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Privateers entering 2017-specification World Rally Cars are permitted to enter their cars under their own team names.<ref name="privateer rules">{{cite news|url=http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/december-2017/world-council/page/5058--12-12-.html|title=Privateer rules boost|work=[[World Rally Championship|wrc.com]]|publisher=[[World Rally Championship|WRC Promoter GmbH]]|date=7 December 2017|accessdate=8 December 2017}}</ref> In 2017, privateers competing in current-specification cars had to have their entries submitted by a manufacturer.
Privateers entering 2017-specification World Rally Cars are permitted to enter their cars under their own team names.<ref name="privateer rules">{{cite news|url=http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/december-2017/world-council/page/5058--12-12-.html|title=Privateer rules boost|work=[[World Rally Championship|wrc.com]]|publisher=[[World Rally Championship|WRC Promoter GmbH]]|date=7 December 2017|accessdate=8 December 2017}}</ref> In 2017, privateers competing in current-specification cars had to have their entries submitted by a manufacturer.


The [[World Rally Championship support categories|WRC Trophy]] will no longer be open to privateers entering World Rally Cars older than 2017-specification models.<ref name="privateer rules"/>
The [[World Rally Championship support categories#WRC Trophy|WRC Trophy]] will no longer be open to privateers entering World Rally Cars older than 2017-specification models.<ref name="privateer rules"/>


==Results and standings==
==Results and standings==

Revision as of 17:15, 29 January 2018

Sébastien Ogier is the defending Drivers' Champion.
M-Sport World Rally Team are the defending Manufacturers' Champions.

The 2018 FIA World Rally Championship is the 46th season of the World Rally Championship, an auto racing championship recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) as the highest class of international rallying. Teams and crews are competing in thirteen events—starting with the Monte Carlo Rally in January and finishing with Rally Australia in November—for the World Rally Championships for Drivers, Co-drivers and Manufacturers. Crews are free to compete in cars complying with World Rally Car and Group R regulations; however, only Manufacturers competing with 2017-specification World Rally Cars are eligible to score points in the Manufacturers' championship. The series is once again supported by the World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3 categories at every round and by the Junior World Rally Championship at selected rounds.

Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia started the season as the defending drivers' and co-drivers' champions after securing their fifth consecutive World Championship titles at the 73rd Wales Rally GB.[1] M-Sport, the team they drove for in 2017, are the defending manufacturers' champions.[1]

Calendar

The championship is being contested over thirteen rounds in Europe, North and South America and Australia.[2]

Round Dates Rally name Rally headquarters Rally details
Start Finish Surface Stages Distance
1 25 January 28 January Monaco 86ème Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo Gap, Hautes-Alpes Mixed 17 394.74 km
2 15 February 18 February Sweden 66th Rally Sweden Torsby, Värmland Snow 19 314.51 km
3 8 March 11 March Mexico 32º Rally Guanajuato México León, Guanajuato Gravel 22 345.60 km
4 5 April 8 April France 61ème Tour de Corse – Rallye de France Bastia, Haute-Corse Tarmac 12 334.02 km
5 26 April 29 April Argentina 38º Rally Argentina Villa Carlos Paz, Córdoba Gravel 18 360.61 km
6 17 May 20 May Portugal 52º Rally de Portugal Matosinhos, Porto Gravel 20 357.75 km
7 7 June 10 June Italy 15º Rally d'Italia Sardegna Alghero, Sardinia Gravel TBA TBA
8 26 July 29 July Finland 68th Rally Finland Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi Gravel TBA TBA
9 16 August 19 August Germany 36. ADAC Rallye Deutschland Bostalsee, Saarland Tarmac TBA TBA
10 13 September 16 September Turkey 11th Rally Turkey Marmaris, Muğla Gravel TBA TBA
11 4 October 7 October United Kingdom 74th Wales Rally GB Deeside, Flintshire Gravel TBA TBA
12 25 October 28 October Spain 54º Rally RACC Catalunya – Rally de España Salou, Tarragona Mixed TBA TBA
13 15 November 18 November Australia 27th Rally Australia Coffs Harbour, New South Wales Gravel TBA TBA
Source:[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Calendar changes

The Rally of Poland was removed from the calendar after the FIA repeatedly raised concerns about the event's safety.[8] The FIA had previously ordered a review of the event's safety standards ahead of the 2017 event, threatening to rescind the rally's World Championship status if conditions were not improved.[9] The event was replaced by the Rally of Turkey, which returned to the calendar for the first time since 2010.[2] The event, which was previously based in Istanbul, will return to south-western Turkey. It will be based in the coastal resort town of Marmaris in Muğla Province,[10] with the proposed route running along the Mediterranean coastline.[11]

The rallies of Great Britain and Catalunya swapped places on the schedule, with Rally Catalunya becoming the penultimate round of the championship.[2] Rallye Deutschland relocated to a new headquarters with the service park located at the Bostalsee reservoir in Saarland state.[7]

Route changes

Rallye Monte Carlo will feature a heavily-revised route from the 2017 event, with half the route being brand-new.[5] After starting in Mexico City in 2017, Rally Mexico will return to its traditional start in Guanajuato. The route will feature minor changes and includes a new Power Stage.[6]

Entries

The following teams and crews are entered in the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship.

World Rally Car entries eligible to score manufacturer points
Manufacturer Entrant Car Tyre No. Driver name Co-driver name Rounds
Ford United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC M 1 France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia 1–2
2 United Kingdom Elfyn Evans United Kingdom Daniel Barritt 1–2
3 France Bryan Bouffier France Xavier Panseri 1
Finland Teemu Suninen Finland Mikko Markkula 2
Hyundai South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC M 4 Norway Andreas Mikkelsen Norway Anders Jæger 1–2
5 Belgium Thierry Neuville Belgium Nicolas Gilsoul 1–2
6 Spain Dani Sordo Spain Carlos del Barrio 1
New Zealand Hayden Paddon United Kingdom Sebastian Marshall 2
Toyota Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC M 7 Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila 1–2
8 Estonia Ott Tänak Estonia Martin Järveoja 1–2
9 Finland Esapekka Lappi Finland Janne Ferm 1–2
Citroën France Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroën C3 WRC M 10 United Kingdom Kris Meeke Republic of Ireland Paul Nagle 1–2
11 Republic of Ireland Craig Breen United Kingdom Scott Martin 1–2
France Sébastien Loeb[12] Monaco Daniel Elena[13] TBA
12 Norway Mads Østberg Norway Torstein Eriksen 2
TBA United Arab Emirates Khalid Al-Qassimi[14] TBA TBA
Source:[15][16][17][18]
World Rally Car entries ineligible to score manufacturer points
Manufacturer Entrant Car Tyre No. Driver name Co-driver name Rounds
Ford Norway Henning Solberg Ford Fiesta WRC TBA 14 Norway Henning Solberg Norway Cato Menkerud 2
Italy F.W.R.T M 37 Italy Lorenzo Bertelli Italy Simone Scattolin 2
Italy Manuel Villa Ford Fiesta RS WRC D 18 Italy Manuel Villa Italy Daniele Michi 1
Saudi Arabia Yazeed Racing M 21 Saudi Arabia Yazeed Al Rajhi United Kingdom Michael Orr 2
Source:[16][18]

Team changes

Citroën reduced its commitment to two full-time entries, with a third car entered at selected events.[13] At the same time, the C3 WRC made available to privateer entrants. The cars will be leased to drivers but their operation will be run by Citroën Racing's sister team PH Sport, allowing Citroën to retain control over the cars.[19]

Ford increased its factory support for M-Sport's programme, with the team officially known as "M-Sport Ford World Rally Team".[20] Their support will include engine, chassis and aerodynamic development.[21] Ford will be recognised as the manufacturer entry, marking the company's return to the sport for the first time since 2012.[22][23] Ford's support extends to M-Sport's World Rally Championship-2 programme.[16]

Tyre supplier DMACK scaled back its involvement in the championship from full-time competition to supporting World Rally Championship-2 entries.[24] The company had previously supported its own eponymous team before becoming a supplier to and sponsor of M-Sport's third entry in 2017.

Crew changes

Nine-time World Champion Sébastien Loeb will return to the championship with Citroën in 2018.

Nine-time World Champions Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena will return to the World Rally Championship with Citroën.[12][13] They will contest selected rounds of the championship, allowing Loeb to compete in the Dakar Rally and the World Rallycross Championship.[25] Loeb had previously been enlisted by the team to assist with development of the C3 WRC, particularly on loose surfaces, after Citroën endured a difficult championship campaign in 2017. With Citroën scaling back its commitment to two full-time entries, Stéphane Lefebvre left the championship to contest the World Rally Championship-2 in an R5 variant of the C3 WRC.[13] Mads Østberg left Jipocar World Rally Team and moved to Citroën, signing a one-event agreement with the team to drive their third, part-time entry. He retained ownership of the Ford Fiesta WRC that he competed with in 2017 through the Adapta World Rally Team, entering it separately to his own entry with Citroën.[26]

Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger returned to full-time competition with Hyundai Motorsport.[27][28] Mikkelsen and Jæger, who were left without a seat at the end of 2016 following Volkswagen Motorsport's withdrawal from the sport, contested selected rounds of the 2017 championship for Citroën and Hyundai before joining the team for 2018. Hyundai chose to split their third car between Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo.[29] The team will enter four i20 Coupe WRCs in the Rally de Portugal to ensure that both Paddon and Sordo contest seven rounds of the championship each. Sordo also changed co-drivers, ending his four-year partnership with Marc Martí. He instead reunited with Carlos del Barrio,[30] who previously drove with Sordo in 2013.

Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja left M-Sport to join Toyota, where they replaced Juho Hänninen and Kaj Lindström.[31] Hänninen and Lindström remained with the team, with Hänninen taking on a test driver role and Lindström joining the team's management. Following the departure of Tänak and Järveoja, M-Sport promoted Teemu Suninen and Mikko Markkula from their World Rally Championship-2 team. Suninen and Markkula will share the car with Bryan Bouffier, who will contest Rallye Monte Carlo and the Tour de Corse. Bouffier was hired for his specialist knowledge of the events.[32]

Rule changes

Sporting regulations

The FIA took responsibility for the placement of artificial chicanes in stages, with regulations dictating their placement, width and frequency of use.[33] The changes were introduced following the 67th Rally Finland where event organisers placed chicanes that were criticised by drivers for being too narrow, poorly-positioned and potentially dangerous.[34]

Privateers entering 2017-specification World Rally Cars are permitted to enter their cars under their own team names.[35] In 2017, privateers competing in current-specification cars had to have their entries submitted by a manufacturer.

The WRC Trophy will no longer be open to privateers entering World Rally Cars older than 2017-specification models.[35]

Results and standings

Season summary

Round Event Winning driver Winning co-driver Winning entrant Winning time Report
1 Monaco 86ème Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT 4:18:55.5 Report
2 Sweden 66th Rally Sweden Report
3 Mexico 32º Rally Guanajuato México Report
4 France 61ème Tour de Corse – Rallye de France Report
5 Argentina 38º Rally Argentina Report
6 Portugal 52º Rally de Portugal Report
7 Italy 15º Rally d'Italia Sardegna Report
8 Finland 68th Rally Finland Report
9 Germany 36. ADAC Rallye Deutschland Report
10 Turkey 11th Rally of Turkey Report
11 United Kingdom 74th Wales Rally GB Report
12 Spain 54º Rally RACC Catalunya – Costa Daurada Report
13 Australia 27th Rally Australia Report

Scoring system

Points are awarded to the top ten classified finishers. In the manufacturers' championship, points are only awarded to the top two classified finishers representing a manufacturer and driving a 2017-specification World Rally Car. There are also five bonus points awarded to the winners of the Power Stage, four points for second place, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth. Power Stage points are only awarded in the drivers' and co-drivers' championships.

Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Points 25 18 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 1

FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers

Pos. Driver MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
MEX
Mexico
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
FIN
Finland
DEU
Germany
TUR
Turkey
GBR
United Kingdom
CAT
Spain
AUS
Australia
Points
1 France Sébastien Ogier 15 26
2 Estonia Ott Tänak 2 18
3 Finland Jari-Matti Latvala 34 17
4 United Kingdom Kris Meeke 41 17
5 Belgium Thierry Neuville 52 14
6 United Kingdom Elfyn Evans 6 8
7 Finland Esapekka Lappi 7 6
8 France Bryan Bouffier 8 4
9 Norway Andreas Mikkelsen 133 3
10 Republic of Ireland Craig Breen 9 2
11 Czech Republic Jan Kopecký 10 1
Spain Dani Sordo Ret 0
Pos. Driver MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
MEX
Mexico
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
FIN
Finland
DEU
Germany
TUR
Turkey
GBR
United Kingdom
CAT
Spain
AUS
Australia
Points
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Black Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank Withdrew entry from
the event (WD)

Notes:
1 2 3 4 5 – Power Stage position

FIA World Rally Championship for Co-Drivers

Pos. Co-Driver MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
MEX
Mexico
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
FIN
Finland
DEU
Germany
TUR
Turkey
GBR
United Kingdom
CAT
Spain
AUS
Australia
Points
1 France Julien Ingrassia 15 26
2 Estonia Martin Järveoja 2 18
3 Finland Miikka Anttila 34 17
4 Republic of Ireland Paul Nagle 41 17
5 Belgium Nicolas Gilsoul 52 14
6 United Kingdom Daniel Barritt 6 8
7 Finland Janne Ferm 7 6
8 France Xavier Panseri 8 4
9 Norway Anders Jaeger 133 3
10 United Kingdom Scott Martin 9 2
11 Czech Republic Pavel Dresler 10 1
Spain Carlos Del Barrio Ret 0
Pos. Co-Driver MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
MEX
Mexico
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
FIN
Finland
DEU
Germany
TUR
Turkey
GBR
United Kingdom
CAT
Spain
AUS
Australia
Points
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Black Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank Withdrew entry from
the event (WD)

Notes:
1 2 3 4 5 – Power Stage position

FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers

Pos. Manufacturer No. MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
MEX
Mexico
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
FIN
Finland
DEU
Germany
TUR
Turkey
GBR
United Kingdom
CAT
Spain
AUS
Australia
Points
1 United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT 1 1 33
2 6
3 NC
2 Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 7 3 33
8 2
9 NC
3 France Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT 10 4 18
11 7
4 South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 4 8 14
5 5
6 Ret
Pos. Manufacturer No. MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
MEX
Mexico
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
FIN
Finland
DEU
Germany
TUR
Turkey
GBR
United Kingdom
CAT
Spain
AUS
Australia
Points
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Black Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank Withdrew entry from
the event (WD)

References

  1. ^ a b Beer, Matt (29 October 2017). "Rally GB: Ogier seals title as dominant Evans claims first win". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "Rally Aus retains WRC finale in 2018". speedcafe.com. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  3. ^ "2018 calendar revealed". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Rally Calendar Overview". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b "86è Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo 2018" (PDF). acm.mc (in French). Automobile Club de Monaco. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Mexico route confirmed". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Germany". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  8. ^ Evans, David (7 August 2017). "Turkey and Croatia set for 2018 World Rally Championship calendar". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  9. ^ Evans, David (30 June 2016). "Rally Poland under pressure to prove safety to ensure WRC future". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Rally Catalunya preview". 2017 World Rally Championship season. September 2017. WRC Promoter GmbH.
  11. ^ Evans, David (4 November 2017). "WRC 2018: Teams back Turkey's return after candidate event success". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  12. ^ a b Evans, David (20 December 2017). "Sebastien Loeb gets part-time Citroen World Rally Championship deal". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d "Loeb part-time WRC comeback confirmed". Speedcafe. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  14. ^ Evans, David (22 November 2017). "Citroen couldn't match other offers to secure Ogier for WRC 2018". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Ford returns as official WRC manufacturer". Speedcafe. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2017. The other 2018 manufacturers are unchanged with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team up against Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT and Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT.
  16. ^ a b c "Rallye Monte-Carlo Entry List" (PDF). acm.mc. Automobile Club de Monaco. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  17. ^ "WRC: Neuville leads first shakedown of 2018". eurosport.com. Eurosport. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Rally Sweden Entry List". rallysweden.com. Rally Sweden. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  19. ^ Evans, David (1 December 2017). "First 2017 Citroen C3 World Rally Car offered to privateers". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  20. ^ "Ford Returns to WRC Entry List". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  21. ^ "Ford: Support of M-Sport in WRC will be 'up another level' for 2018". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Ford returns as official WRC manufacturer". Speedcafe. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  23. ^ Evans, David (23 December 2017). "Ford name returns to WRC as part of greater M-Sport support". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  24. ^ Evans, David (15 November 2017). "DMACK to step back from full-time WRC programme in 2018". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  25. ^ Evans, David (22 November 2017). "Sebastien Loeb's 2018 WRC return likely to begin with Rally Mexico". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  26. ^ "Ostberg could keep Ford as Citroen backup". Speedcafe. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018. Adapta will still enter Ostberg's Ford in Sweden while he is with Citroen. Two drivers are in contention for that drive, with WRC veteran Henning Solberg one of them.
  27. ^ Beer, Matt (28 September 2017). "Hyundai signs Andreas Mikkelsen for 2018-19 WRC seasons". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  28. ^ Herrero, Dan (28 September 2017). "Hyundai confirms full-time Mikkelsen drive". speedcafe.com. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  29. ^ "Paddon 2018 WRC program finalised". Speedcafe. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  30. ^ "Carlos del Barrio profile". motorsport.hyundai.com. Hyundai Motorsport. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  31. ^ Evans, David (18 October 2017). "Toyota signs Ott Tanak from M-Sport for 2018 WRC season". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  32. ^ Evans, David (8 January 2018). "M-Sport gives Monte Carlo Rally winner Bouffier two '18 WRC outings". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  33. ^ Evans, David (4 August 2017). "FIA to take control of WRC chicane rules after Rally Finland row". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  34. ^ "Drivers slam 'stupid' Rally Finland chicanes". speedcafe.com. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  35. ^ a b "Privateer rules boost". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.