The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) is set to be a season of excitement, innovation, and intense battles as the world’s best rally drivers compete across 14 rounds, spanning four continents. With new technical regulations, an expanded calendar, a fresh points-scoring system, and a new official tyre supplier, the 2025 WRC promises to deliver an unforgettable year of rallying action.
Technical Regulation Changes
The 2025 season introduces lighter, simpler, and more affordable Rally1 cars, designed to maintain a thrilling competition while reducing costs. The minimum weight of the cars has been reduced from 1260 kilograms to 1180 kilograms, ensuring that the vehicles are more agile and responsive on the challenging rally stages. To maintain the power-to-weight ratio, the air restrictor size has been reduced from 36mm to 35mm, which will require teams to adapt their engine management strategies. Rally1 cars will continue to use 100% sustainable fuel, as they have since 2022, demonstrating the WRC’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Hankook Tire takes over from Pirelli as the WRC’s official tyre supplier for the 2025 season, bringing a fresh perspective and new challenges for the teams and drivers. The company will provide the Ventus Z215 soft and super soft tyre, along with the i*Cept SR20 snow tyre for the season opener, Rallye Monte-Carlo, ensuring that the competitors have the best possible performance in the varying conditions. For gravel rounds, Hankook will introduce the Dynapro tyre, which has been specifically designed to withstand the rigors of loose surface rallying. Drivers will need to adapt to the new tyres, which are expected to offer slightly lower overall grip levels compared to previous years, adding an extra dimension to the already demanding task of navigating the rally stages.
Expanded Calendar and New Destinations
The 2025 WRC calendar features an impressive 14 rounds, an increase from the previous season’s 13 events, offering fans more opportunities to witness the thrilling action. The championship will visit four continents, showcasing the diversity and global appeal of the sport, and bringing the excitement of rallying to new audiences around the world.
The WRC will make its highly anticipated debut in the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, Paraguay, and Saudi Arabia, adding fresh challenges and unique landscapes to the already diverse calendar. These new additions will test the drivers’ adaptability and provide a platform for the local fans to experience the WRC’s high-octane action firsthand.
EKO Acropolis Rally Greece, a classic event known for its demanding gravel stages, returns to its traditional late June slot, last occupied in 2005. This move will ensure that the rally takes place in more favorable weather conditions, allowing the drivers to push their limits on the picturesque Greek stages.
Delfi Rally Estonia, a fast-paced event characterized by its smooth gravel roads and high-speed jumps, is back on the calendar after being part of the FIA European Rally Championship in the previous season. The Estonian round has consistently delivered exciting battles and will undoubtedly be a highlight of the 2025 season.
Rally del Paraguay’s inclusion marks the first time since 2019 that the WRC has featured two rallies in South America, demonstrating the championship’s commitment to expanding its presence in the region. The Paraguayan event will offer a unique challenge, with its combination of technical gravel stages and stunning scenery.
The all-new Rally Saudi Arabia will serve as the deciding round of the championship, adding an element of unpredictability to the title fight. The Saudi Arabian stages will test the drivers’ navigation skills and endurance, as they tackle the vast desert landscapes in pursuit of glory.
Forum8 Rally Japan, known for its narrow and twisty asphalt stages, becomes the penultimate event of the season, ensuring that the championship battle remains intense until the very end.
Revamped Points-Scoring System
The allocation of championship points has been modified for the 2025 season to place a greater emphasis on winning events outright while still ensuring competitive battles throughout the season. The new system will award points on a sliding scale of 25-17-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 to the top 10 classified finishers, providing a significant incentive for drivers to push for victory in each rally.
In addition to the overall classification points, a separate Sunday allocation of 5-4-3-2-1 will reward the top five finishers based on the results of the final leg. This change will ensure that the Sunday stages remain highly competitive, with drivers battling for every available point until the very end of the rally.
The fastest five drivers on the Power Stage, a short and intense stage that concludes each rally, will score 5-4-3-2-1 points, adding an extra layer of excitement and strategy to the championship battle. A driver who wins the rally, tops the Super Sunday order, and goes quickest on the Power Stage can now secure a maximum of 35 points, up from 30 in the previous season, making each event even more crucial in the pursuit of the championship title.
Rallye Monte-Carlo: The Season Opener
The iconic Rallye Monte-Carlo, now in its 93rd edition, will kick off the 2025 WRC season in style from January 22-26. The event, known for its unpredictable weather conditions, with ice and snow often adding to the difficulty of the mountain roads, will test the drivers’ adaptability and skill from the very start of the season.
The inconsistent grip levels on the Monte Carlo stages will require the competitors to make crucial tire choices and adapt their driving styles to suit the ever-changing conditions. The ability to read the road and anticipate the grip levels will be key to success on this demanding event.
The rally will cover a total of 343.80 competitive kilometres spread across 18 stages, with the city of Gap serving as the event’s base for the second consecutive year. Thursday’s opening leg will feature three stages run after dark, totaling 54.16 timed kilometres, providing a stern test for the drivers right from the outset.
Friday’s route includes three repeated stages and a midday service halt in Gap, covering 107.34 competitive kilometres. The repeated stages will allow the drivers to refine their pace notes and make necessary adjustments to their cars, while also offering the opportunity to make up for any lost time from the previous day.
Saturday’s leg, centered on the Drôme department, offers a grueling 131.40 timed kilometres across two loops of three new stages. These stages will be uncharted territory for the drivers, requiring them to rely on their pace notes and instincts to navigate the challenging roads.
The deciding leg on Sunday consists of 50.90 kilometres divided between three stages, with the La Bollène-Vésubie/Peïra-Cava Power Stage set to begin at 12:15. The Power Stage will offer additional championship points and serve as a final opportunity for drivers to make their mark on the season opener.
Factory Teams and Driver Lineups
The 2025 WRC season will see the return of the three major factory teams – Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, and Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team – each fielding a strong lineup of drivers and co-drivers.
Defending world champion Thierry Neuville will lead the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, sporting the prestigious #1 on his Hyundai i20 N Rally1. The Belgian driver, known for his consistency and speed, will be looking to defend his title and add to his impressive tally of WRC victories. Neuville will be joined by the experienced Estonian Ott Tänak and new addition Adrien Fourmaux, who makes the switch from M-Sport Ford for the 2025 season.
At the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, Grégoire Munster enters his second full season at the Rally1 level as the team’s most experienced driver. The young Belgian showed promise in his debut season and will be looking to build on that momentum in 2025. Joining Munster is Josh McErlean, a product of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, who steps up from the FIA WRC2 category to pilot the second Ford Puma Rally1. McErlean’s promotion is a testament to his talent and potential, and he will be eager to make his mark on the world stage.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team boasts an impressive lineup, with eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier aiming for a record-breaking 10th Rallye Monte-Carlo victory. The Frenchman, widely regarded as one of the greatest rally drivers of all time, will be contesting a partial event schedule for 2025, focusing on selected rounds where he has a strong track record. Double champion Kalle Rovanperä returns for a full season after going part-time in 2024, and the young Finn will be looking to reclaim the championship title he won in 2022.
Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta, and FIA WRC2 champion Sami Pajari complete Toyota’s five-strong factory lineup in the GR Yaris Rally1 cars. Evans, a consistent performer and multiple rally winner, will be targeting a championship challenge, while Katsuta and Pajari will be looking to showcase their speed and potential on the world stage.
2025 WRC Season Launch in Monaco
The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship was officially launched on Sunday, January 19, at the iconic Casino Square in Monaco. The glamorous event, set against the backdrop of the principality’s famous casino, brought together the biggest names in rallying to celebrate the start of the new season.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, WRC Promoter CEO Jona Siebel, and representatives of the Automobile Club de Monaco inaugurated the ceremony, underlining the importance of the WRC to the global motorsport community. The launch event also paid tribute to the late Didier Guillaume, the serving Minister of State of Monaco, who passed away on January 17.
One of the highlights of the evening was the introduction of Hankook as the exclusive official WRC tyre supplier for the 2025 season. The Korean manufacturer’s entry into the championship marks a significant milestone and brings a fresh dynamic to the competition.
The Rally1 manufacturers and their participating crews were also presented to the assembled media and guests, with notable firsts such as Thierry Neuville sporting the #1 on his Hyundai, Adrien Fourmaux in Hyundai colours, Sami Pajari as a full-time Toyota driver, and Josh McErlean making his Rally1 debut with M-Sport Ford. The drivers expressed their excitement and determination to succeed in the upcoming season, with each team confident in their preparations and the performance of their cars.
Looking Ahead…
The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship promises to be a season of thrilling changes, fierce competition, and unforgettable moments. With new technical regulations designed to enhance the spectacle and reduce costs, an expanded calendar featuring exciting new destinations, a revamped points-scoring system that places a greater emphasis on winning, and a fresh tyre supplier in Hankook, the stage is set for an intense battle among the world’s best rally drivers and teams.
As the season kicks off with the challenging Rallye Monte-Carlo, fans can look forward to 11 months of exhilarating action across snow, ice, asphalt, dirt, and gravel, as the competitors vie for the coveted world championship titles. The new Rally1 cars, with their reduced weight and revised aerodynamics, will provide a stern test for the drivers, while the introduction of Hankook tyres will add an extra dimension to the strategic battle.
The expanded calendar, featuring 14 rounds across four continents, will showcase the diversity and global appeal of the WRC, with new events in Gran Canaria, Paraguay, and Saudi Arabia adding fresh challenges and opportunities for the teams and drivers. The return of classic events such as EKO Acropolis Rally Greece and Delfi Rally Estonia will provide a nostalgic touch, while the all-new Rally Saudi Arabia promises to be a fitting finale to the season.
With a strong lineup of factory teams and drivers, including defending champion Thierry Neuville, eight-time champion Sébastien Ogier, and a host of young talents such as Kalle Rovanperä, Sami Pajari, and Josh McErlean, the 2025 WRC season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and exciting in recent memory.
As the cars roar into life on the streets of Monte Carlo, the anticipation and excitement for the season ahead will reach fever pitch. The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship is ready to deliver a spectacle like no other, showcasing the skill, bravery, and determination of the world’s best rally drivers and teams. It promises to be a season that will be remembered for years to come, as the WRC continues to
