Pushing driver and machine to the limit, the World Rally Championship is the pinnacle of rallying.
Competing across various terrain, facing extreme temperatures and encountering multiple hazards such as jumps and open water, a rally weekend comprises of three racing days where drivers will go through multiple stages, attempting to finish with the fastest time overall.
Here's everything you need to know about WRC.
The 2025 World Rally Championship commences on the 23rd January in Monte Carlo and concludes in Saudi Arabia on the 30th November.
Unlike other sporting classifications were there are multiple teams competing to win, the World Rally Championship consists of only three manufacturers.
WRC has operated with three teams since Citroen decided to exit the championship in 2019.
In previous years there have been at least double the current total, with the likes of Subaru, Peugeot, Mitsubishi, Skoda and Volkswagen all withdrawing from the sport in the 21st century.
2025 teams
Every driver will tell you they're nothing without their co-driver.
The co-driver is responsible for navigation. Using a set of pacenotes they prepared ahead of each stage, they deliver detailed information to the driver quickly and concisely of the road ahead.
Examples of the information they relay includes the direction of the next turn, how far ahead it is and how fast they can go through it.
In the 2025 WRC season, there is a total of 10 drivers and co-drivers.
Driver | Co-Driver |
Toyota Gazoo Racing | |
Elfyn Evans | Scott Martin |
Kalle Rovanpera | Jonne Halttunen |
Takamoto Katsuta | Aaron Johnston |
Sebastian Ogier | Vincent Landais |
Sami Pajari | Marko Salminen |
Hyundai Shell Mobis | |
Thierry Neuville | Martijn Wydaeghe |
Ott Tanak | Martin Jarveoja |
Adrien Fourmaux | Alexandre Coria |
M-Sport Ford | |
Gregoire Munster | Louis Louka |
Josh McErlean | Eoin Treacy |
The 2025 World Rally Championship calendar consists of 14 rounds across four different continents.
This year marks the introduction of three new events in the Canary Islands (Spain), Paraguay and Saudi Arabia, with the latter hosting the concluding round of the season.
Crews and teams score points in every round with the aim of amassing the most points to win the world championship.
In each rally, points are earned by being the fastest driver - the winner is the one with the shortest accumulated time over all of the stages.
There are additional points on offer in the iconic Power Stage, which is typically the last stage of the rally where winners will receive five points, and there is more points on offer for the best performing crews on 'Super Sunday'.
Unlike in other motorsport classifications, drivers will commence each stage at separate times. The leading car will go first, followed at three-minute intervals by the next fastest car.
Given the volume of hazards which can damage machinery, drivers and co-drivers are permitted to repair their car during stages. Punctures are a common problem for drivers to contend with.
Car repairs can be undertaken by mechanics in the Service Park between stages. However, repairs must be completed within strictly regulated periods of 15 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes at lunch and 45 minutes in the evening.
Drivers will also be subject to a time penalty if their crew attempts to adjust the set-up of the car in a bid to improve performance.
Should a driver be unable to complete a stage due to the damage sustained by the car, and the team is able to fix it, they're permitted to continue the next morning with a 10-minute time penalty.
Inaugurated in 1973, titles were initially only awarded to the manufacturers, with the first World Rally Champion crowned in 1979. That honour belonged to Björn Waldegård, who switched between a Ford Escort RS1800 and a Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC whilst on his way to glory.
Lancia were the first team to dominate the competition with three titles in a row courtesy of their stunning Ferrari-powered Stratos, and then it was the turn of Fiat.
In fact, the World Rally Championship saw an abundance of stunning machinery in the 1970s and 80s, including the Lancia Delta Integrale, Audi Quattro and Fiat 131 Abarth, to name a few.
Carlos Sainz Sr, the father of Formula driver Carlos Sainz Jr, became the third driver to win the WRC title twice after Finland's Juha Kankkunen and Italy's Miki Biasion.
The legendary Colin McRae claimed his only WRC championship in his iconic Subaru Impreza 555 in 1995 before Tommi Makinen exerted his superiority, winning four years in a row for Mistubishi.
Sebastian Loeb embarked on an unprecedented period of dominance with nine consecutive titles between 2004 and 2012 before his compatriot Sebastian Ogier came to within touching distance of the emulating the great Frenchman with eight titles between 2013 and 2021.
Kalle Rovanpera has since smashed a variety of records, including becoming the youngest-ever WRC world champion in 2022.