Ott Tänak is gearing up for the upcoming WRC Rally Estonia by competing in the Louna-Eesti Ralli, also known as the South Estonian Rally, this Saturday. The Estonian rally ace will pilot the Ford Puma Rally1 machine as he fine-tunes his preparations for the FIA World Rally Championship round.
Browsing: WRC
In a stunning announcement, Toyota Gazoo Racing team principal Jari-Matti Latvala will put his leadership duties on hold to compete in the 2023 Rally Finland, marking his first-ever outing in a Rally1 machine. This one-off appearance will provide the Finnish rally legend an opportunity to experience the latest WRC cars in competition, a desire he has expressed for some time.
In a significant move, WRC2 world champion Emil Lindholm has announced his switch to Hyundai Motorsport, leaving Toksport WRT after their successful partnership. Lindholm and co-driver Reeta Hämäläinen have been recruited for the re-launched Hyundai Motorsport Driver Development Programme, marking a new chapter in their WRC journey.
In a surprise move, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT has announced that Finnish rally driver Teemu Suninen will join their team to drive the third Hyundai i20 N Rally1 car at the upcoming Rally Estonia and Rally Finland events. Suninen, accompanied by co-driver Mikko Markkula, will be part of Hyundai’s Driver Development Programme as they look to contribute to the car’s development alongside the Hyundai i20 N Rally2.
The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) is set to make its long-awaited return to the Middle East, following a 10-year deal with Saudi Arabia to host the final round of the 2025 championship. The event will feature a mix of mountain and desert roads around Jeddah, adding a new dimension to the championship’s storytelling.
In a move to elevate the World Rally Championship’s (WRC) television coverage, Italian helmet supplier Stilo has created a helmet camera system, similar to those used in Formula 1, to provide a raw driver’s-eye view of the action. This innovative technology aims to deliver an immersive experience for WRC fans worldwide.
As the WRC and FIA strive to introduce more varied event formats, this weekend’s Sardinia rally will trial a new compact sprint format, marking a significant departure from the traditional four-day events. This innovative approach is part of the FIA’s vision for the future of rallying and could become an option for other organisers in the near future.
Hyundai’s WRC title-leading crew of Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe took on the notorious Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, navigating the 73-turn track as if it were a WRC rally stage, driven by pacenotes. This unprecedented move offered a unique insight into the art of pacenote making and the preparation of a top-level WRC crew.
Zero, a cutting-edge synthetic fuel producer, is gearing up to test its innovative fuel in the motorsport arena for the first time this autumn. The company, founded by industry veterans, is poised to power a Porsche 991 rally car in the French Rally Championship, marking a significant step in its journey to transform the future of sustainable mobility.
The WRC Promoter is set to unveil its plans for the 2023 season and beyond, including initiatives to boost the championship’s promotional efforts and technical regulations. With key stakeholders gathering for a crucial meeting, the future of the World Rally Championship hangs in the balance as it navigates a period of uncertainty.