We take a look through the previous winners of the World Rally Championship since Björn Waldegård was crowned the first official world champion in 1979.
Despite the World Rally Championship officially launching in 1973, it wasn't until 1979 that the official drivers' championship was implemented and Sweden's Waldegard was the first world champion.
The early years of WRC belonged to the Scandinavians, most notably the Finnish with Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola and Timo Salonen all claiming the title in the 1980s.
Then it was the turn of the double world champions with Juha Kankkunen going back-to-back in 1986 and 1987 before Italy's Miki Biasion replicated the feat in 1988 and 1989.
Kankkunen added two more titles to his collection in 1991 and 1993, sandwiching Carlos Sainz's two triumphs in his famed Toyota Celica.
Colin McRae won his one and only drivers' championship in 1995 prior to a period of dominance by Tommi Makinen with Mitsubishi where he won four consecutive titles.
This century has been host to French supremacy courtesy of the two Sebastian's, Loeb and Ogier.
Loeb, the most successful driver in WRC history, was crowned champion nine years in a row from 2004 to 2012 before passing the torch to Ogier, who has won seven titles between 2013 and 2021.
Aged 22 years and one day old, Kalle Rovanpera made history in 2022 by becoming the youngest WRC champion and the Finnish sensation further validated his talent by defending his crown in 2023.
Season: | Champion: | Car: |
1979 | Bjorn Waldegard | Ford Escort RS1800 |
1980 | Walter Rohrl | Fiat 131 Abarth |
1981 | Ari Vatanen | Ford Escort RS1800 |
1982 | Walter Rohrl | Opel Ascona 400 |
1983 | Hannu Mikkola | Audi Quattro A1/A2 |
1984 | Stig Blomqvist | Audi Quattro A2/Sport |
1985 | Timo Salonen | Peugeot 205 T16 E2 |
1986 | Juha Kankkunen | Peugeot 205 T16 E2 |
1987 | Juha Kankkunen | Lancia Delta HF |
1988 | Miki Biasion | Lancia Delta HF/Integrale |
1989 | Miki Biasion | Lancia Delta Integrale |
1990 | Carlos Sainz | Toyoto Celica GT-Four ST165 |
1991 | Juha Kankkunen | Lancia Delta Integrale |
1992 | Carlos Sainz | Toyota Celica Turbo |
1993 | Juha Kankkunen | Toyota Celica Turbo |
1994 | Didier Auriol | Toyota Celica Turbo |
1995 | Colin McRae | Subaru Impreza 555 |
1996 | Tommi Makinen | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III |
1997 | Tommi Makinen | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV |
1998 | Tommi Makinen | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V |
1999 | Tommi Makinen | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI |
2000 | Marcus Gronholm | Peugeot 206 |
2001 | Richard Burns | Subaru Impreza |
2002 | Marcus Gronholm | Peugeot 206 |
2003 | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza |
2004 | Sebastian Loeb | Citroen Xsara |
2005 | Sebastian Loeb | Citroen Xsara |
2006 | Sebastian Loeb | Citroen Xsara |
2007 | Sebastian Loeb | Citroen C4 |
2008 | Sebastian Loeb | Citroen C4 |
2009 | Sebastian Loeb | Citroen C4 |
2010 | Sebastian Loeb | Citroen C4 |
2011 | Sebastian Loeb | Citroen DS3 |
2012 | Sebastian Loeb | Citroen DS3 |
2013 | Sebastian Ogier | Volkswagen Polo R |
2014 | Sebastian Ogier | Volkswagen Polo R |
2015 | Sebastian Ogier | Volkswagen Polo R |
2016 | Sebastian Ogier | Volkswagen Polo R |
2017 | Sebastian Ogier | Ford Fiesta WRC |
2018 | Sebastian Ogier | Ford Fiesta WRC |
2019 | Ott Tanak | Toyota Yaris WRC |
2020 | Sebastian Ogier | Toyota Yaris WRC |
2021 | Sebastian Ogier | Toyota Yaris WRC |
2022 | Kalle Rovanpera | Toyota GR Yaris |
2023 | Kalle Rovanpera | Toyota GR Yaris |
2024 | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai i20 N |