News

WRC Calendar for 2012 confirmed

The calendar for the FIA World Rally Championship has been confirmed at a meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Singapore on 23 September.  It features 13 events starting with a return to the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo in January, which will be running for an 80th time next season, and finishing with Rally de Espana on the Costa Daurada south of Barcelona in early November.

The major developments since the draft schedule was published in early June concern the scheduling of the rounds in Greece and Italy. The Acropolis Rally has been confirmed from 25-27 May following a possibility that it would take place one week later in early June. Italy’s round will take place from 18-21 October.

Rally GB’s mid-September date has also been rubberstamped, the first time it won’t host the season finale since 2005. Rally Finland runs on the first weekend in August having occupied a late July slot in recent years, while Rallye Deutschland takes place on the last weekend of August, one week later than scheduled this season.

New Zealand’s all-gravel encounter is back on the schedule having missed out on a slot this season. The Auckland-based event will take place from 22-24 June.

The calendars for the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship and FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship have also been published with both series kicking off on Rallye Monte-Carlo. PWRC drivers will nominate six events from a list of seven on which to score points. SWRC competitors will score on seven events out of a possible eight.

The 2012 FIA World Rally Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

2012 FIA World Rally Championship
Rallye Monte-Carlo Rallye Monte-Carlo    17 - 22 Jan 12
Sweden Rally Sweden                                 09 - 12 Feb 12
Mexico Rally Mexico                                      08 - 11 Mar 12
Portugal Rally Portugal                                29 Mar - 01 Apr 12
Argentina Rally Argentina                            27 - 29 Apr 12
Greece Acropolis Rally                                25 - 27 May 12
New Zealand Rally of New Zealand          22-24 Jun 12
Finland Rally Finland                                   02 - 05 Aug 12
Germany Rallye Deutschland                    24 - 26 Aug 12
Great Britain Rally of Great Britain             13 - 16 Sep 12
France Rallye de France - Alsace              04 - 07 Oct 12
Italy Rally d'Italia                                            18 - 21 Oct 12
Spain Rally de España                                01 - 04 Nov 12

Note: The finish date given is the Sunday of the rally weekend. Itineraries are however subject to final confirmation by event organisers.

2012 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship
Rallye Monte-Carlo Rallye Monte-Carlo    17 - 22 Jan 12
Mexico Rally Mexico                                      08 - 11 Mar 12
Argentina Rally Argentina                            27 - 29 Apr 12
Greece Acropolis Rally                                25 - 27 May 12
New Zealand Rally of New Zealand         22-24 Jun 12
Germany Rallye Deutschland                    24 - 26 Aug 12
Italy Rally d'Italia                                           18 - 21 Oct 12
Spain Rally de España                               01 - 04 Nov 12

Six nominated events from eight count towards the Championship.

2012 FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship
Rallye Monte-Carlo Rallye Monte-Carlo    17 - 22 Jan 12
Sweden Rally Sweden                                 09 - 12 Feb 12
Portugal Rally Portugal                                29 Mar - 01 Apr 12
New Zealand Rally of New Zealand          22-24 Jun 12
Finland Rally Finland                                   02 - 05 Aug 12
Great Britain Rally of Great Britain             13 - 16 Sep 12
France Rallye de France - Alsace              04 - 07 Oct 12
Spain Rally de España                                01 - 04 Nov 12

Seven nominated events from eight count towards the Championship.