Kalle Rovanperä will once again have a chance to win the Driver’s’ Championship at the Central European Rally this weekend.
How Rovanperä Can Win
Kalle Rovanperä has a strong chance at taking home his second consecutive Drivers’ Championship this weekend. All Rovanperä has to do is the following to win the championship. Score equal to or more points than Elfyn Evans. Alternatively, if Rovanperä scores 1 point less than Evans he will also win the championship via countback. However, if he wins this way, the championship likely won’t be awarded until Rally Japan.
How Evans Can Stay In The Battle
Elfyn Evans also won’t have the hardest of times stopping Rovanperä from winning the championship this weekend. As all he needs to do is score 2 points more than Rovanperä to remain in the championship race. However, even if Evans scores the 2 points needed to stay in the championship hunt it likely won’t matter. As that will only put Evans 29 points behind Rovanperä. This means Rovanperä will likely win the championship in Japan next month. As at that point the only way Evans could win the championship is if he wins Rally Japan and places second or higher on the Powerstage and Rovanperä retires.
Rovanperä’s To Lose
Given everything previously mentioned, Kalle Rovanperä has practically won the drivers’ championship. There’s about an 80% chance Rovanperä will claim the championship this weekend. Yes, the amount of points Evans needs to stop Rovanperä from winning is slim. However, Rovanperä is head and shoulders the best driver in the championship currently and Evans won’t have an easy time beating Rovanperä this weekend. The battle will come down to experience. Evans has more experience, especially under pressure. While Rovanperä really doesn’t. Evans needs to hope he pressures Rovanperä into a mistake or Rovanperä makes a mistake on his own.
Earlier this week Pierre-Louis Loubet announced his new co-driver for the Central European Rally, find out who it is below.
Who Is It?
Pierre-Louis Loubet goes from an experienced WRC co-driver in Nicolas Gilsoul to a less experienced former WRC co-driver. As Loubet will be joined by Benjamin Veillas for the Central European Rally next weekend. Veillas has a bit of history within the WRC. As he has previously co-driven for Eric Camilli in WRC1 and WRC2. He also spent last season up until Rally Japan co-driving for some guy named Sebastien Ogier. Veillas only has 1 WRC win under his belt and an additional podium. Both with Ogier last season.
A Bit Of History
Veillas started his co-driving career in 1997. He pretty much exclusively did rounds of French rally championships but never found much success in the championships. Nonetheless, in 2015 Veillas got his big break. Joining Eric Camilli in WRC2 for the season. Veillas still co-drives occasionally for Camilli now. The duo found mixed success in WRC2, claiming a handful of podiums and 3 WRC2 event wins. In 2022 Veillas joined Sebastien Ogier for the season. The duo had decent results, finishing top five at all but one event.
Why Did Loubet Choose Veillas?
The exact reason why Loubet chose Veillas will likely remain unknown. However one of the bigger factors as to why Veillas was chosen probably has to do with his nationality. Veillas is French, much like Loubet. In the past, Loubet has had decent results with a French co-driver. Experience likely didn’t play much of a part in why Loubet chose Veillas. However, it doesn’t seem like the Loubet and Veillas partnership will be a long-term thing. As Veillas is 45 and will be 46 in February. While Loubet is 26 and will be 27 in February. Veillas likely isn’t going to co-drive for much longer. Which raises the question of why Loubet chose him. When he could’ve chosen a younger co-driver who’s around his age to build experience with. Much like those before him have. The answer to that question is probably availability. Loubet had to find a co-driver in relatively short notice as far as we are aware. As it’s likely Loubet’s decision to split from Gilsoul came after Rally Chile BioBio, which was less than a month ago.
The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team announced earlier today that Adrien Fourmaux will drive a Rally1 Puma for the team at Rally Japan.
Getting A Chance
Adrien Forumaux will get another chance in a Rally1 car at Rally Japan. Forumaux hasn’t driven a Rally1 car since Rally RACC Catalunya last season. Forumaux and M-Sport decided to cut his season short after the Frenchman had a poor showing all season long. Including 3 retirements due to crashes in the first 5 events of the season. M-Sport called this Fourmaux’s reward for winning the British Rally Championship this season. However, that’s likely just a cover-up for the actual reason Fourmaux is getting the opportunity. As it has been speculated Fourmaux will drive for the team next season in a Rally1 car. Fourmaux may be getting the opportunity in the car in Japan for M-Sport to see if he’s improved. Alternatively, it’ll also be a chance for Fourmuax to get back used to the car before next season.
Filling In For Loubet
Adrien Fourmaux’s opportunity to drive a Rally1 car again comes with a slight catch. As Fourmaux will fill in for Pierre-Louis Loubet whose last event will be the Central European Rally. The decision for Loubet to end the season after the Central European Rally was made after EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. M-Sport and Loubet hope the extended break will allow Loubet to concentrate on getting everything ready for the start of the 2024 season in Monte-Carlo. This may also be the first sign that Loubet will be with M-Sport once again next season. Loubet’s future with M-Sport was in question after the Frenchman started a rumor that the team would leave the WRC next season. However, that rumor was quickly put to bed by the team. M-Sport could roster a team of Loubet and Forumaux as full-time drivers with guys like Grégoire Munster being part-time, among other WRC2 drivers.
Earlier today (October 19th) the World Rally Championship revealed the calendar for the 2024 season. Find out more below.
The Calendar
- Rallye Monte-Carlo 25-28 January
- Rally Sweden 15-18 February
- Safari Rally Kenya 28-31 March
- Croatia Rally 18-21 April
- Vodafone Rally De Portugal 9-12 May
- Rally Italia Sardegna 30 May-2 June
- Orlen 80th Rally Poland 27-30 June
- Tet Rally Latvia 18-21 July
- Secto Rally Finland 1-4 August
- EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 5-8 September
- Rally Chile BioBio 26-29 September
- Central European Rally 31 October-3 November
- Forum8 Rally Japan 21-24 November
New Additions
As previously confirmed Rally Poland and Tet Rally Latvia are being added to the 2024 World Rally Championship calendar. Rally Poland is a returning event that was last run in 2017. While Tet Rally Latvia is making its World Rally Championship debut after being a European Rally Championship mainstay for years. Both events are fast gravel events somewhat like Rally Estonia which has been removed from the 2024 calendar. Rally Poland and Tet Rally Latvia will be part of back-to-back-to-back fast gravel events. With the legendary Secto Rally Finland being the third event.
Taken Off The Calendar
Rally Estonia and Rally Mexico are the only events taken off the 2024 World Rally Championship calendar. Both events were expected to be taken off. As Mexico was known to be a one-off event before it even took place this season. While it was also known Rally Estonia would be absent from the 2024 calendar.
Neither event being absent from the calendar is a surprise. It’s disappointing that two fan-favorite events are taken off the calendar but you can’t always get what you wish for. Rally Mexico has a chance to return in the near future, however, it’s unlikely with a WRC event in the United States seemingly around the corner. As for Estonia, it’ll likely only be a matter of time before the event is back on the calendar. However, it likely doesn’t top the list of events that will return or be added to the calendar in upcoming seasons.
Event Changes
The only major change to the World Rally Championship calendar in 2024 is the time Safari Rally Kenya runs. Since its return to the WRC in 2021 the event has run in June. However, up until 1998, the event ran on Easter Weekend.
Ott Tänak’s departure from M-Sport raises a question, will there be any other big moves this WRC silly season?
Toyota
Toyota doesn’t seem like a candidate for any big moves this silly season. As it seems Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans will stay with Toyota. Sebastien Ogier has already confirmed he will stay with the Japanese manufacturer. Takamoto Katsuta also likely isn’t leaving Toyota next season. Keeping all their current drivers seems like Toyota’s preferred option. As they currently hold three of the top five drivers in the championship. Along with the youngest champion in WRC history that is only getting better.
Hyundai
As for Hyundai, Thierry Neuville was the only driver for next season who had a contract before Tänak and Ogier received theirs. Dani Sordo, Esapekka Lappi and Teemu Suninen are all question marks. As with only three confirmed cars for next season, and two of which are occupied by Tänak and Neuville that leaves one car for the three drivers. Most likely Lappi and Suninen will split the car next season. However that all depends on Sordo. If Sordo wants the seat he will get it. Leaving Suninen or Lappi without a seat. In that scenario, Suninen will most likely get the seat. There has been talk of Hyundai getting a fourth car for next season. However, that likely won’t clear up this issue. As the fourth car will likely be used to help a young driver learn the ropes in a Rally1 car like Emil Lindholm.
M-Sport
M-Sport has no drivers confirmed for next season, and nobody is really tied to a Rally1 drive. As it sounds like the relationship between M-Sport and Pierre-Louis Loubet isn’t good and likely won’t continue. Adrien Fourmuax will likely return to Rally1 action next season with M-Sport. Other than that it’s been surprisingly quiet from M-Sport. Andreas Mikkelsen may get a drive with the team. However, it sounds as if M-Sport wants to go down the route of giving younger drivers the opportunity to drive a Rally1 car.
To Answer The Question
To put it simply, no there likely won’t be any other big moves this WRC silly season. Unless one comes out of nowhere which is unlikely. You could say the Tänak move back to Hyundai was unexpected so anything can be expected. However, that isn’t necessarily true. As it was suspected Tänak would leave M-Sport at the end of the 2023 season if a better opportunity presented itself.
What Drivers Could Move Around?
As for drivers who could actually move around this off-season, there’s a short list of them that are expected. To get the previously mentioned drivers out of the way, Esapekka Lappi, Pierre-Louis Loubet and Adrien Fourmuax are all candidates to be moved. Along with that trio, there are WRC2 Drivers Andreas Mikkelsen, Grégoire Munster, Oliver Solberg, Gus Greensmith and Emil Lindholm are moved up to a Rally1 car. To be clear, not all the WRC2 drivers mentioned can move up to a Rally1 drive as there are only so many seats. However, it’s hard to know who will get a seat if any of them will. It’s also worth noting there may be a driver that wasn’t listed that moves up unexpectedly.
With Pierre-Louis Loubet switching co-drivers it raises a larger question, does the Frenchman have a spot in the WRC next season?
Loubet’s 2023 Season
Pierre-Louis Loubet hasn’t necessarily been living up to expectations this season. Although it is only his first full WRC season, the Frenchman showed some promise in 2022. As Loubet finished top five twice last season and was on pace to win EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. That was until a mechanical issue ended his hopes. Loubet hasn’t managed to finish top five at all this season. With his highest finishes being sixth at Rally Sweden and Rally Estonia. Loubet has suffered a mechanical issue or crashed out of 6 of the 11 events so far this season. His 2023 season is reminiscent of Adrien Forumaux’s 2022 season. As both drivers are talented they just haven’t been able to find themselves in the top level of the WRC.
What Could Be Next?
Loubet likely won’t continue with M-Sport next season. As Loubet has made some unfavorable comments about the team and started a large rumor about the team leaving the championship next season. Loubet may get the same treatment as Oliver Solberg, Gus Greensmith and Adrien Fourmuax are getting this season. That treatment is the WRC2 treatment. As Solberg, Greensmith and Fourmuax all got pushed down to WRC2 at the end of last season to help them develop and find themselves. Something Loubet needs to do. WRC2 may not be a bad thing for Loubet. As it will allow him to work out his kinks in a car that is much simpler to drive and handle compared to the Rally1 car.
Who Could Loubet Drive For?
If Loubet and M-Sport part ways and Loubet wants a WRC2 drive he will likely get a good bit of interest. Chances are Loubet will end up with one of Toksport, Toyota, some Citroen team or go back to Hyundai. Sköda and Toyota would give Loubet the best chance at winning. However, Loubet has more experience in Hyundai rally cars. As he drove a Hyundai i20 WRC before joining M-Sport.
It’s been reported that the new tire supplier for the 2025 World Rally Championship season and beyond will be decided later this week.
When Will It Be Decided?
The decision on what tire supplier the World Rally Championship will use for the 2025 season and beyond will be decided during the FIA Motor Sport Council on October 19th. It’s unknown if the new tire supplier will be announced at the same time. Although it likely will be, the WRC promoter may choose to keep it secret for the time being, however. As the 2024 World Rally Championship calendar is also rumoured to be coming out around that time.
Who Are The Candidates?
The full list of candidates for the new WRC tire supplier is unknown. However, we do know of three at this point in time. Those being MRF Tires, Hankook and Michelin. Michelin was the tire supplier for the WRC up until 2020. It was favoured by many of the drivers including Sebastien Ogier who isn’t a fan of the Pirelli’s that are used now. MRF Tyre has been successful in the European Rally Championship. Winning the team’s championship the last two seasons. Hankook hasn’t found much success in any FIA Rally Championship to this point.
Why Only One Tire Supplier
The main reason the World Rally Championship uses one tire supplier is to create fairness between all teams. It wouldn’t be fair for a team with more budget like Toyota to use a higher quality tire than a team with less money like M-Sport. This way it ensures every team will have the same choice of tires at any given event. It’s also easier for the WRC promoter to work with one tire supplier to build the best possible tire for the championship. Sure you could make the case that more suppliers would be better for the WRC in some ways. But that would be another way for teams to get a leg up on one another.
Pierre-Louis Loubet has announced he and Nicolas Gilsoul have parted ways just 11 rounds into the 2023 WRC season.
That Was Fast
Pierre-Louis Loubet brought on Nicolas Gilsoul as his co-driver at the beginning of the 2023 World Rally Championship season. Unfortunately for Loubet and Gilsoul, they haven’t been able to get the results they were hoping for. As Gilsoul was hoping to help Loubet become the WRC star that he could be. However, the highest the duo finished this season was sixth at both Rally Sweden and Rally Estonia. It’s disappointing for Gilsoul who is a 5-time vice champion co-driver in the World Rally Championship. Gilsoul was the former co-driver for Thierry Neuville before the duo parted ways at the end of the 2020 WRC season.
What Went Wrong?
What went wrong between Gilsoul and Loubet is unknown. It is known the Belgian co-driver messed up a pace note at Rally Chile BioBio ending Loubet’s event. However one miscall isn’t likely enough for Loubet to consider another co-driver, especially mid-season. Gilsoul is an extremely talented co-driver and Loubet is a talented driver. So why the duo didn’t work out as expected is unknown. Sure Loubet’s Puma hasn’t been reliable but that isn’t Gilsoul’s fault. Truthfully we will probably never know why the two parted ways. It could just be a case of Loubet wanting to try another co-driver. However, why he would do it less than two weeks before the start of the Central European Rally is unknown.
When Could Loubet’s New Co-Driver Be Named?
Pierre-Louis Loubet didn’t name a new co-driver but he likely will sometime in the next week. As the Central European Rally starts in just 13 days. Loubet likely already has a general idea of who his next co-driver will be, and I personally wouldn’t be surprised if it was somebody French. However, that’s just a guess. There is also a chance Loubet will use a co-driver for the Central European Rally and then swap to the co-driver he plans on using in 2024 for Rally Japan to end the season. As most good co-drivers are likely tied up and with such short notice Loubet wouldn’t have many options.
With Rally Poland confirmed to be returning to the World Rally Championship next season, did the WRC make the right choice?
Why Poland Is Returning
The answer to why Rally Poland is returning to the World Rally Championship is quite simple. They needed another event for the 2024 calendar, but why? There were rumors that Saudi Arabia and the USA were options for the WRC next season. However that changed, as the USA event is still a work in progress, but will likely be on the 2025 calendar. Rally Poland serves as a filler round for the year. As it’s unlikely it will run on the WRC calendar in 2025. Was Poland the right choice of rally for this?
Why It Was
Rally Poland is the second oldest rally in history, with Rallye Monte-Carlo being the first. For the WRC in its 51st season history is important. That isn’t necessarily why Rally Poland was chosen, however. It has more to do with the event being ready to go, and in Europe. It also fits the opening in the calendar perfectly. As it will run just one week after Safari Rally Kenya ran this year. With Safari Rally Kenya being run in March for the 2024 season they needed a rally that fit the time frame perfectly. Rally Poland was the event that could do that. It’s also an event both the WRC and FIA have experience with. As Poland has been a mainstay on the European Rally Championship for years now and was a WRC event from 2014-2017.
Why Rally Poland Wasn’t The Best Choice
Rally Poland suffers from being too similar to other events on the WRC calendar. The event is fast gravel roads, something that Latvia and Finland already provide, so why add another? It doesn’t make sense, especially seeing as the events will be run back-to-back-to-back. If Poland wasn’t so similar to Latvia and Finland or if it was run at a different time point it wouldn’t be much of an issue. But to run three similar events in a row it can get boring for fans. Especially when there are other countries that should get a WRC event.
What Other Events Should’ve Been Added?
There’s gonna be many different viewpoints to this, as there always are when talking about what events the WRC should add. Personally, I have a few picks. I would’ve liked to have seen the WRC split up the gravel mid-season with a tarmac event, and I’m not even a huge fan of tarmac events. Ypres Rally Belgium would’ve been a good option for the championship that runs in June like Poland will. There are also events like the Tour De Corse, and RACC Rally Catalunya that could’ve been run. Sure they would be run outside of the normal timeframe for those events so they may not have been the best choice. Sticking
with Gravel the WRC also had options there, namely an event in Ireland or the UK. Something that fans have been asking for since the event went off the calendar in 2019. One of those events would have given the WRC calendar a bit of change in between the two fast events. It also likely would’ve brought a lot more eyes to the sport itself.
Adrien Fourmaux seems like a lock to get a Rally1 drive again next season, but has he done enough to earn another chance?
Fourmaux’s 2023 Season
Adrien Fourmaux has had a decent season in WRC2 and a great one in the British Rally Championship. Fourmaux currently sits 6th in the WRC2 Championship. Having competed in all 7 point-scoring rounds he’s allowed, Fourmaux can only go lower. The French driver only claimed 1 podium this season, which was a 2nd at Secto Rally Finland. He was on pace to win the class at the Rally Italia Sardegna, however, an accident would stop that from happening. In the British Rally Championship Fourmaux won all 5 events he competed in to take home the championship. Becoming the first French driver to win the championship. Fourmaux will compete at the Central European Rally later this month to gain experience as he can no longer score WRC2 championship points.
Has Fourmaux Earned A Chance?
On the surface, Fourmaux seems like he still has a bit to go to get another chance in a Rally1 car. He wasn’t really competitive in WRC2. Sure he was around 5th place consistently at every event, but nothing has really stood out to say he should be the first in line to get another chance. Guys like Andreas Mikkelsen and Oliver Solberg should likely get a chance before Fourmaux does. However, Fourmaux seems like a lock to drive for M-Sport next season. As the team needs drivers, Pierre-Louis Loubet will likely stay with the British team. However, from there, it’s all open.
WRC2 Isn’t Rally1
Even if his WRC2 stats haven’t been something that screams he should get another chance, he will likely get a chance. Which isn’t a bad thing and nobody will hold it against Forumaux. As at the end of the day, nothing done in WRC2 really matters for Rally1. The gap between the cars is night and day, you could drive a perfect season in WRC2 and then go and not even finish top five in a Rally1 car the next season. The Rally1 cars are hybrid and have much more aerodynamics than the WRC2 cars. The only way Forumaux will become a good WRC driver is by driving a Rally1 car. WRC2 used to be a decent scale on whether or not a driver would do good in a top car. Now it really isn’t. Truthfully Fourmaux has the skill and ability to be a good top-level driver in the WRC. He just needs to get experience with the car and at the events.