The FIA WRC3 is a support championship of the World Rally Championship.[1] The calendar consists of the same rallies and stages as the parent series and crews usually compete immediately after WRC2 entrants. Entry into WRC3 is limited to cars that are based on production models and homologated under Group Rally3 rules, although prior to 2022 Group Rally2 cars were used.[2][3][4] There are championship titles awarded to drivers and co-drivers. The series began in 2013 and was limited to production-based cars homologated under the R1, R2 and R3 rules, until its cancellation at the end of 2018. The current format of the series began in 2020.
| Category | Group Rally3 |
|---|---|
| Country | International |
| Inaugural season | 2013 |
| Tire suppliers | P |
| Drivers' champion |  Lauri Joona |
| Co-Drivers' champion | Enni Mälkönen |
| Official website | www |
 Current season | |
History
editFrom 2013 the previous Production World Rally Championship was cancelled and replaced by WRC-3.[5] With the introduction of Group R the new WRC-3 was contested by 2WD production based cars from R1, R2 and R3 classes. Teams and drivers competing in the series were free to contest any rallies forming the World Rally Championship. They had to nominate up to six events to score points in, and their best five results from these six events counted towards their final championship points score. From 2017 this was changed to nominating seven rounds of which their six best results counted.[6][7] In 2018, FIA announced that the World Rally Championship-3 was being discontinued,[8] with all WRC championships becoming four wheel drive with the exception of Junior WRC.[9]
The 2019 season saw the running of two championships in support of the World Rally Championship using Group Rally2 cars. These were known as WRC 2 Pro for professional crews and manufacturer teams, and WRC 2 for privateers. However, this multi-class structure was found to be too confusing, with customer drivers in WRC 2 Pro whilst manufacturer teams were unofficially supporting WRC 2 entries.[10] The categories were renamed again and the WRC3 name was revived in 2020. Professional crews would now contest WRC2 whilst privateers would contest the WRC3 where teams were not allowed to enter.[10] Stricter rules on entry eligibility were introduced in 2021 clarifying the line between professional and privateer.
In March 2021 the FIA announced that from the 2022 season WRC3 would be a Group Rally3 car based championship with Open and Junior category titles, also with championship titles for teams.[2] These two categories were reduced to just one WRC3 title for Drivers and Co-Drivers in 2023 with no provision for teams.
The 2022 FIA WRC3 Junior category consisted of Junior WRC, an arrive-and-drive style format competition organised by M-Sport. Crews born on or after 1 January 1993 registered for the championship and contested up to 5 rallies as set by M-Sport using Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars provided. This category was replaced by the restored FIA Junior WRC in 2023.
Rules
editIn 2023, WRC3 entries can be made in the name of the driver or competitor. Other than the use of Rally3 cars, there are no restrictions on entry eligibility. Crews can compete in any rally on the WRC calendar but must nominate beforehand any rally that will count towards their WRC3 championship up to a maximum of 5 rounds, with the best 4 results contributing to the championship points tally.
Power Stage points also contributed during the 2021 season but were removed for the following season.[4]
Results
editDrivers' Championship
editCo-Drivers' Championship
editTeams' Championship
edit| Season | Champion |
|---|---|
| 2022 | |
| 2020–2021 | Not awarded |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 |
References
edit- ^ "2023 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP – SPORTING REGULATIONS" (PDF).
- ^ a b "FIA Announces World Motor Sport Council Decisions". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "WRC3". WRC - World Rally Championship. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ a b "2021 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP – SPORTING REGULATIONS" (PDF).
- ^ "Exciting changes for 2013 WRC". WRC.com. WRC Official Website. 21 September 2012. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
- ^ "The WRC Lowdown: Support Championships". wrc.com. 10 January 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Exciting changes for 2013 WRC". WRC.com. WRC Official Website. 21 September 2012. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
- ^ "FIA announces World Motor Sport Council decisions". FIA.com. Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ "FIA announces World Motor Sport Council decisions". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ a b Evans, David (8 October 2019). "FIA steps up plan to simplify WRC into five-tier career ladder". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ FIA Prize Giving 2022. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 2 December 2022. p. 32.
External links
edit- Official website (in English, French, and Spanish)