WRC 2021 calendar: Finland postponed! (rally dates and times)

[Mis à jour le 20/04/2021 à 11h50] Like the previous exercise, WRC’s 2021 season greatly disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Despite everything, it was launched in January during the Rallye Monte-Carlo, scene of Sébastien Ogier’s 50th WRC victory.

A month later, the rally sweden, canceled due to the health crisis, has been replaced by the Arctic Rally, played in the north of Finland, allowing to keep a race on snow on the calendar. Moreover, it is officially in the absence of an agreement with Wales or Northern Ireland that the rally of Great Britain must give way to the month of August at Ypres rally, promoted from reservist to titular. The famous Belgian event has a second opportunity to make its WRC debut, August 13-15, after its cancellation in November 2020, due to the pandemic.

As a new change linked to the health crisis, Chile must give up and leave its time slot from mid-September to the mythical Acropolis rally, also on the initial reserve list. The Greek event contested near Athens has not been seen in the world championship since 2013. To date, this year’s program therefore shows twelve rallies, including ten in Europe, while four others are in reserve (see bottom of page). Obviously, it is still subject to change, depending on the evolution of the sanitary restrictions in force in each country.

The 2021 calendar of the world rally championship is the first to be established according to the constraints linked to the pandemic. Bad news for rally fans in France, the fabulous tarmac of Tour de Corse is still left by the side of the road. At the beginning of spring, we notice the arrival of a unprecedented event in Croatia, on asphalt, the series of European rounds being completed by the rallies of Portugal and Sardinia on gravel. The first long trip will take place at the end of June in Africa, Kenya, on the occasion of the famous Safari Rally, the last edition of which dates back to 2003. During the summer, the Estonia rally is repeated after a successful first edition at world level.

The mythical Finland rally, canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, finds its place in the 2021 calendar. However, it has also just been postponed, to maximize its chances of welcoming spectators as health restrictions change. Initially scheduled from July 29 to August 1, the famous Rallye des 1000 Lacs is now scheduled from September 30 to October 3. The 2021 exercise is due to end with Spain in October and Japan in November, as part of two new events organized entirely on asphalt. In addition to the twelve rallies registered on this provisional calendar, four others are currently credited with a reservist status, in Turkey, Latvia, Italy (Monza) and Argentina. All these dates are subject to confirmation at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (CMSA) of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). Generally, the route of a rally is revealed about four months before it is held. To date, among the trials to come from spring, we know the times of the rallies in Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Sardinia and Kenya.

Find out below the identity of the 12 meetings making up the WRC 2021 calendar (dates and times) and the 4 reservists.

January 21-24, 2021: Rallye Monte-Carlo (asphalt / snow)

14 special stages (ES) – 257.64 km

Thursday January 21: at 2:08 p.m. and 3:06 p.m. (SS1 and SS2)

Friday January 22: 6:10 a.m. to 1:38 p.m. (SS3 to SS7, SS8 canceled)

Saturday 23 January: 6:30 a.m. to 12:08 p.m. (ES9 to ES11)

Sunday January 24: 8:30 a.m. to 12:18 p.m. (SS12 to SS15)

Canceled: Rally Sweden (snow)

Scheduled for February 11-14, 2021, the Swedish rally is officially canceled due to the health crisis. It is replaced by a round on snow in northern Finland, the Arctic Rally, at the end of February.

February 26-28, 2021: Arctic Rally – Finland (snow)

10 special stages (ES) – 251.08 km

Friday February 26: at 2:08 p.m. and 5:38 p.m. (SS1 and SS2)

Saturday February 27: 8:08 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. (SS3 to SS8)

Sunday February 28: at 9:08 a.m. and 12:18 p.m. (SS9 and SS10)

23-25 April 2021: Rally Croatia (asphalt)

20 special stages (ES) – 300.32 km

Friday April 23: 8:39 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (ES1 to ES8)

Saturday April 24: 8:29 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. (ES9 to ES16)

Sunday April 25: 7:20 a.m. to 1:18 p.m. (SS17 to SS20)

May 21-23, 2021: Rally Portugal (gravel)

21 special stages (ES) – 346.26 km

Friday May 21: 9:08 a.m. to 8:03 p.m. (SS1 to SS8)

Saturday May 22: 9:08 am to 8:03 pm (ES9 to ES15)

Sunday 23 May: 8:08 a.m. to 1:18 p.m. (SS16 to SS21)

June 4-6, 2021: Rally Italy – Sardinia (gravel)

20 special stages (ES) – 305.32 km

Friday June 4: 7:50 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. (SS1 to SS8)

Saturday June 5: 8:08 am to 6:43 pm (ES9 to ES16)

Sunday June 6: 8:08 a.m. to 12:18 p.m. (SS17 to SS20)

June 24-27, 2021: Rally Kenya (gravel)

18 special stages (ES) – 320.77 km

Thursday June 24: at 12:08 p.m. (SS1)

Friday June 25: 6:20 a.m. to 1:58 p.m. (ES2 to ES7)

Saturday June 26: 6:08 a.m. to 2:22 p.m. (SS8 to SS13)

Sunday June 27: 5:56 a.m. to 11:18 a.m. (SS14 to SS18)