FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers
Toyota Gazoo Racing
Toyota Gazoo Racing sealed its second-successive manufacturers’ title after a dominant season with its GR Yaris Rally1 cars. The team arrived in Spain with an already sizeable advantage over Hyundai Motorsport, meaning a drama-free event would almost guarantee the crown.
Leading rivers Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä did more than what was required of them by finishing first and third overall respectively. That boosted Toyota’s points advantage to 93 over Hyundai and, with only 52 points available at the season finale in Japan, the Japanese marque can no longer be caught.
The result means Toyota has now won all three possible top-tier titles this year after Rovanperä and Jonna Halttunen clinched the drivers’ and co-drivers’ crowns in New Zealand.
WRC2 Junior* - Driver
Emil Lindholm
The release of the entry list for FORUM8 Rally Japan confirmed Finnish star Lindholm as the inaugural WRC2 Junior drivers’ champion (not to be mistaken with the FIA Junior WRC, the WRC2 Junior category is open to all WRC2 competitors under the age of 30). With four maximum scores already in the bag before heading to Spain, Lindholm could only be caught by Briton Chris Ingram.
However, Ingram chose to end his season after rolling at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece and his non-entry for Japan means that Lindholm can no longer be caught.
WRC2 Junior* - Co-Driver
James Fulton
Fulton co-drives for fellow Irishman Josh McErlean in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2. The pair simply needed to finish in Spain for Fulton to win the co-drivers’ championship, and that’s exactly what they did - eventually ending seventh in the class.
The 30-year-old is already taking his next steps and will partner M-Sport Ford star Craig Breen in a top-flight Puma Rally1 at the final round in Japan next month.
WRC2 Masters Cup** - Co-Driver
Laurent Magat
Magat has called the pace notes for flying Frenchman Jean-Michel Raoux this year in a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. The 56-year-old co-driver already has five maximum points scores with one round to spare and therefore holds an unassailable points lead in his category.
WRC3 - Driver
Lauri Joona
Lauri Joona clinched the WRC3 drivers’ crown at the end of a winner-takes-all scrap with fellow Ford Fiesta Rally3 driver Jan Černý. Sami Pajari, who competed in WRC2 last weekend, could also have lifted the title but was reliant on neither Joona nor Černý winning the rally.
Just 9.0sec split Joona and Černý after almost 300km of action in the Costa Daurada hills - a prime example of how close the competition has been this season.
WRC3 - Co-Driver
Enni Mälkönen
Joona and Černý used different co-drivers throughout the season, meaning Pajari’s wingwoman Enni Mälkönen - already Junior WRC co-drivers’ champion - topped the WRC3 co-drivers’ standings. She was awarded her title before the start on Thursday night.
*For competitors aged 30 and under
**For competitors aged 50 and over
Finland
Italy
Hungary