2024
Lighter, simpler and more affordable Rally1 cars take to the stages as the WRC’s flagship category, utilising 100 per cent sustainable fuel as they have since 2022, but without the plug-in hybrid units deployed over the past three years. As part of the rule change, the minimum weight of the cars has been lowered from 1260 kilograms to 1180 kilograms. To maintain an equivalent power-to-weight ratio between the 2024 and 2025 Rally1 cars, the air restrictor size has been reduced from 36mm to 35mm.
The allocation of championship points has been modified for 2025 to place a greater emphasis on winning events outright, while ensuring there’s still plenty to fight for on the Sunday of each rally. Points will now be allocated on a sliding scale of 25-17-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 to the top 10 classified finishers. A separate Sunday allocation of 5-4-3-2-1 will reward the top five according to the results of the final leg, while the fastest quintet on the Power Stage will score 5-4-3-2-1 points. Having been able to bank a maximum of 30 points in 2024, a driver winning the rally, topping the Super Sunday order and going quickest on the Power Stage can now secure 35 points.
Contested over 14 rounds compared to the previous 13, the WRC visits the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, Paraguay and Saudi Arabia for the first time, while Delfi Rally Estonia is back after running as part of the FIA European Rally Championship last season. Rally del Paraguay’s inclusion means two rallies in South America for the first time since 2019. The all-new Rally Saudi Arabia becomes the deciding round with Forum8 Rally Japan now the penultimate event of the year.
