2012 World Rally Championship season
Encyclopedia
The 2012 World Rally Championship season is the 40th season of the FIA
World Rally Championship
. The season will be run over thirteen rallies, beginning with the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo on 17 January.
in Singapore on 26 September 2011.
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
. The season will be run over thirteen rallies, beginning with the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo on 17 January.
Calendar
The 2012 calendar was announced at a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport CouncilFIA World Motor Sport Council
The World Motor Sport Council is the most powerful body of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It decides on rules and regulations for the FIA's various racing series, from karting to Formula One. Its membership is chosen by the FIA General Assembly, which contains representatives from...
in Singapore on 26 September 2011.
| Round | Finishing Date | Rally Name | Rally Base | Surface | Support Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17–22 January |  Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo |
SWRC/PWRC | ||
| 2 | 9–12 February |  Rally Sweden |
SWRC | ||
| 3 | 8–11 March |  Rally MexicoRally Mexico The Corona Rally Mexico, formerly known as Rally America is a round of the FIA World Rally Championship. The rally entered the championship schedule in the 2004 season. The event's itinerary is based in the state of Guanajuato... |
PWRC | ||
| 4 | 29 March–1 April |  Rally de PortugalRally de Portugal The Rally de Portugal is a rally competition held in Portugal. First held in 1967, the seventh running of the race, the 7º TAP Rallye de Portugal was the third event in the inaugural FIA World Rally Championship in 1973... |
SWRC | ||
| 5 | 27–29 April |  Rally ArgentinaRally Argentina The Rally Argentina is an Argentine rally competition that has been both a round of the World Rally Championship and also the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. The rally is also a round of the South American Rally Championship and the Argentine Rally Championship... |
PWRC | ||
| 6 | 25–27 May |  Acropolis Rally |
PWRC | ||
| 7 | 22–24 June |  Rally New ZealandRally New Zealand The Rally New Zealand was first held in Taupo in 1969, and was subsequently staged in Canterbury, before moving back to the North Island in 1971.The rally was included as a round of the World Championship in 1977... |
SWRC/PWRC | ||
| 8 | 2–5 August |  Rally FinlandRally Finland The Neste Oil Rally Finland is a rally event driven in the Jyväskylä area in Central Finland. It is the biggest annually organised public event in the Nordic countries, gathering over 500,000 spectators every year.... |
SWRC | ||
| 9 | 24–26 August |  Rallye DeutschlandRallye Deutschland The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is a rally event held in Germany. The event was first held in 1982 and originally hosted by e.g. Frankfurt, Mainz and Koblenz. In 2000, the rally was relocated to the region around Trier... |
PWRC | ||
| 10 | 13–16 September |  Wales Rally GB |
SWRC | ||
| 11 | 4–7 October |  Rallye de France Alsace |
SWRC | ||
| 12 | 18–21 October |  Targa Florio RallyTarga Florio Rally The Targa Florio Rally is a rally competition that has been a round of the World Rally Championship schedule in 2012 World Rally Championship season,. It not to be confused with Targa Florio.-Winners:-Pluri winners:-See also:... |
Enna-Pergusa Autodromo di Pergusa The Autodromo di Pergusa is an automobile and motorcycle circuit that encircles the only Sicilian natural lake, Pergusa Lake. The circuit is also known as Enna-Pergusa, as the lake is located near the city of Enna.... |
PWRC | |
| 13 | 1–4 November |  Rally of Spain |
SWRC/PWRC |
Calendar changes
- The Jordan RallyJordan RallyThe Jordan Rally is a rallying competition held in Jordan. It was a new addition to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar for the 2008 season, and the first occurrence of a WRC event in the Middle East. The rally was previously part of the Middle East Rally Championship...
was removed from the calendar. Rally Abu Dhabi was expected to be promoted in its place, but was omitted from the final calendar and given candidate status for future inclusion in the championship. - The Wales Rally GB was brought forward from its traditional November date to September, making Rally of Spain the season final.
- The Rally d'Italia was moved back from May to October. It will follow the route of the Targa Florio RallyTarga Florio RallyThe Targa Florio Rally is a rally competition that has been a round of the World Rally Championship schedule in 2012 World Rally Championship season,. It not to be confused with Targa Florio.-Winners:-Pluri winners:-See also:...
in SicilySicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, which was previously a round of the EuropeanEuropean Rally ChampionshipThe European Rally Championship is the European continental championship series in rallying. It is organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile .-History:...
and Italian Rally ChampionshipItalian Rally ChampionshipThe Campionato Italiano Rally is the main Rally championship that takes place in Italy and it's Islands....
s. - The Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo returns to the calendar after a three-year absence.
- The Rally New ZealandRally New ZealandThe Rally New Zealand was first held in Taupo in 1969, and was subsequently staged in Canterbury, before moving back to the North Island in 1971.The rally was included as a round of the World Championship in 1977...
replaced Rally AustraliaRally AustraliaRally Australia is an automobile rally event which was held in and around Perth, Western Australia from 1988 until 2006, when that state's tourism commission severed its collaboration with the event. The rally was part of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in 1988 and the World Rally Championship...
, in keeping with their event-sharing arrangement.
Teams and drivers
| Manufacturer teams | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Constructor | Car | Tyre | Drivers | Co-drivers | |
| Citroën Total World Rally Team |
Citroën Citroën Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that... |
Citroën DS3 WRC Citroën DS3 WRC The Citroën DS3 WRC is the World Rally Car built for the Citroën World Rally Team by Citroën Racing for use from the 2011 World Rally Championship season. It is based upon the Citroën DS3 road car, and replaces the highly successful Citroën C4 WRC... |
TBA | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
Jarmo Lehtinen Jarmo Lehtinen Jarmo Lehtinen is a Finnish sports commentator and journalist who works who works for Finland's National Broadcasting Company YLE. He commentates sports events, mainly football matches, for both radio and television. He regularly commentatos football for the Jalkapallokierros program in Radio Suomi... |
|
| TBA | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
Daniel Elena Daniel Elena Daniel Elena is a Monegasque rally co-driver, currently working with Sébastien Loeb. Between them, the pair have won the World Rally Championship eight times, and currently compete with the Citroën DS3 WRC... |
||||
| Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team |
Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC The Ford Fiesta RS WRC is the World Rally Car built for the Ford World Rally Team by Ford and M-Sport for use in the 2011 World Rally Championship season. It is based upon the Ford Fiesta road car, and will replace the Ford Focus RS WRC, which has been competing in various versions since 1999... |
TBA | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | ||||
| Mini WRC Team |
Mini MINI (BMW) Mini is a British automotive marque owned by BMW which specialises in small cars.Mini originated as a specific vehicle, a small car originally known as the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959, and developed into a brand encompassing a range of... |
Mini John Cooper Works WRC | TBA | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | ||||
| Major entries not registered as manufacturers | ||||||
 Czech Ford National TeamMartin Prokop Martin Prokop is a Czech rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in the 2009 season.-Career:... |
Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC The Ford Fiesta RS WRC is the World Rally Car built for the Ford World Rally Team by Ford and M-Sport for use in the 2011 World Rally Championship season. It is based upon the Ford Fiesta road car, and will replace the Ford Focus RS WRC, which has been competing in various versions since 1999... |
TBA | Martin Prokop Martin Prokop Martin Prokop is a Czech rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in the 2009 season.-Career:... |
Jan Tománek |
|
| TBA | Škoda Škoda Auto Škoda Auto , more commonly known as Škoda, is an automobile manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Škoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 2000, positioned as the entry brand to the group... |
Škoda Fabia S2000 Škoda Fabia S2000 The Škoda Fabia S2000 is Super 2000 rally car built by Škoda Motorsport. It is based upon the Škoda Fabia road car. It made its début at Rallye Monte Carlo 2009, with factory team Škoda Motorsport and drivers Jan Kopecký and Juho Hänninen. The car appeared as fast as Hänninen was leading until a... |
TBA | Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in... |
Julien Ingrassia Julien Ingrassia Julien Ingrassia is a French rally co-driver, currently working with Sébastien Ogier.-References:... |
|
Team and driver changes
- 2011 championship runner-up Mikko HirvonenMikko HirvonenMikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to...
and co-driver Jarmo LehtinenJarmo LehtinenJarmo Lehtinen is a Finnish sports commentator and journalist who works who works for Finland's National Broadcasting Company YLE. He commentates sports events, mainly football matches, for both radio and television. He regularly commentatos football for the Jalkapallokierros program in Radio Suomi...
moved from the Ford World Rally Team to Citroën. - Sébastien OgierSébastien OgierSébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in...
was released from his three-year contract with Citroën after just one season. Ogier later joined VolkswagenVolkswagenVolkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
to develop the Polo R WRCVolkswagen PoloThe Volkswagen Polo is a supermini car manufactured by Volkswagen. It is sold in Europe and other markets worldwide in hatchback, saloon, coupé and estate variants....
for their 2013 WRC entry, while contesting a full 2012 WRC schedule in a Škoda Fabia S2000Škoda Fabia S2000The Škoda Fabia S2000 is Super 2000 rally car built by Škoda Motorsport. It is based upon the Škoda Fabia road car. It made its début at Rallye Monte Carlo 2009, with factory team Škoda Motorsport and drivers Jan Kopecký and Juho Hänninen. The car appeared as fast as Hänninen was leading until a...
. - Martin ProkopMartin ProkopMartin Prokop is a Czech rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in the 2009 season.-Career:...
, who previously competed in the Super 2000 World Rally ChampionshipSuper 2000 World Rally ChampionshipThe FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship or S-WRC, is a companion rally series to the World Rally Championship, and is driven on the same stages. S-WRC is limited to production-based cars homologated under the Super 2000 rules...
, will take part in ten rallies driving a Ford Fiesta RS WRCFord Fiesta RS WRCThe Ford Fiesta RS WRC is the World Rally Car built for the Ford World Rally Team by Ford and M-Sport for use in the 2011 World Rally Championship season. It is based upon the Ford Fiesta road car, and will replace the Ford Focus RS WRC, which has been competing in various versions since 1999...
. - Kimi RäikkönenKimi RäikkönenKimi Matias Räikkönen , nicknamed Iceman, is a Finnish racing driver, who will drive in Formula One for Lotus in . After nine seasons racing in Formula One, in which he took the Formula One World Drivers' Championship, he competed in the World Rally Championship from 2009-2011.Räikkönen entered...
returned to Formula One2012 Formula One seasonThe 2012 Formula One season will be the 63rd FIA Formula One season. 2012 will be the penultimate year of the current 2.4 litre V8 engine configuration, before being replaced by more environmentally friendly 1.6 litre V6 turbo engines in 2014...
.