Limited to seven events in 2020, the World Rally Championship is counting on a return to its cruising speed this season. For now, despite several changes caused by the health crisis, the 2021 calendar keeps a total of twelve rounds, the last of which is scheduled in Japan, in mid-November.
Calendar
As in previous years, the 2021 WRC season has started at the end of January during the Monte-Carlo. Subsequently, the Arctic Rally in northern Finland and the Rally Croatia had their baptism of fire in the world championship. It will be the same for the Ypres rally in Belgium, in the heart of August. As a result of the health crisis, the Chilean Channel has given way to the return of theAcropolis in Greece, while Rally Finland has been postponed at the beginning of October. Comprising twelve appointments, the current exercise should be conclude by two 100% asphalt tests, in Spain and Japan. In the event of a further change caused by the health crisis, four rallies are on the list of reservists (Turkey, Latvia, Monza, Argentina).
=> All the info on the calendar
2021 drivers ranking
- Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) – 61 pts
- Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) – 53 pts
- Elfyn Evans (Toyota) – 51 pts
- Ott Tänak (Hyundai) – 40 pts
- Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) – 39 pts
- Craig Breen (Hyundai) – 24 pts
- Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) – 24 pts
- Adrien Fourmaux (Ford) – 12 pts
- Gus Greensmith (Ford) – 12 pts
- Dani Sordo (Hyundai) – 11 pts
- Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda) – 6 pts
- Oliver Solberg (Hyundai) – 6 pts
- Teemu Suninen (Ford) – 5 pts
- Mads Ostberg (Citroën) – 2 pts
- Eric Camili (Citroën) – 1 pt
- Esapekka Lapland (Volkswagen) – 1 pt
- Pierre-Louis Loubet (Hyundai) – 0 pt
2021 team standings
- Toyota – 138 pts
- Hyundai – 111 pts
- M-Sport Ford – 42 pts
- Hyundai 2C – 28 pts
Drivers, co-drivers and teams
Aboard the Yaris WRC n°1, the French Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia constitute the reigning world champion crew. The Toyota team has two other drivers able to fight for the world crown, the Welshman Elfyn Evans, vice-champion in 2020, and the young Finn Kalle Rovenperä, son of Harri. In the ranks of Hyundai, two drivers claim the title, the Estonian Ott Tänak, crowned in 2019, and the Belgian Thierry neuville, five-time vice-champion. Behind these headliners, it is interesting to follow the trajectories of two young French pilots. Arrived last year in the premier category, Pierre-Louis Loubet, son of Yves, rides full time for Team 2C Competition in Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC. For his part, Adrien Fourmaux defends the colors of M-Sport and has just clinched a promising fifth place in Croatia in its first rally in Ford Fiesta WRC, a remarkable result that earned him the opportunity to get back behind the wheel at Rally Portugal from May 20 to 23.
=> All the information on the pilots, co-pilots and teams
TV programs
Since 2019, the Canal + group holds the rights to the World Rally Championship in France. All rounds of the season are broadcast. Usually, several specials are broadcast live on the various channels of the group, including the Power Stage, a timed event synonymous with bonus points at the conclusion of a rally. To see all the stages for each round, we must turn to the official discipline service, WRC + All Live, accessible by annual or monthly subscription.
=> All the information on the TV program
2020 drivers ranking
- Sébastien Ogier – 122 pts
- Elfyn Evans – 114 pts
- Ott Tänak – 105 pts
- Thierry Neuville – 87 pts
- Kalle Rovanperä – 80 pts
- Esapekka Lapland – 52 pts
- Teemu Suninen – 44 pts
- Dani Sordo – 42 pts
- Craig Breen – 25 pts
- Sébastien Loeb – 24 pts
2020 team ranking
- Hyundai – 241 pts
- Toyota – 236 pts
- M-Sport Ford – 129 pts
Plus d’infos Rallye WRC :
WRC 2021 calendar: rally dates and times
Rallye WRC 2021 TV program: live, unencrypted, channel, schedule, streaming …
Sébastien Loeb: a surprise return to the WRC at the wheel of a Ford?