World Rally Championship records

We take a look at the records which have been set in the World Rally Championship since the inaugural season in 1973.

World Rally Championship records

Most WRC Championships

Sebastien Loeb is the most successful driver in the history of the World Rally Championship as he won nine successive titles between 2004 and 2012.

All nine of the Frenchman's successes were with Citroën; Loeb and the C4 were an iconic partnership in the first decade of the 21st century.

1. Sebastien Loeb - 9
2. Sebastien Ogier - 8
3. Juha Kankkunen - 4
4. Tommi Makinen - 4

• World Rally Championship previous winners

Most WRC Event Wins

Having claimed the most titles, it should come as little surprise to see Sebastian Loeb top the pile for most event wins.

Loeb was especially dominant on tarmac, having won all but three of the WRC rallies on that surface (in which he participated) between 2005 and 2013.

Of his 80 victories, nine came at Rally Deutschland and a further nine in Rally Catalunya.

1. Sebastien Loeb - 80
2. Sebastien Ogier - 62
3. Marcus Gronholm - 30

Most WRC Stage Wins

Sebastian Loeb tops the pile once again as he achieved over 900 stage wins.

The former Citroën and Ford driver claimed his first in 2001 at San Remo in 2001 and concluded his WRC career with a 939th stage win at the Acropolis Rally in 2022.

1. Sebastien Loeb - 939
2. Markku Alen - 853
3. Carlos Sainz Sr - 757

Most WRC Rallies

Jari-Matti Latvala holds the record for most WRC rallies contested and the three-time runner-up is the only driver to have breached the 200 barrier.

Making his bow in the 2002 Rally GB, Latvala was still making appearances in 2024 as he participated in Tally Finland for Toyota.

1. Jari-Matti Latvala - 211
2. Carlos Sainz Sr - 196
3. Sebastian Ogier - 194

Most WRC Podiums

Sebastien Loeb's remarkable supremacy was demonstrated by his remarkable return of 120 podiums in just 184 rallies.

Loeb's compatriot and eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier is the only other driver to accomplish a century of podiums.

1. Sebastien Loeb - 120
2. Sebastien Ogier - 107
3. Carlos Sainz Sr - 97

Youngest WRC Drivers' Champion

Kalle Rovanperä obliterated Colin McRae's 27-year record of being the youngest world champion as he claimed his maiden title a day after his 22nd birthday.

The Finnish superstar retained his title in 2023.

Youngest WRC Event Winner

This record also belongs to Kalle Rovanperä, who rose to prominence by starting rallying at an exceptionally young age.

The Toyota driver was 20 years and 289 days when he sealed his maiden WRC event win at Rally Estonia in 2021.

Oldest WRC Event Winner

Not only does Sebastien Loeb possess an abundance of race victories in his locker, but the nine-time world champion is also the oldest rally winner in WRC.

Loeb was triumphant at the age of 47 years and 331 days in the 2022 Monte Carlo Rally, surpassing Björn Waldegård's record, who was 46 years and 155 days when he emerged victorious in the 1990 Safari Rally.

• World Rally Championship 2025 schedule

Most WRC Manufacturers Championships

Lancia are the most successful manufacturer in the history of WRC, although their last championship success dates back to 1992.

Three of their constructors titles were won with the Stratos, while the Lancia Delta remains one of the most successful cars to have ever been produced after claiming six successive championships between 1987 and 1992.

1. Lancia - 10
2. Citroën - 8
3. Toyota - 8

Most WRC Event Wins by Car

The aforementioned Lancia Delta dominated the late 1980s to early 1990s, racking up 46 rally wins.

That tally was equalled by the Subaru Impreza, which was steered by several WRC greats including Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz and Juha Kankkunen.

1. Lancia Delta - 46
2. Subaru Impreza - 46
3. Ford Focus RS - 44

Most WRC Event Wins by Co-Driver

Daniel Elena's fruitful partnership with Sebastien Loeb saw the pair claim 79 rally victories.

The Monegasque was the firs recipient of the Michael Park Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best co-driver.

1. Daniel Elena - 79
2. Julien Ingrassia - 54
3. Timo Rautiainen - 30

Fastest WRC Rally

Rally Finland is widely recognised as the fastest rally on the WRC calendar and Kris Meeke's completion of the 2016 event saw him achieve the highest average speed of any event.

On board the Citroën DS3, the Briton averaged 126.62 km/h (78.68 mph) across the 333.99 km (207.53 mi) Finnish course.

Closest WRC victory

Twice has a WRC rally been decided by just 0.2 seconds.

The first time saw Sebastien Ogier overhaul a 0.5 second deficit at the start of the final stage to pip Jari-Matti Latvala to victory in the 2011 Jordan Rally.

Ogier then received a taste of his own medicine at the 2024 Rally Italia Sardegna. Leading the way from stage nine, Ogier was edged out at the last following an extraordinary final run by Hyundai's Ott Tanak.

1. 2011 Jordan Rally - 0.2 seconds (Sebastian Ogier beat Jari-Matti Latvala)
2. 2024 Rally Italia Sardegna - 0.2 seconds (Ott Tanak beat Sebastien Ogier)
3. 2007 New Zealand Rally - 0.3 seconds (Marcus Gronholm beat Sebastien Loeb)