WRC – Excitement builds as FIA WRC season lift-off approaches

The eagerly anticipated 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season bursts into life when Rallye Monte-Carlo will get underway for the 93rd time from January 22-26.

Thrilling tweaks to the technical rules, an expanded calendar, a brand new official tyre provider and a revamped points-scoring system are simply a few of what’s in retailer through the upcoming title chase, which can be contested by manufacturing facility groups from Hyundai, M-Sport Ford and Toyota.
 
A capability 70-car entry, out of 92 registrations, together with 47 FIA precedence crews, has been assembled to compete on the 2025 FIA WRC season opener, made doable as all the time due to the a whole bunch of volunteer marshals and officers amongst greater than two thousand individuals mobilised who make sure the secure and profitable operating of the occasion.
 
Whereas Rallye Monte-Carlo is a Tarmac occasion in title, it’s not often a Tarmac occasion in nature as a consequence of its fame for wintry climate situations. Ice and even snow usually add to the robust job in hand, as do the inconsistent grip ranges which are often skilled on the mountain roads. Having taken over from Pirelli because the FIA WRC’s official tyre provider, Hankook Tire can be offering the spec rubber for all of the rivals. It’s anticipated that general grip ranges can be barely decrease than in recent times, which can be simply one of many many challenges that the drivers should adapt to in 2025. For Rallye Monte-Carlo, the corporate is offering its Ventus Z215 smooth and tremendous smooth tyre with the i*Cept SR20 snow tyre additionally obtainable with or with out studs fitted. Hankook will unleash its Dynapro tyre for the gravel rounds later within the 12 months.

Lighter, simpler and more affordable Rally1 cars will take to the levels because the WRC’s flagship class, utilising 100 per cent sustainable gasoline as they’ve since 2022, however with out the plug-in hybrid items deployed over the previous three years. As a part of the rule change, the minimal weight of the automobiles has been lowered from 1260 kilograms to 1180 kilograms. To keep up an equal power-to-weight ratio between the 2024 and 2025 Rally1 automobiles, the air restrictor dimension has been lowered from 36mm to 35mm.

The allocation of championship points has been modified for 2025 to position a higher emphasis on successful occasions outright, whereas guaranteeing there’s nonetheless a lot to struggle for on the Sunday of every rally. Factors will now be allotted on a sliding scale of 25-17-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 to the highest 10 categorized finishers. A separate Sunday allocation of 5-4-3-2-1 will reward the highest 5 in keeping with the outcomes of the ultimate leg, whereas the quickest quintet on the Energy Stage will rating 5-4-3-2-1 factors. Having been capable of financial institution a most of 30 factors in 2024, a driver successful the rally, topping the Tremendous Sunday order and going quickest on the Energy Stage can now safe 35 factors.

Contested over 14 rounds in comparison with the earlier 13, the WRC visits the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, Paraguay and Saudi Arabia for the primary time. EKO Acropolis Rally Greece returns to the late June slot it final occupied in 2005, whereas Delfi Rally Estonia is again after operating as a part of the FIA European Rally Championship final season. Rally del Paraguay’s inclusion means two rallies in South America for the primary time since 2019. The all-new Rally Saudi Arabia turns into the deciding spherical with Forum8 Rally Japan now the penultimate occasion of the 12 months.

In a key personnel change for 2025, Nicolas Klinger is promoted to the position of FIA WRC Security Delegate following Michèle Mouton’s resolution to retire following greater than a decade of unimaginable service. Klinger’s Deputy Security Delegate position is stuffed by Priit Priimägi from Estonia.

MONACO LAUNCH FOR 2025 FIA WRC SEASON

The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship is being launched this Sunday (January 19) in Monaco’s On line casino Sq.. The ceremony can be inaugurated FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem alongside WRC Promoter CEO Jona Siebel and representatives of the Vehicle Membership de Monaco. 

The occasion will formally introduce Hankook because the unique official WRC tyre provider, marking the start of a brand new chapter for the game. The occasion will culminate with the introduction of Rally1 producers and their taking part crews, adopted by a proper drinks reception on the Café de Paris for invited visitors.

THE ROUTE IN SHORT

With town of Hole the occasion’s residence for the second season in a row following a two-year stint based mostly again on the harbourside in Monaco, the 93rd Rallye Monte-Carlo will problem the celebs of the FIA World Rally Championship over 343.80 kilometres. Following the normal ceremonial begin in Monaco’s On line casino Sq., proceedings intensify with three timed exams run after darkish on Thursday January 23 totalling 54.16 timed kilometres.
 
Positioned within the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes, the opening trio of levels embody the 21.18 kilometres of Faucon-du-Caire/Bréziers – the longest of the primary evening – and Avançon/Notre-Dame-du-Laus, which is ready to get underneath approach at 21:06 native time over a distance of 13.97 kilometres.
 
The rally restarts from Hole on Friday January 24 with the departments of Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence internet hosting the motion. Three repeated levels and a noon service halt in Hole are included on the itinerary, which covers a aggressive distance of 107.34 kilometres. The day-opening Saint-Maurice/Aubessagne take a look at is the leg’s longest at 18.68 kilometres.
 
Saturday’s (January 25) route is centred on the Drôme division with two loops of three new levels and 131.40 timed kilometres on supply. At 27.00 kilometres, the double-use La Motte-Chalancon/Saint-Nazaire stage is the rally’s longest.
 
The deciding leg on Sunday January 26 marks the departure from Hole for the journey south to the end in Monaco. It consists of fifty.90 kilometres divided between three levels. The La Bollène-Vésubie/Peïra-Cava Energy Stage, which climbs the long-lasting Col de Turini, is because of start at 12h15.

RALLYE MONTE-CARLO DATA 

Stage distance: 343.80 km
Complete distance: 1629.37 km
Variety of levels: 18

RALLY1 CONTENDERS

Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Staff
Thierry Neuville defends his world title carrying the coveted #1 on his Hyundai i20 N Rally1, his twelfth consecutive season with the Korean producer. The Belgian is joined for a fifth 12 months by Estonia’s Ott Tänak and the staff’s French newcomer, Adrien Fourmaux.
 
M-Sport Ford World Rally Staff
Grégoire Munster would be the M-Sport Ford World Rally Staff’s most skilled driver when he embarks on his second full season at Rally1 degree. Josh McErlean, a product of the Motorsport Eire Rally Academy, steps up from FIA WRC2 to pilot the second Ford Puma Rally1.
 
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Staff
Sébastien Ogier, the winner of the WRC title eight occasions, has received Rallye Monte-Carlo on a document 9 events. Whereas Ogier is planning a partial occasion schedule for the fourth 12 months in 2025, double champion Kalle Rovanperä returns for a full season after he went half time in 2024. Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta and FIA WRC2 champion Sami Pajari full the Toyota’s five-strong manufacturing facility line-up in GR Yaris Rally1 automobiles.

SUPPORTING CATEGORIES
 
The recognition of the Rally2-based FIA WRC2 class is highlighted by a 24-car entry headed by Nikolay Gryazin (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) and Yohan Rossel (PH-Sport Citroën C3 Rally2), who completed third and fourth respectively in final 12 months’s standings.
 
Léo Rossel graduates to FIA WRC2 because the French Tarmac champion and can accomplice his older brother Yohan at PH Sport, whereas Charles Munster, youthful brother of M-Sport Ford World Rally Staff driver Grégoire, is entered in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2.
 
Former winner François Delecour’s 17-year-old son Eliott Delecour makes his WRC debut on Rallye Monte-Carlo, as does French federation-supported Sarah Rumeau, who’s embarking on an FIA WRC2 marketing campaign with Sarrazin Motorsport – Iron Lynx.
 
After claiming prime FIA WRC3 honours on Rallye Monte-Carlo 12 months in the past, Jan Černý returns in FIA WRC2 together with his opposition together with Eric Camilli, Gus Greensmith and Roberto Daprà.
 
Oliver Solberg is the highest seed within the RC2 class on his first look in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 however hasn’t nominated the occasion as one in every of his scoring rounds.
 
Diego Domínguez begins the defence of his FIA WRC3 title on Rallye Monte-Carlo with FIA ERC3 champion Filip Kohn stepping as much as FIA WRC2. Rachele Somaschini can be stepping up from the FIA European Rally Championship and can use her participation to lift consciousness of cystic fibrosis, the genetic dysfunction she suffers from.
 
Eamonn Boland is the main FIA WRC Masters Cup seed, the Irishman competing alongside Michael Joe “MJ” Morrissey, the 2024 FIA WRC Masters Cup champion co-driver.

THE SEASON AHEAD
 

View the FIA World Rally Championship occasion schedule for 2025 here.

MEDIA INFORMATION

Media accreditation

Media accreditation have to be collected in particular person by accredited move holders from the Accreditation Desk, Media Centre, Centre Omnisport COSEC, Avenue de Traunstein, 05000 Hole, France.

The Accreditation Desk is open as follows:
 

Media Centre
 
The Media Centre is situated as follows: Centre Omnisport COSEC, Avenue de Traunstein, 05000 Hole.

The next opening hours apply:

A subsidiary Media Centre is situated at One Monte-Carlo, 1 Place du On line casino, 98000 Monaco. It’s open from 06:00 till the final accredited media consultant leaves on Sunday January 26.

Media actions and alternatives
 

(All occasions native, approximate and topic to alter)

Media zones

Media Zones attended by all drivers and chosen staff representatives will function within the Media Zone space situated on the entry to the Service Park (Monaco for TC18A) as follows:
TC3A, 6A, 9A, 12A, 15A and 18A

FIA WRC Meet the Crews stay interviews, Place du On line casino, Thursday 23 January

13:30 – 13:40 – FIA WRC Drivers (showing from the Begin ramp, Monaco)
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT – Thierry Neuville (BEL), Hyundai i20 N Rally1
M-Sport Ford WRT – Josh McErlean (IRL), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT – Sébastien Ogier (FRA), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT – Kalle Rovanperä (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
 
13:40 – 13:50 – WRC Producer Staff Principals (becoming a member of stay from the Fan Zone, Hole)
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT – Cyril Abiteboul
M-Sport Ford WRT – Richard Millener
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT – Jari-Matti Latvala
 
13:50 – 14:00 – FIA WRC Assist Championships (showing from the Begin ramp, Monaco)
FIA WRC2 – Eric Camilli (FRA), Hyundai i20 N Rally2
FIA WRC2 – PH Sport – Yohan Rossel (FRA), Citroën C3 Rally2
FIA WRC2 – Rachele Somaschini (ITA), Citroën C3 Rally2
FIA WRC2 – Sarrazin Motorsport – Iron Lynx – Sarah Rumeau (FRA), Citroën C3 Rally2
FIA WRC3 – Diego Domínguez (PAR), Ford Fiesta Rally3

FIA Publish-event Press Convention, Place du On line casino, 15:30, Sunday 26 January
 
Prime 3 drivers in general classification, successful codriver and consultant of successful producer
Successful FIA WRC2, WRC2 Challenger, WRC3 and Masters Cup drivers
 
FIA WRC Meet the Crews stay interviews and FIA Publish-event Press Convention broadcast on FIA and WRC social media channels.

RALLYE MONTE-CARLO MANUFACTURER ENTRIES

RALLYE MONTE-CARLO ADDITIONAL RALLY1 ENTRIES

RALLYE MONTE-CARLO 2024 RESULTS

RALLYE MONTE-CARLO RECENT WINNERS