What is the World Rally Championship?
The WRC is the FIA's world championship of rally — timed stages on real roads, snow to gravel to asphalt, from the Monte Carlo classic to Kenya's Safari, contested since 1973. Sébastien Ogier is the reigning champion, sealing a record-equalling ninth world title at the 2025 Saudi Arabia finale to draw level with Sébastien Loeb.[1] [2]
| Season | Pool / Format | Host cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) | Record-equalling 9th title — sealed in Saudi Arabia |
| 2024 | Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) | First title |
| 2023 | Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) | Back-to-back |
| 2022 | Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) | Youngest-ever champion, at 22 |
| 2021 | Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) | 8th title |
| 2020 | Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) | |
| 2019 | Ott Tänak (Toyota) | First non-French champion since 2003 |
| 2018 | Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport Ford) | |
| 2017 | Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport Ford) | |
| 2016 | Sébastien Ogier (Volkswagen) | 4th straight |
World Rally Champions of the last ten seasons.
How does it work?
Crews of driver and co-driver race the clock over dozens of closed stages per rally, with Rally1 hybrids atop a documented pyramid — WRC2, WRC3 and Junior WRC — and manufacturers' titles for Toyota, Hyundai and Ford's M-Sport. Points across the season's 13-plus rallies decide the championships.[1] [3]
Why does it matter?
Rally is motorsport on the world's real roads — its champions (the two Sébastiens above all) are legends of car control, and WRC results, stage times and titles are the sport's official record under the FIA.[2] [3]
References
- WRC — official site. Accessed August 2026.
- FIA — Ogier takes ninth FIA World Rally title. Accessed August 2026.
- WRC — Ogier crowned nine-time champion in Saudi Arabia. Accessed August 2026.