rallye Monte-Carlo, vaulting from third to first overall as Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans fell victim to the treacherous Alpine roads.
Ogier, chasing an unprecedented 10th Rallye Monte-Carlo triumph in this season-opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship, began the day on the back foot after an off-road moment on Thursday’s third stage cost him around 20sec. By Friday evening, however, the Frenchman had turned the tables, leading the rally by 12.6sec thanks to a masterful drive on the ice-kissed stages.
Ogier’s Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 team-mate Elfyn Evans initially dethroned overnight leader Thierry Neuville on the opening stage, edging ahead after shading the Belgian by 2.8sec at Saint-Maurice - Aubessagne 1. Neuville’s hopes of reclaiming the lead were dashed moments later when he limped out of La Bréole - Selonnet 1 with a damaged rear-left suspension, a costly consequence of running wide on a downhill hairpin.
Evans, a four-time runner-up in the drivers’ championship, saw his lead reduced to just 1.5sec by midday. A spirited response after service helped him extend the margin to 7.9sec, but disaster struck on an icy section in Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes - La Bâtie-Neuve. A half-spin on a treacherous patch handed the stage win - and the rally lead - back to Ogier. The Frenchman, energised by competing on roads just a stone’s throw from his home village of Forest-Saint-Julien, extended his advantage further with a commanding performance on the day’s finale.
"It's a good end to the day,” Ogier smiled. “I had to fight for that. Earlier today I didn't have a mega feeling, I was really on the back foot and I couldn't find the perfect rhythm, but the last two stages were good for me."
With Neuville and Ott Tänak both facing setbacks - Tänak clipped a telegraph pole on SS6, damaging his i20 N Rally1’s bodywork - it was Adrien Fourmaux who carried the Hyundai torch. On his first WRC outing with the team, Fourmaux showed promise with a stage win and two second-fastest times, securing the final podium spot just 1.6sec behind Evans.
Two-time WRC champion Kalle Rovanperä also found his rhythm after a measured start on Thursday. The Toyota ace won the morning’s opening stage and climbed from sixth to fourth by day’s end. He ended 24.3sec behind Fourmaux but held an 8.8sec cushion over Tänak.
Grégoire Munster delivered one of his strongest performances to date, securing consecutive second-fastest stage times in the morning loop. The M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 driver ran as high as fourth before a tyre deflation on the penultimate stage dropped him to sixth overall, but worse was to come as an electrical fault on the road section after the final test forced his retirement.
Munster's demise meant that Takamoto Katsuta rounded out Friday in sixth ahead of Toyota’s young star Sami Pajari. Neuville, down in eighth, lost more time on the second pass through La Bréole – Selonnet, suffering a tyre deflation that caused him to slide wide at the same corner he had faltered on earlier in the day.
Saturday is the rally’s longest day and includes six stages totalling more than 120 kilometres against the clock.
Standings after Friday (SS9 /18):
1. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris 1h 27m 0s
2. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris +12.6s
3. A Fourmaux / A Coria FRA Hyundai i20 N +14.2s
4. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +38.5s
5. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +47.3s
6. T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris +1m 37.7s
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is the FIA’s premium rally series. It showcases high-performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings, ranging from Sweden’s freezing winter to Kenya’s heat and rocky tracks. Participants battle for drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles at 14 rallies. More information can be found at wrc.com.
The official Home of World Rallying: wrc.com
25-01-24 Masterful Neuville Lights Up WRC Monte-Carlo Opener
TDefending champion leads after Sébastien Ogier spins on Thursday.
Defending WRC champion Thierry Neuville led under the stars of Rallye Monte-Carlo on Thursday evening, thrilling the thousands of fans who lined the alpine roads north-west of Monaco as early pacesetter Sébastien Ogier suffered a costly spin.
The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season launched in spectacular fashion, starting with a ceremonial send-off at Monaco’s iconic Casino Square. From there, the competing crews – along with tens of thousands of fans - ascended into the French Alps for the opening trio of stages. The night-time action, illuminated by dazzling headlights and fireworks, was beamed to over 150 countries through more than 50 broadcasters and WRC’s flagship streaming platform, Rally.TV.
Chasing a record-extending 10th Monte-Carlo victory, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 ace Ogier stamped his authority by posting consecutive fastest times for the opening two stages. However, the Frenchman’s hopes took a hit in the final test from Avançon to Notre-Dame-du-Laus. A wide slide into a fence post cost him over 20 seconds, dropping him to third.
Neuville, driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally1, capitalised on Ogier’s misstep to claim the overnight lead with a slender 2.0sec advantage over Elfyn Evans’ Toyota. Ogier, meanwhile, trailed 12.8sec further back in third.
The Belgian relied on Hankook’s newly developed Ventus Z215 super soft tyres, which performed reliably on a challenging mixture of dry and damp asphalt plus treacherous patches of ice.
“On the first part [of SS3] I was painting the road, and in the last part I was cleaning the road!” Neuville smiled. “Super tricky to keep it on the road. I’m happy with the first day. Overall, our target was to finish today.”
Ogier counted himself lucky to escape without major damage, saying: “[It was] difficult of course. A lot of mud on the road and we hit a pole sideways. It's always lucky to get away with that.”
Hyundai’s Ott Tänak kept things steady to secure fourth, 27.0sec adrift of Neuville’s lead. The Estonian overtook debuting team-mate Adrien Fourmaux on SS3, with the Frenchman ending just 3.0sec behind him.
A further 13.9sec back was two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä, who returns to Toyota for a full-time campaign in 2025 after his part-time schedule last season. Rovanperä admitted his lack of recent experience in Monte-Carlo left him on the back foot as he ended the night down in sixth.
M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 driver Grégoire Munster placed seventh, edging Takamoto Katsuta – who was battling a bout of the flu – by 4.5sec. Finnish talent Sami Pajari placed ninth as Nikolay Gryazin closed out the top 10 in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Citroën star Yohan Rossel was the highest-placed WRC2-registered driver. He claimed 11th overall ahead of Irishman Josh McErlean, who made a cautious but sensible start on his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 debut.
The rally continues on Friday with six challenging stages totalling over 100 competitive kilometres.
Standings after Thursday (SS3 /18):
1. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N 32m 58.8s
2. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris +2.0s
3. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris +12.8s
4. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +27.0s
5. A Fourmaux / A Coria FRA Hyundai i20 N +30.0s
6. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris +43.9s
25-01-23 Iconic Rallye Monte-Carlo opens 2025 FIA World Rally Championship
World champion Neuville leads the charge into the WRC’s ultimate challenge.
The FIA World Rally Championship launches its 2025 season in spectacular fashion this week as Rallye Monte-Carlo (23 - 26 January) tests the world’s best drivers on its legendary and unforgiving stages.
Renowned as one of the most iconic and demanding fixtures on the calendar, Rallye Monte-Carlo’s mix of hairpin bends, high-altitude passes and unpredictable grip levels on surfaces ranging from dry asphalt to treacherous ice makes it one of the sport’s ultimate challenges. For crews and engineers, the weather forecast is just as important as the pace notes, with sudden changes able to rewrite the script in an instant.
At the heart of it all is reigning world champion Thierry Neuville, who begins his title defence in style. After a stellar 2024 season that saw him clinch his maiden crown, Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe return to Monaco in their Hyundai i20 N Rally1 sporting the coveted number one.
Victory on this very event last year set the tone for their championship-winning campaign, but 2025 introduces an exciting new dynamic in Hankook Tires, debuting as the WRC’s exclusive supplier. Initial feedback from today’s shakedown, topped by Neuville’s team-mate Ott Tänak, confirms the South Korean brand is more than ready for the challenge of the WRC.
Hyundai Motorsport fields a three-car line-up with Neuville and Estonian star Tänak joined by rising talent Adrien Fourmaux. Fourmaux, fresh from a breakthrough 2024 season where he secured five podiums with M-Sport Ford, makes his debut with the team after an eye-catching off-season move.
Reigning manufacturers’ champions Toyota GAZOO Racing have upped the ante with a five-strong GR Yaris Rally1 squad. French legend Sébastien Ogier returns to chase an unprecedented 10th Rallye Monte-Carlo victory, supported by two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä and Welsh ace Elfyn Evans. Additional cars will be piloted by Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari, who captured last year’s WRC2 title and embarks on his first full campaign in rallying’s top tier alongside returning co-driver Marko Salminen.
Meanwhile, M-Sport Ford turns the spotlight on Grégoire Munster, now the British outfit's lead driver in his second full Rally1 season. Irishman Josh McErlean makes his debut in the top class after standout performances in WRC2, partnering Munster in the team’s second Puma Rally1.
Adding more intrigue to 2025 is a streamlined points system that puts a sharper emphasis on rally wins. Points will now be awarded to the top 10 finishers, with bonuses available for Super Sunday and Wolf Power Stage performances increasing the maximum score per rally to 35.
The rally officially starts on Thursday (23 January) afternoon in Monaco’s iconic Casino Square, followed by three gripping night-time stages through the French Alps. Competitors then face three more intense days of action before the rally concludes back in Monaco on Sunday afternoon.
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is the FIA’s premium rally series. It showcases high-performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings, ranging from Sweden’s freezing winter to Kenya’s heat and rocky tracks. Participants battle for drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles at 14 rallies. More information can be found at www.wrc.com.
25-01-23 Solberg kör fullt VM-program i rally
För första gången kommer Oliver Solberg att köra alla tävlingar i rally-VM. Fjolårets silvermedaljör inleder jakten på VM-pokalen i WRC2-klassen med säsongsinledningen i Monte-Carlo på torsdag.
23-åringen inleder säsongen med ett nytt team och en ny bil. Solberg bytte nyligen till världens största biltillverkare i sitt försök att bli världsmästare med det finska Printsport-teamet. Han kommer att köra en Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 i WRC 2-klassen – vilket är sportens näst högsta nivå.
Utvecklingsarbetet på bilen har utförts av Toyota Gazoo Racing.
– Vi testade lite innan jul och sista veckan innan säsongsstart och har redan en bra uppfattning om hur Toyotan går. Den känns riktigt bra, är snabb, skön att köra och helt klart en trecylindrig motor. Den sista var lite annorlunda.
Årets VM-resa startar från Casino Square i Monaco på torsdag. Den traditionella tävlingen startar från Medelhavskusten, upp genom snön och isen i de franska Alperna och avslutas tillbaka i solskenet fyra dagar senare.
– Efter testerna vi har gjort och tiden med alla från Printsport känner jag mig redo för Monte-Carlo och det kommande året. Det var skönt att ta lite semester för att ladda batterierna, men jag tror att alla vet att den här sporten aldrig är långt borta från mig.
För första gången tävlar 23-åringen i hela mästerskapet – alla 14 tävlingarna.
– Det här är en fantastisk upplevelse för mig och något jag alltid har drömt om. Mycket spännande ligger framför oss, säger Oliver Solberg.
Efter att ha missat förra årets WRC2-titel med tre poäng, är målet för Oliver och co-driver Elliott Edmondson att vinna VM-titeln i rally.
– Vi var nära förra året och kommer att slutföra jobbet 2025. Men vi behöver också skaffa oss erfarenhet i de nya tävlingarna på Gran Canaria, Spanien, i Paraguay och Saudiarabien. Målet är att utmana och kämpa för att få en plats i Rally1.
Solberg och Edmondson har valt bort Rally Monte-Carlo att köra för poäng i kampen om VM-titeln. Precis som förra året räknas bara sju av tävlingarna de kör i VM-sammandraget.
– Vi föredrar att slåss om poäng i rallyn där vi har mer erfarenhet, konstaterar Oliver Solberg.
Rally-VM 2025
Rallye Monte-Carlo (23-26 januari)
Rally Sweden (13-16 februari)
Safari Rally Kenya (20-23 mars)
Rally Islas Canarias (24-27 april)
Rally de Portugal (15-18 maj)
Rally Italia Sardegna (5-8 juni)
Acropolis Rally Grekland (26-29 juni)
Rally Estonia (17-20 juli)
Rally Finland (31 juli – 3 augusti)
Rally del Paraguay (28-31 augusti)
Rally Chile (11–14 september)
Central European Rally (16-19 oktober)
Rally Japan (6-9 november)
Rally Saudiarabien (27–30 november)
25-01-20 Stars of the WRC herald in 2025 among the glitz of Monaco
WRC welcomed in the 2025 season on Sunday evening, highlighting off-season changes and an all-new tyre partner.
The stars of the FIA World Rally Championship shone bright on Sunday night as the 2025 season was officially launched in front of the sparkling backdrop of the iconic Casino de Monte-Carlo.
Before beginning proceedings, the sincere sympathies of the WRC community were passed to the family, friends and colleagues of His Excellency Mr. Didier Guillaume, serving Minister of state of Monaco, who sadly passed away on the 17 January.
Led by dignitaries FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Hankook Tire Motorsport Senior Director Manfred Sandbichler, WRC Promoter Managing Director Jona Siebel, Automobile Club de Monaco General Commissioner Eric Barrabino and SBM Director General Albert Manzone, there were a number of notable firsts to headline the launch. This included new world champion Thierry Neuville sporting the number one on the window of his Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team i20 N Rally1.
Speaking on the evening, the 36-year-old Belgian said, "Seeing the number one on the car for the full season now, we will never forget 2024. Nevertheless, it is a new season starting, all counters are on zero again which means we need to have the same motivation and spirit to fight hard and try and defend our title.
There was additionally a new look to the driver line-up, with Adrien Fourmaux now sporting the colours of Hyundai, Sami Pajari appearing as a full-time driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team and Josh McErlean making his first appearance in M-Sport Ford overalls, just days out from his Rally1 debut.
Appearing on stage following team-mate Gregoire Munster, Irishman McErlean admitted to being ‘privileged’ to be stood on the ramp. “Obviously, it is a dream come true, it will be a big year of learning, these cars are incredible.”
From leading driver in 2024 at M-Sport Ford, Frenchman Fourmaux will be bookended by world champions Neuville and Estonia’s Ott Tänak at Hyundai. “I am feeling really excited, it is a big challenge for us with a new car, a new team and new tyres – we want to continue in the way we were going last year.”
Joining Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta and two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä as a full-time driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing, former FIA Junior WRC champion Pajari has a wealth of experience to call upon in the Toyota garage Asked if he was feeling pressure with his increased role, the Finn opined: “At least not yet, that will come on Thursday evening, just really really looking forward to the season.”
The experience at Toyota will be further bolstered when legendary eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier turns out on selected rounds for the Japanese marque, including on the season-opener as he targets a record 10th Monte victory.
It was also a milestone evening for the event’s co-hosts Hankook Tire, who are about to endeavour on their first-ever journey in the WRC. Speaking on behalf of Hankook, Sandbichler said: “For Hankook Tire, today is a milestone because the legend starts today. This is a really strong competition and we will do everything we can to make the story successful.”
A former WRC competitor himself, FIA President Ben Sulayem said: “To us at the FIA this championship is very dear, it is one of the pillars we have and I can see a good future for the WRC."
WRC Promoter’s Jona Siebel spoke of the importance of the season-opening Monte Carlo to the championship. “It’s a unique brand, full of emotions, heritage and passion – it is a privilege for us to get to start here,” he expressed.
Rallye Monte-Carlo officially starts on Thursday in the same location as Sunday night’s festivities, when all competitors cross the ceremonial start before heading high into the French Alps for three fan-laden stages in the dark, before eventually making their way back to Monte-Carlo on Sunday afternoon where the winner will be crowned.
It marks the beginning of 11 months of action which will see competitors cross four continents to tackle snow, ice, asphalt, dirt and gravel in their mission to be crowned world champions. The full 2025 calendar can be accessed here.
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