Chris Ingram To Contest Rally Monte-Carlo

Chris Ingram has announced he will make his return to the WRC at the 2024 running of Rallye Monte-Carlo. 

A Return 

Chris Ingram has been absent from WRC2 competition since the 2023 running of Rallye Monte-Carlo. Ingram intended to run more than just one event. However, the 29-year-old couldn’t get the budget to do so. This left Ingram without a drive last season. Fortunately, he was able to find the money to compete at select European Rally Championship and other national championship rounds in a Volkswagen Polo R5. Since winning the 2019 ERC championship, Ingram hasn’t found much luck. As the Brit has only won at two national events since then. Ingram’s most notable accomplishment last season was contesting Sebastien Loeb at a French national event. Both drivers were in Volkswagen Polo R5’s. Loeb ultimately won, whilst Ingram finished third overall. 

Looking For More

Currently, Chris Ingram heads into Rallye Monte-Carlo with the same lookout as he did last season. As Ingram has only been confirmed to contest Monte-Carlo with the Racing Factory team. However, it is expected Ingram will contest more events as the season goes on. What events those are will be revealed in due time, if there are any. Ingram will also contest the Jänner Rallye in Austria this weekend as a test for Monte-Carlo. It’s a hope from British rally fans that Ingram will find the budget to contest more events. 

What To Expect From Ingram 

Chris Ingram finished 6th in the WRC2 class at the Rallye Monte-Carlo next season. However, he was also driving a last generation Sköda Fabia R5. This time around he will drive the new Sköda Fabia Rally2. However, this likely won’t affect his results much. As he will have a tough time beating out the likes of Oliver Solberg among other WRC2 championship contenders. However, as with anything to do with rally, anything can happen on the stages. 

Earlier this week Toyota Gazoo Racing announced the Yaris Rally2 has been officially homologated. 

Can Officially Be Used 

The Toyota Yaris GR Rally2 can officially be used at FIA events this upcoming season. This was expected as Toyota had already started selling the Yaris Rally2 before it was officially homologated. The new version of the Yaris will give Toyota the chance to develop drivers in a car under their own company. As previously they have either used cars from other manufacturers or signed drivers from other teams. Toyota will use this platform to build its next generation of stars. 

Who Will Drive The Yaris Rally2

The full list of drivers that will drive the car for the upcoming season is unknown. However, we do know a few that will contest Rallye Monte-Carlo in the car. This list includes Bryan Bouffier, Sami Pajari, Stephen Lefebvre and Jan Solans. It’s expected this list will grow come January 8th when the official start list for Rallye Monte-Carlo is announced. Solans has already announced he will contest a full WRC2 campaign in the Yaris Rally2. 

What To Expect From The New Toyota

Obviously, the biggest goal for Toyota is to challenge and best Sköda this upcoming season. However, Sköda won’t go down easy. As they have already confirmed Oliver Solberg will drive for the team. Pajari and Solberg battled for position in the WRC2 championship last season. However, Solberg was arguably the fastest driver in WRC2 last season. He just didn’t have the luck to finish out some events. Pajari is entering his second season of competition in WRC2. He is one of the WRC’s best up-and-coming stars. Toyota may have themselves a future World Rally Champion in Pajari. If they play their cards correctly. Who will join Pajari as a Toyota driver in WRC2 is unknown. Lefebvre may be that driver. 

Earlier today Sami Pajari confirmed his plans for the 2024 World Rally Championship season. 

A New Team 

Sami Pajari will leave Toksport for the 2024 WRC2 season and join Printsport. Pajari finished seventh in the WRC2 championship, five points behind Oliver Solberg. Pajari will drive a brand new Toyota Yaris GR Rally2. The 22-year-old was expected to move on from Toksport at the end of last season. As Toyota made their interest in the 2021 Junior World Rally Champion. 

What To Expect From Pajari

Sami Pajari will look to build off a strong first season in WRC2. He will look to challenge for both the WRC2 and WRC2 challenger championships. How the Toyota Yaris GR Rally2 will hold up against the Skoda Fabia Rally2 is unknown. However, the car is believed to be a championship contender. Pajari showed rapid growth throughout the 2023 season. He even managed to take home his first WRC2 event win at his home event of Secto Rally Finland. He also challenged Oliver Solberg for the class win at Rally Chile Bio Bio. 

How Many Events Will Pajari Do? 

Sami Pajari confirmed he will contest a full season. It’s unknown if he meant all 13 rounds of the 2024 World Rally Championship season or just the 7 required for the WRC2 championship. Pajari will kick off his 2024 campaign at the legendary Rally Monte-Carlo later this month. From there he will likely do Rally Sweden. He may choose to skip Safari Rally Kenya in March, however, attending the difficult event would be good for his future in the sport. As Pajari knows he’s already on the radar of WRC teams, gaining valuable experience at events like Safari Rally Kenya could go a long way for him. Especially if he puts up a good result at the event. 

The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team have announced their 2024 driver line-up. Find out all you need to know below. 

The Drivers 

The 2024 M-Sport Ford WRT lineup consists of two familiar faces. Those faces are Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster. Both Fourmaux and Munster drove a Puma Rally1 last season. With Munster competing at Rally Chile Bio Bio and the Central European Rally in the car. While Fourmuax competed in Rally Japan. 

Adrien Fourmaux 

It’s no surprise that Adrien Fourmaux is once again getting a chance behind the wheel of a Rally1 car. As the Frenchman was demoted to the WRC2 championship at the end of a disappointing 2022 season. However, Fourmaux seemed to have found himself in 2023. As he went on to win the British Rally Championship with M-Sport. Becoming the first Frenchman to win the championship. Fourmaux also aided M-Sport in developing the Fiesta Rally2 car. Fourmaux didn’t win any WRC2 events last season. Although he did come close in Italy. However, an off on the last stage costed him the event win. 

Grégoire Munster 

Grégoire Munster is a bit of a surprise. As he was expected to get a part-time drive with the team and compete at Rallye Monte-Carlo. However, a full-time drive was unexpected. Munster has even said himself that he wasn’t fully ready for it. Add that to a comment from higher-ups at M-Sport made just last month about Munster becoming their main driver for WRC2 and it leaves some question marks. Sure Munster put up a strong performance at the Central European Rally. However, why rush him into a spot he’s not ready for? Sure Munster could’ve changed his mind, if that’s the case then okay. However, if he was still on the edge why give him a full-time seat? 

Why These Drivers?

M-Sport had a very slim selection of drivers to pick from. As the team relies on drivers willing to pay for a drive as opposed to paying drivers to drive. Only on rare occasions will M-Sport pay a driver to drive for the team. Fourmuax has the backing of Redbull to sponsor a full-time drive. While Munster will be backed by Jourdan Serderidis and other sponsors. 

Oliver Solberg has announced his plans for the 2024 World Rally Championship season. Find out all you need to know below. 

What Are Solberg’s 2024 Plans?

Oliver Solberg will once again pilot a Sköda Fabia for the 2024 World Rally Championship season. This is the same car he used last season on his way to finishing 6th in the WRC2 championship. Solberg had some promising drives last season. He was also arguably the fastest driver at every round he competed in. Which ended up being all but two rounds, the Central European Rally and Rally Japan. Solberg claimed wins at Rally Sweden and Rally Chile. 

A Slight Disappointment

It had been rumoured that Solberg was a contender to get a drive with M-Sport next season. However, that obviously didn’t happen. M-Sport had previously talked to Solberg before the 2023 season after he and Hyundai parted ways. However, M-Sport’s offer wasn’t what Solberg was looking for. Instead the then 21-year-old opted to drive the WRC2 class for the season. In hopes a strong performance would land him a slot back in a Rally1 car. The reason why Solberg didn’t get a drive with M-Sport this season is likely due to sponsorships. As Solberg is sponsored by Monster Energy whilst M-Sport is sponsored by Redbull. Nevertheless, the goal heading into this season will be the same as last season, try to win the WRC2 championship and try to land a Rally1 drive for 2025. 

What To Expect From Solberg 

Oliver Solberg is one of the WRC’s best young drivers. Being only 22 years old, Solberg has shown loads of skill so far in the WRC. The exact list of rallies the Swede will compete in is unknown. However, he has made it known he intends on running as many events as possible again this season. Solberg will make his first appearance of the 2024 season at the Rallye Montecarlo next month. From there he will likely look to go back to back at his home event in Sweden. From there everything is up in the air. 

Earlier this week the Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT announced the final two drivers for their 2024 WRC lineup. 

He’s Back! 

Andreas Mikkelsen will return to the top level of rally for the 2024 season. The 2023 WRC2 was in talks with Hyundai for a spot during 2023 after Craig Breen passed away. However, Hyundai decided to go a different route and Mikkelsen took part in the WRC2 championship for Toksport. Mikkelsen last drove at the top level of rally in 2019 with Hyundai. Mikkelsen won the WRC2 championship just two years later. Since then Mikkelsen has been the most deserving driver to get a rally1 drive. Well, he will get that chance this season at select events. 

Back For Another Season With Hyundai

Dani Sordo’s future with Hyundai was questionable. As the Spaniard didn’t even know what his plans for 2024 were at Forum8 Rally Japan. Sordo did say he would do at least one outing in a Rally1 car in 2024. However, from there it was all question marks. Sordo will provide Hyundai with a safety net throughout the season. Something he has proven time and time again in 2022 and 2023. 

What Events Will They Do?

Hyundai would say in their press release that Lappi will get snow and fast gravel events. Sordo will get rough gravel and Mikkelsen tarmac. There could be some room for changes throughout the season. However, based on what Hyundai has said each driver will do the following. Mikkelsen will do Montecarlo, Croatia, Central Europe and Japan. Lappi will do Sweden, Poland, Finland, Latvia and potentially Chile. That leaves Sordo doing Kenya, Italy, Portugal, and Greece. Obviously, things can change throughout the season as previously mentioned. As Lappi may not want to do all the fast events or Chile for example. 

Why Three Drivers For Hyundai?

Lappi, Sordo and Mikkelsen are each good in their own respective ways. One thing they all share in common is the fact that they can challenge for a podium when needed. It’s no secret Hyundai is targeting both the manufacturer and drivers championships. Hyundai also knows to achieve this they need a safety net in case Neuville or Tänak fail to finish an event. All three drivers have previously won events and finished on the podium numerous times. All three drivers also know their role on the team and what the objective is. They also don’t take unnecessary risks. Only time will tell how having three drivers share a car works out. 

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has switched up the style palette for 2024 as they ditch the dominant white livery for a more blacked out design. The design have more of an edgy presence to them which seems to be the direction many teams are headed for in 2024. Bold and definitive seems to be the new look.

The reveal came on the same day the team announced their 2024 motorsport team setups. The announcement came from “Morizo” (Chairman Akio Toyoda), Tomoya Takahashi, President of GAZOO Racing Company, and the drivers leading the TGR activities in Japan joined the attendees. He gave the following speech.

Chairman Akio Toyoda’s Speech on the 2023 Season

“In the 2023 season, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing won eight titles!

Morizo hates to lose too often…
Therefore I am as delighted as you could expect with eight titles.
I’m so happy! To the team, to the drivers, and to the fans, thank you so much! Now the phrase “hate to lose” has become our slogan.

In Rally Finland, Kalle Rovanperä said to me “We hate to lose” after he went off couse and showed that we never give up. Not only the drivers, but also everyone in the whole team hates to lose!
I felt that this common understanding is the secret to our strength!

Why do I hate to lose too often? The other day, I looked back at my past.
I remembered a scene at the Nurburgring when I was being overtaken by other cars. This scene was the origin of my ‘hate to lose’ mentality! This scene was the origin of my ‘hate to lose’ mind! The cars that overtook me were new vehicles developed by European manufacturers…and I was driving an 80 Supra, which had already gone out of production and sales…I felt that the cars that overtook me were saying “Toyota will never make such a car like this…” It’s frustrating to remember even now… This frustration was my origin.

Since then, I have been determined to make a car like that! I have been working hard to achieve this.
That’s the reason I’ve continued my driving training.
Even though I am not an engineer, I wanted to participate in car development somehow, which is why I took action.”

Toyoda Continued

“It took almost 20 years, and now I really have a lot of friends.
Not only drivers but also engineers and mechanics.
We share our frustrations… and we fight in motorsport.
We are all friends trying to make a car that was said to be “impossible” to make at the time.

To win in motorsports, you have to make a car that is easy to drive together.

I believe that the eight titles are exactly the result of our ability to make such cars.”

Earlier this week Citroen announced their 2024 WRC2 driver lineup. A lineup which includes a new face along with a familiar one. 

A Familiar Face

Yohan Rossel will once again drive for Citroen in WRC2 after a strong showing in 2023. Rossel ended the season third in the championship. Ending the season 7 points behind Gus Greensmith. Rossel won 2 events last season, tying him with Oliver Solberg and Gus Greensmith for the second-most wins. The 28-year-old Frenchman showed the Citroen C3 can still compete with the likes of Sköda and M-Sport, despite not being as up-to-date. 

A New Face 

Yohan Rossel will have a teammate this season. As Citroen will expand their WRC2 program from one to two cars. Joining Rossel will be Nikolay Gryazin. Gryazin finished fourth in the championship, 8 points behind Rossel. Gryazin drove for Toksport last season. The 26-year-old took home no wins last season. Grayzin did finish on the podium 4 times last season. Including three second places. Gryazin will give Citroen another championship challenger. As Gryazin is one of the WRC’s best up-and-coming drivers. 

What Events Will The Drivers Do?

Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin’s schedules still have yet to be confirmed. However, it is believed both drivers will debut at Rallye Monte-Carlo next month. From there Rossel will likely compete in most of the same events as last season. Gryazin competed in all but two events last season. This gave Gryazin valuable experience at the events. However, that likely won’t happen this season as Citroen has less funding than Toksport. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Grayzin competed in Montecarlo, Croatia and Japan again. As he finished second at all of those events last season. Rossel heads into Rallye Monte-Carlo as the reigning winner in the class. This comes after Gryazin received a penalty for corner cutting which dropped him out of the rally lead. 

Earlier this week it was announced Kalle Rovanperä would contest a part-time campaign in 2024. What could this mean for the WRC? Find out below.

A New Champion

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. With Rovanperä only competing at select events he won’t be able to win the championship. Unless he competes at say 10 of the 13 events, which is something he sounds as if he doesn’t want to do. Meaning there will be a “new” champion in 2024. The term “new” is used loosely as Ott Tänak has a strong chance at winning another championship. Although his last and only title win came in 2019. The battle for the championship will likely be a three-horse race. As Hyundai drivers Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville will battle it out with Elfyn Evans from Toyota. 

How It Benefits The WRC

There is a silver lining that makes the Rovanperä move to part-time a good one for the WRC. The part of this that benefits the WRC is basically the same thing as the above section. As a prolonged title fight equals more fan interest throughout the season. Fans don’t want to watch a title fight that they can guess the result of before the season even starts. Before Rovanperä, if you guessed Ogier or Loeb would win the championship, you were most likely correct. In 2024 we will get a taste of what it was like before the Sebastien domination. As before the mid-2000s the championship was pretty much anybody’s to win. 

Does Rovanperä Move To Part-Time Say Anything About The WRC

To be honest, no Rovanperä wanting a part-time drive next season doesn’t say much about the WRC. As Rovanperä had a very good reason for wanting to do a part-time drive. That reason being he has driven rally cars for the past 15 years with no real breaks. Like anyone when you do something for that long you get tired of it. Rovanperä also wants to explore other motorsports while he’s still young. He’s not really interested in chasing Loeb’s nine-championship record, or at least anytime soon. 

The Underlying Facts 

Kalle Rovanperä going to part-time isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the WRC. As if not only allows a new champion to be crowned. It also allows him a break to hopefully pursue rally into his late 30’s. At the end of the day, Rovanperä will be missed, however, if he needed a break he needed a break. For him why wait? He has nothing to lose. He’s the best driver in the WRC currently. A year off isn’t going to change that. 

The fourth and final day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Andreas Mikkelsen held on to take the WRC2 class win.

SS17, Asahi Kougen 1

Andreas Mikkelsen topped the first stage of Forum8 Rally Japan’s final day. As Mikkelsen would set a time 1.9 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin on the stage. Kajetan Kajetanowicz rounded out the top three on the stage, finishing 18.5 seconds slower than Gryazin. 

SS18, Ena City 1

Andreas Mikkelsen also took the stage win on the second stage of the day. Posting a time 22.8 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to win his second stage of the day. Kajetan Kajetanowicz finished third fastest on the stage, 1 minute and 31.5 seconds slower than Gryazin. 

SS19, Nenoune Kougen 1

Andreas Mikkelsen yet again took the stage win on the nineteenth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. As the Norwegian set a time 5.6 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to win his third consecutive stage. Kajetan Kajetanowicz once again rounded out the top three on the stage, finishing 28.5 seconds slower than Gryazin. 

SS20, Ena City 2

Andreas Mikkelsen also took the stage win on the fourth stage of the day. Posting a time 18.2 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to win his fourth consecutive stage. Kajetan Kajetanowicz finished third fastest on the stage, 57.8 seconds slower than Gryazin. 

SS21, Nenoune Kougen 2

Nikolay Gryazin stopped Mikkelsen’s win streak by taking the stage win on the 21st stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. Gryazin set a time 7.1 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen to win the stage. Kajetan Kajetanowicz rounded out the top three on the stage, 7.6 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. 

SS22, Wolf Power Stage Asahi Kougen 2

Nikolay Gryazin also took the final stage win of the event. Posting a time 8.3 seconds faster than Kajetan Kajetanowicz to win his second stage of the day. Andreas Mikkelsen finished third fastest on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz.