2017 WRC dates confirmed
Dates for the opening seven rounds of the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship were confirmed today (Wednesday) at the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris.
Six of the seven rallies – Monte-Carlo, Sweden, Mexico, Argentina, Portugal and Italy – have similar dates to this season, but France moves forward from late September to become the fourth round in early April.
Five other rallies – Finland, Germany, Spain, Great Britain and Australia – were also confirmed on the calendar but their dates have still to be finalised. ¬
It has not yet been clarified whether the championship will comprise 13 or 14 rounds and the candidate countries that could potentially fill the remaining slot(s) are Turkey, China and Poland. The final calendar will be confirmed within the next few weeks.
The confirmed rounds are:
| Rally | Date |
|---|---|
| Monte-Carlo | 20 - 22 January |
| Sweden | 10 - 12 February |
| Mexico | 10 - 12 March |
| France | 7 - 9 April |
| Argentina | 28 - 30 April |
| Portugal | 19 - 21 May |
| Italy | 9 - 11 June |
| Finland | TBC |
| Germany | TBC |
| Spain | TBC |
| Great Britain | TBC |
| Australia | TBC |
Other decisions agreed at the meeting were:
• From 2017 a manufacturer may nominate a minimum of two and a maximum of three cars to score points in the manufacturers’ championship. Scores from the two best cars will be counted. Additional cars may be entered by a manufacturer but will not be eligible to score points.
• Only drivers entered by manufacturers are eligible to drive 2017 World Rally Cars.
• A Privateers’ Cup will be created for competitors entering current World Rally Cars.
• The FIA will invite tenders to run the 2017 FIA Junior WRC.
