WRC, Rally

FIA World Rally Championship: 14 rounds in 2019, season to begin in January; WRC 3 dropped

Paris, 13 October 2018: The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council which met here on Friday, approved a 14-round calendar for the World Rally Championship while dropping the WRC 3 category from the programme, while the total distance of Special Stages has been reduced from a maximum of 500 to a maximum of 350 Kms.

The 2019 FIA World Rally Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

27 January: Rally Monte Carlo

17 February: Rally Sweden

10 March: Rally Mexico

31 March: Rally France

28 April: Rally Argentina

12 May: Rally Chile

2 June: Rally Portugal

16 June: Rally Italy

4 August: Rally Finland

25 August *: Rally Germany

15 September: Rally Turkey

6 October *: Rally Great Britain

27 October *: Rally Spain

17 November *: Rally Australia

* Date subject to confirmation

DECISIONS IN A NUTSHELL

In order to give consistent identity to drivers and assist with promotion, Priority 1 drivers will be free to choose their permanent car number from 2019, except number 1, which will always be reserved for the reigning World Rally Champion.

As part of an overall cost reduction plan aimed at removing or reducing the cost of elements that do not add to the spectacle of the Championship, the number of test days will be reduced from 55 to 42 for WRC Manufacturer teams. The total distance of special stages has been reduced from a maximum of 500 to a maximum of 350 kilometres.

From 2019, the support championships will be restructured to help increase the number of entrants in Manufacturer Championships, to boost the number of factory supported drivers and cars, and further encourage private competitors to the WRC 2 and Junior WRC Championships. Building on the success of the R5 car, a new WRC 2 Pro Championship for Drivers, Co-Drivers and Manufacturers will be created as a platform for registered R5 manufacturers.

The same specification R5 car will continue to be used in the FIA WRC 2 Championship. This championship will be solely for private entrants, with the intention being to attract more drivers from national and regional championships.

In order to continue supporting the progression of young talent in the sport, the format of the Junior WRC Championship will remain unchanged. The WRC 3 Championship will cease from 2019 although competitors in two-wheel drive cars are still eligible to enter events.

The Championships will therefore be as follows:

FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers, Co-drivers and Manufacturers
FIA WRC 2 Pro Championship for Drivers, Co-drivers and Manufacturers
FIA WRC 2 Championship for Drivers and Co-drivers
FIA Junior WRC Championship for Drivers, Co-drivers and Nations.

– Source: fia.com

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