The mega entry list includes crews from across five
continents representing 21 different nationalities, all of whom will pilot
identical Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evos exclusively equipped with Pirelli tyres and
Wolf Lubricants. Of the 19-strong field, a whopping 13 are newcomers.
Action begins next month on the snow and ice of Sweden (15 –
18 February) before the Tarmac twists of the Croatia Rally (18 – 21 April).
Gravel fixtures in Italy (30 May – 2 June), Finland (1 – 4 August) and Greece
(5 – 8 September) round out the season.
Wolf Stage Wins will once again be a unique aspect of the
championship with a single championship point awarded for every stage win in
2024. Double classification points will also be on offer at the season-ending
EKO Acropolis Rally Greece for drivers who enter at least three Junior WRC
rallies in 2024.
Up for grabs is a life-changing prize comprising an arrive
and drive package to contest four European rounds of the 2025 FIA World Rally
Championship in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 car, the natural progression from Junior
WRC. The champion will also have the option to compete in two additional
European rounds at a subsidised rate.
Maciej Woda, FIA Junior WRC Championship Manager, said:
“The number of entries we received this year exceeded our expectations. This
remarkable turnout not only underscores the Junior WRC’s strong appeal, but
also highlights its global significance and its role as a key platform for
emerging rally talent. All of this is a testament to the hard work and
dedication shown by the whole Junior WRC and M-Sport Poland team and, without
them, none of this would be possible.
“The international representation and the results seen in
2023 affirm that the Fiesta Rally3 Evo is an excellent car for young drivers.
Now we look forward to some more great action and exciting battles in 2024!”
Introducing the Class of 2024:
Nataniel Bruun (BOL) / Pablo Olmos (ARG)
At just 18 years old, Bruun is the youngest driver in the
FIA Junior WRC field. He has rallied a Kia Rio Proto extensively in his native
Bolivia and posted a top-three stage time on his FIA Junior WRC debut in Greece
last year.
Eamonn Kelly (IRL) / Conor Mohan (IRL)
Kelly graduated to FIA Junior WRC in 2023 having claimed the
Junior British Rally Championship title the previous year. A consistent drive
earned him his sole victory on what was only his second WRC rally in Croatia.
Diego Dominguez (PRY) / Rogelio Peñate (ESP)
One of the most experienced drivers in the field, Dominguez
celebrated podium finishes on four out of five events in 2023. He finished
runner-up to William Creighton, falling short of the title by just eight
points.
Gerardo Rosselot Valenzuela (CHL) / Marcelo Brizio (ARG)
Rosselot made his FIA World Rally Championship debut on home
soil last year in Chile. Like many of his peers, he has never rallied on snow
before and will complete a pre-event test in Rovaniemi, Finland, ahead of round
one in Sweden.
Raúl Hernández (ESP) / José Murado (ESP)
Hailing from Lanzarote, Hernández was named as the ‘Best
Driver in the Canary Islands 2022’. He started three Junior WRC rounds in 2023,
a fifth-place finish in Sweden being his best result.
Roberto Blach (ESP) / Mauro Barreiro (ESP)
Having claimed multiple national titles in his native Spain,
Blach graduated to Junior WRC in 2023 and finished fourth in the series. A trio
of fastest stage times in Croatia were proof of the 27-year-old’s impressive
speed on asphalt.
Tom Rensonnet (BEL) / Loïc Dumont (BEL)
One of Belgium’s brightest young stars, Rensonnet hopes to
follow in the footsteps of his countryman and current WRC driver Thierry
Neuville. Podiums in Croatia and Greece last year were highlights during his
debut season.
Jakub Matulka (POL) / Daniel Dymurski (POL)
Brand-new to Junior WRC but with plenty of experience in the
Fiesta Rally3, Matulka has been driving M-Sport-built machinery since very
early in his career. He started an impressive 17 rallies in 2023 and finished
second overall in the ERC3 championship.
Petr Borodin (KAZ) / Roman Cheprassov (KAZ)
Borodin dipped his toe into WRC competition during 2023 when
he drove a Fiesta Rally3 in Finland as well as at Central European Rally. He
has claimed numerous outright victories on national rallies in his native
Kazakhstan.
Bruno Bulacia (BOL) / Gabriel Morales (BRA)
With impressive speed and South American flair, Bulacia has
been competing regularly in WRC2 over the past two years. The 2024 season marks
his first foray into Junior WRC. He is the younger brother of fellow WRC2
regular Marco.
Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMN) / Ata Al-Hmoud (JOR)
Al-Rawahi, who hails from Oman, is the reigning FIA Middle
East Rally Champion. He became the first driver to share the title after he
tied for points in a dead heat with multiple MERC champion Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Fabio Schwarz (DEU) / Bernhard Ettel (AUT)
Son of former works driver and WRC rally winner Armin,
Schwarz boasts vast experience despite being just 18 years old. He steps up to
Junior WRC in 2024 having previously competed in events across Latvia, Estonia
and his native Germany.
Mille Johansson (SWE) / Johan Grönvall (SWE)
A product of the FIA Junior ERC, 2024 marks Johansson’s debut
in Junior WRC. In 2023 he successfully campaigned a front-wheel drive Ford
Fiesta Rally4.
Norbert Maior (ROU) / Francesca Maior (ROU)
Brother and sister duo Norbert and Francesca Maior earned
their place in this year’s championship by securing the FIA Junior ERC title in
2023. They have not previously competed on the world stage.
Taylor Gill (AUS) / Daniel Brkic (AUS)
Coming all the way from Australia, Gill is one of four new
entrants from the FIA Rally Star programme. In 2023 – his first year of
international competition, the 20-year-old finished every rally he started.
Romet Jürgenson (EST) / Siim Oja (EST)
Winner of FIA Rally Star’s European competition, Jürgenson
showed blistering speed when he drove a Fiesta Rally3 on various rallies across
Europe in 2023. His best result – third overall at MAHLE Rally Nova Gorica –
saw him outperform several drivers with Rally2 cars.
Max Smart (ZAF) / Cameron Fair (GBR)
Smart began his career in motocross but switched to rallying
after winning FIA Rally Star’s African continental final in 2022. He is
co-driven by Cameron Fair, who guided Jon Armstrong to last year’s ERC3
championship title.
Jose 'Abito' Caparó (PER) / Esther Gutierrez (ESP)
Like Smart, Caparó had never rallied before he won the FIA
Rally Star American final. Impressive performances in 2023 earned the Peruvian
a place in this year’s Junior WRC and he has new co-driver Esther Guitierrez
alongside.
André Martinez (PER) / Guillermo Sierra Ovalle (PER)
Martinez is another newcomer to Junior WRC. He made his FIA
World Rally Championship debut at last year’s Rally Chile Bío Bio where he
finished 25th overall and 12th in his class.