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It is only fitting that one of the oldest World Rallies in existence, The Monte Carlo Rallye will signify the beginning of a new chapter in the World Rallying history books.
On Thursday 20th January at the Casino Square in Monaco, a new generation of Hybrid Rally1 cars will line up at the ceremonial start ahead of the opening round of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship season.
As a young man going through my teens and early twenties, I was always a bit of a car nut. Having spent much of my time throughout the nineties and noughties messing about in the modified car scene and hanging around in car parks all around the UK until all hours of the night; I would therefore consider myself a bit of a latecomer to the form of motorsport that is rallying.
Rosberg X Racing’s Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson crowned inaugural Extreme E champions
Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson held on to win the first Extreme E championship for Rosberg X Racing, ahead of Jurassic X-Prix winners Team X44.
Cristina Gutierrez and Sebastian Loeb did all they could to take the title away from RXR, winning both the final event of the season in Dorset, England and the Continental Traction Challenge, worth an extra five bonus points. However, a fourth-place finish for RXR in the final left the two teams tied on championship points.
Team X44 take qualifying clean sweep but Rosberg X Racing have one hand on the championship title.
The Extreme E championship title is Rosberg X Racing’s to lose after a strong qualifying and the fastest Continental Traction Challenge time.
Despite Team X44 winning their fifth qualifying day of the season, Johan Kristoffersson’s blistering run through the Continental Traction Challenge sector of his lap in Q2 has RXR currently in possession of five crucial bonus points and a 20-point advantage over their title rivals.
After six thrilling rallys, the 2021 British Rally Championship reached its climax at the final round on the challenging Northern Irish tarmac roads of the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally.
The Irish have a rich history in rallying and the Ulster Rally began life in 1976, where names such as Ari Vatanen, Billy Coleman, Jimmy McRae and Roger Clark all contested the event. Cast one’s eyes over the roll of honour and ye shall find a plethora of rallying greats which include Arikkala, Blomqvist, McRae, Rohrl, Brookes and Wilson to name but a few.
Just two weeks had passed since the Cambrian Rally took place over the World Class gravel stages of North Wales and the BTRDA was soon back in action on the Rally Nuts Stages for the final round of the 2021 MRF Tyres Rally Series.
The Championship contenders faced more of the World Class Welsh Stages that we know and love, only this time they were a just little further south in the Myherin and Hafren Forest Complexes.
Making its return to the FIA World Rally Championship and closing the season for the second year running (after a forfeiting Rally Japan); the ACI Rally Monza signified the final outing for the outgoing generation of World Rally Cars before the switch is made to Hybrid next year.
inal event in which last year saw Frenchman Sébastien Ogier clinch his 7th World title after snatching the Championship away from his Welsh teammate Elfyn Evans; would once again also deliver one last battle for the 2021 title between the pair of Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers.
There was a whiff of Wales Rally GB in the air of North Wales for the penultimate round of the 2021 British Rally Championship at the Visit Conway Cambrian Rally….. but then the sun came out. Heavy overnight rain with some early morning fireworks out on the stages all contributed to this atmosphere, which some likened to the British round of the World Rally Championship that has played out of the very same stages in recent years.
Organised by the very capable North Wales Car Club, the seaside town of Llandudno once again played host to this 66th edition of this top national event. Totalling some 42 competitive miles, the event featured six gravel tests over the World-Class stages of Gwydir Forest, Penmachno and Alwen.
The penultimate round of the 2021 MRF Tyres BTRDA Rally Series headed to North Wales for the Visit Conway Cambrian Rally. The Sea–Side town of Llandudno once again played host to this North Wales Car Club organised event which was now in its 66th edition.
With a selection of hand-picked World-Class Gravel Forest Stages on offer, the event covered 42 miles over 6 Gravel Stages in Gwydir Forest, Penmachno and Alwen; with a final short all new Asphalt stage called Twin Lakes thrown in to end the day with.
Next year the FIA World Rally Championship will reset and move to a new generation of Hybrid Rally1 cars, in a new wider sustainable approach to its competition; beginning at the iconic Monte Carlo Rally in January.
This implementation of hybrid rally cars in the top tier Rally1 competition class and the usage of sustainable fuels is part of WRC’s and the FIA’s desire to cut down on carbon emissions from the World Rally Championship and throughout motorsport.