WRC reveals spectacular expanded 2025 calendar

WRC A-Z

Aerodynamics

WRC cars have spoilers, splitters and other shaped panels on the bodywork to direct cool air around the engine, gearbox and brakes and help keep the car firmly on the road – or flying level – at high speed.

ALS

Anti-Lag System, which keeps a car’s turbocharger spinning to ensure there is always turbo boost.

Ceremonial start

Usually held on a Thursday evening when crews drive onto a podium, greet the fans and give a short interview before making way for the next car. Ceremonial starts often take place against spectacular backdrops or in the centre of the host city.

Co-driver

The navigator in the passenger seat who gives a running commentary through an intercom to the driver about directional changes and road conditions ahead.

Dampers

An essential part of a rally car’s suspension. Each car has four – one connected to each wheel hub. Dampers absorb bumps in the road and keep the tyres in contact with the surface as often as possible.

Damper Settings

Rally car dampers are adjustable to provide different characteristics. At the simplest level they can be soft or hard, but other factors like rebound or ride-height can also be altered. Drivers are able to adjust damper settings between stages. The degree of change is usually measured in ‘clicks’ of the adjuster wheel.

Driver Safety

The crew sits inside a super-strong protective cell surrounded by a roll cage. They strap themselves in with six-point wide-strap safety belts, similar to those used in military fighter planes. The car also features side-impact protection and has an automatic fire extinguisher system and the crew wear flameproof overalls and underwear, safety helmets and a head and neck support system (see HANS device).

Driveshaft

The part of the transmission which transfers drive from the front or rear differential to the wheel. Each four-wheel drive rally car has four.

FIA

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the Paris-based governing body for worldwide motorsport which regulates and controls the World Rally Championship. Visit www.fia.com

Flying Finish

The end of a stage where the timing stops.

Gravel Crews

On asphalt rallies, priority drivers are supported by a safety crew which passes through the stages in advance of the competitors to report back on weather and surface condition, which may have changed following reconnaissance.

HANS

HANS (Head and Neck Support) is a safety device worn by WRC drivers and co-drivers to reduce the risk of head and neck injuries by restraining head movement in the event of a crash. It attaches to the competitor's helmet and rests on their shoulders beneath the safety harness.

Homologation

The administrative process by which a car is approved for a vehicle class such as Rally1, Rally2 and Rally3. A homologated car is one that conforms to FIA regulations for motorsport, and the appropriate application has been made by the manufacturer and accepted by the FIA. Once this has taken place an official set of homologation papers is issued by the FIA for that car, detailing the permitted parts and specifications.

Hybrid

In WRC, 'hybrid' refers to the generation of Rally1 cars which featured hybrid powertrains. These cars combine traditional internal combustion engines with a cutting-edge hybrid unit to enhance performance, efficiency and sustainability. Hybrid technology allows Rally1 cars to recover energy during braking which can then be deployed under acceleration to provide an additional power boost.

Itinerary

The official schedule of the rally which outlines exactly when and where everything takes place. The itinerary includes timings for things like the start ceremony, special stages, service halts and other key events.

Junior WRC

The WRC’s young talent series, formerly called the WRC Academy. Learn more about Junior WRC.

Light Pods

Auxiliary lighting units mounted on rally cars, typically on the front bumper or bonnet. Light pods feature high-intensity lights that are designed to increase visibility during WRC stages taking place under darkness.

A designated area where journalists can interact with the drivers and gather information to cover the rally. The media zone is usually located near to the competitors’ service park entrance, allowing media personnel the chance to catch up with the drivers at the end of morning and afternoon loops.

Pace notes

A system of shorthand used by the co-driver to describe the road ahead to the driver, including the severity of the corners and any hazards such as potholes or jumps. Their accuracy allows the driver to anticipate the upcoming corners and adjust the car’s speed accordingly. Pace notes are made during pre-event recce.

WRC-Rallye-Monte-Carlo-2025_KATSUTA_653.JPG
© WRC

Parc Fermé

A car described as being in parc ferme is under the control of the organisers and must not be worked on by the competitors or their mechanics, engineers or any other member of the team. A car usually enters parc ferme at the end of each rally day and at the end of the rally. Other than competitors, only rally officials may enter.

Rally1

The Rally1 category represents the pinnacle of rally car engineering and serves as the premier class in the WRC. Rally1 cars feature hybrid powertrains and advanced aerodynamics along with other technological innovations designed to increase performance whilst reducing environmental impact.

Rally2

A class for production-based rally cars competing in the WRC2 championship. Formerly known as R5, Rally2 cars are four-wheel drive, feature turbocharged 1.6-litre engines and are popular with privateer teams and aspiring drivers.

Recce

Also known as reconnaissance, where crews complete multiple passes of the stages in a non-competition car at low speeds to create and adjust their pace notes. Recce takes place before the start of the event, typically on Tuesday and Wednesday during rally week.

Red Flag

A signal used by rally officials to halt a stage due to safety concerns or incidents. All competitors on the stage at the time a red flag has been indicated must dramatically reduce their speed and be prepared to stop.

Remote Service

A service period that takes place away from the service park at an outside location. Only parts carried in the rally car itself can be changed.

Evans’ woes leave Rovanperä clear in Finland
© WRC

Restart

When a competitor who has previously retired from the rally re-joins the event at the beginning of the next day. Their re-entry is subject to the car being re-scrutineered. Competitors are penalised with a 10-minute time penalty per missed stage, added to the fastest stage time recorded by a crew in their category.

Restrictor

To limit engine output, the FIA requires all WRC-specification engines to be fitted with a 33mm diameter inlet restrictor which limits the flow of fuel/air to the combustion chambers. Without a restrictor, engines would produce more than 500bhp.

Road Book

A set of instructions and route maps issued to each crew by rally organisers.

Road Section

Sometimes called a liaison section, this is the public road which links the special stages, service points and parc fermé. Drivers must obey all applicable traffic laws on road sections.

Roll Cage

A structure of high carbon steel tubes welded inside the passenger compartment designed to keep the driver and co-driver safe in an impact or roll-over.

Running Order

The order in which competitors tackle the stages. The running order (also called the start order) for the opening two days is determined by the drivers’ championship standings, with the leader going first. On day three, crews tackle the stages in the rally classification reversed – with the leader going last. This seeding applies to Priority 1 and 2 drivers only. Priority 1 cars that retire and restart the next day run before all the P1 and P2 crews.

Safety Crews

Scrutineers

FIA-sanctioned technical officials who check the legality of WRC cars before, during and after each event.

Scrutineering

Held before the start of a rally, where qualified scrutineers check every car for eligibility and conformation to technical regulations and safety requirements. Post-event scrutineering also takes place immediately after the finish of some rallies, but usually only for the top-finishing cars.

Sequential Gearbox

The type fitted to most WRC cars. Gear selections are typically made by a steering wheel-mounted paddle rather than the traditional 'H' gate manual system typically found on production cars.

Service

There are usually three service periods during a WRC day – 15 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes at lunchtime and 45 minutes in the evening. Teams can perform repairs or modifications to cars during these periods, and select their tyre choice for the following loop of stages.

Service Park

The designated area where teams maintain, repair and prepare their rally cars during the rally. Rally cars can be worked on in the service area at scheduled intervals during the event, typically at the midpoint and end of each day. The service park also provides an opportunity for fans to observe the mechanics and in action and interact with the drivers and co-drivers.

Set-up

The choice of tyres and suspension adjustments to give a WRC car maximum performance.

Shakedown

The opportunity for crews to test their competition cars on terrain similar to the rally before the event starts. Competitors must drive through the shakedown stage at least three times, with all passes timed.

Split Times

Intermediate timing points along each special stage, typically a few kilometres apart. These segments allow teams to assess their performance on specific sections of the stage, providing valuable insights into why and where time is gained or lost.

Stages

The competitive sections of the rally, also called special stages, where drivers and co-drivers drive as fast as they can to complete the section in the shortest time possible.

Stage Time

The time recorded from the standing start of a stage to the flying finish.

Start order

See running order

Stewards

The three-strong panel of officials who ensure the smooth running of each WRC event. The Chairman and one member are appointed by the FIA and must be of a different nationality from that of the organising country. The third member is appointed by the ASN of the country organising the rally. Stewards have the power to make changes to events and apply penalties if rules are broken. Bulletins and decisions of the Stewards are posted on an official noticeboard at every rally.

Stop Control

A point 200-500 metres past the flying finish where the car must stop to have its time recorded.

Studs

Metal spikes fitted to the treads of winter tyres to give grip on snow and ice.

WRC Rally Sweden Toyota Katsuta 2025
© WRC

Super-Special Stage (SSS)

A stage – often set up in a sports stadium – with two parallel tracks that enable two drivers to race each other. Super-special stages are also run in city centre locations.

Super Sunday

Introduced for the 2024 season onwards, Super Sunday marks the final day of every FIA World Rally Championship round where bonus points keep the action roaring. Points are awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale based on the classification of Sunday only, with a further five points (5-4-3-2-1) up for grabs in the Wolf Power Stage.

Target Time

The official time allowed for a WRC car to complete a non-competitive road section. Time penalties are applied if competitors check-in earlier or later than their target time.

Time Card

Carried by the co-driver, the time card is a record of stage times and time control arrival times throughout the rally. The card is stamped by officials as the rally progresses and provides proof of a competitor’s whereabouts in case of a dispute.

Time Control

The place where cars must stop to get an official passing time recorded by rally officials.

Time Penalty

Rally crews are penalised 10 seconds for every minute the car is late to a time control – for instance a stage start, service-in control, service-out control. Checking-in early to a time control carries a stiffer penalty of one minute for every minute early.

Turbocharger

An exhaust-driven turbine that pressurises the fuel/air mixture into the engine to enable it to develop more power. All WRC cars use turbochargers (turbos) which develop 4-5 times the pressure of the turbo on a road car.

Water Flap

A component designed to prevent water from entering and damaging the rally car’s engine when passing through water splashes. This is usually controlled by a button located on the co-driver's footrest which can be pressed to momentarily close the flap as required.

Wolf Power Stage

The thrilling conclusion to every WRC event where drivers push to secure additional bonus points. Points are awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale to the crews with the fastest times on the Wolf Power Stage. Wolf Lubricants is official partner of the WRC and presenter of the Wolf Power Stage, learn more.

WRC2

WRC2 is the leading support series to the FIA World Rally Championship. The WRC2 Champion titles for Teams, Drivers and Co-Drivers will be awarded to the team, driver and co-driver who have scored the highest number of points from 6 of the first 7 rallies which they have entered to score points. On the remaining rallies they may neither score nor detract points from other registered drivers.

WRC3

WRC3 is the support series (Private Teams) to the FIA World Rally Championship. The WRC3 Champion titles for Teams, Drivers and Co-Drivers will be awarded to the team, driver and co-driver who have scored the highest number of points from 6 of the first 7 rallies which they have entered to score points. On the remaining rallies they may neither score nor detract points from other registered drivers.

WRC Promoter

WRC Promoter GmbH is a joint company of Red Bull Media House and KW25. It is responsible for all commercial aspects of the FIA World Rally Championship, including broadcast formats, TV production and the marketing of global media and sponsorship rights. WRC Promoter also has responsibility to increase the field of participants and to propose the venues that form the FIA WRC calendar.

Yellow flag

An emergency warning system used by organisers to instruct competitors to immediately reduce speed. The flags may be waved on stage by marshals at radio points (situated at approximately 5 km intervals). Additionally, a yellow flag LED light situated on the FIA Emergency Console in every competing car will flash and an alarm will sound in the cockpit. Crews must confirm acknowledgement of the electronic Yellow Flag by pressing the OK button as soon as they see it and must immediately reduce speed and maintain this until the stage end. A crew which has been shown the yellow flag will be given a notional time for the stage.

Zero Car

A course car driven through a stage before the competitors start to alert spectators that the section is live. The zero car is preceded by the triple zero and double zero cars.