WRC youngsters prepare to battle it out

The 2008 Junior World Rally Championship (J-WRC) competition kicks off on the forthcoming Rally Mexico, and this year’s series looks set to be a belter.

The J-WRC is the first step on the ladder for the WRC stars of tomorrow. Sebastien Loeb, P-G Andersson, Dani Sordo and Urmo Aava are just four of the names who cut their rallying teeth in the category, and this year at least 17 competitors - all aged 28 or younger - will be out to prove they are worthy successors.

The word ‘Junior’ doesn’t mean the rallying is any less exciting. Nor does it mean the drivers are any less talented. Far from it. They are quite simply ‘young drivers in small cars’.

And don’t be fooled into thinking their 1600cc two-wheel-drive cars are any less exciting that their 4WD cousins; the Super 1600 cars pack a lot of power under their bonnets - mostly over 230 horsepower.

Want to learn more about the J-WRC competition? Then follow the links on the left to read the season guide and Rally Mexico J-WRC preview.