Super 2000 World Rally Championship

The FIA WRC2 (previously also known as World Rally Championship 2 and WRC 2), is a support championship of the World Rally Championship. The calendar consists of the same rallies and stages as the main class and crews usually compete immediately after. WRC2 is limited to production-based cars homologated under Group Rally2 (or previous R5) rules. There are separate specific championship titles awarded to Teams, Drivers and Co-Drivers (including titles for ''Challengers'' in 2023, previously for Juniors under 30 years old).

WRC2 began in 2013 with the introduction of the R5 car, replacing the Super 2000 World Rally Championship (SWRC), also promoted as S-WRC.

History

Super 2000 World Rally Championship (SWRC)

In 2010 the long established Production World Rally Championship (PWRC), which was previously open to both Super 2000 and Group N4 cars, split into two separate championships for each class. PWRC retained the Group N cars whilst the new series for Super 2000 cars was called Super 2000 World Rally Championship (SWRC). In 2011, R4 cars from Group R were eligible to enter followed by the addition of Regional Race Cars (RRC), a sub-class of Super 2000, in 2012.

World Rally Championship 2 (WRC 2)

With the introduction of the R5 in Group R in 2013, the eligibility rules were further relaxed to allow R5 and four wheel drive Group N cars too. This essentially merged PWRC and SWRC back into one competition named WRC 2, whilst a separate WRC 3 championship for two wheel drive cars was also introduced at the same time. Between 2013 and 2015 two additional titles were also contested, WRC 2 Production Car Cup for Drivers and Co-Drivers were contested by those driving Group N cars.

Since 2015, WRC 2 has never officially been referred to as ''World Rally Championship 2'', in compliance with the FIA's own rules surrounding championships including the word ''world'' in their titles.

In 2019 the eligibility rules were changed once again and only R5 cars could enter. The R5 class was renamed to Rally2 in 2019 and cars previously homologated in R5 are still eligible to compete as Rally2.

WRC 2 Pro

WRC 2 Pro was introduced in 2019 as a means of encouraging manufacturer-supported entries to join the category and in response to complaints that privateers could not compete with the resources of existing factory teams. Entirely separate manufacturer, driver and co-driver championships were created for WRC 2 Pro, open to manufacturer entries only whilst WRC 2 remained for smaller teams and privateers. Competing in cars built to R5 specifications, teams were permitted to enter two crews per event. Entries had to contest a minimum of eight rallies, including one outside Europe. Only the eight best results would contribute to the Pro class championship. The series was abandoned after only one year with privateers encouraged to enter a new version of WRC3 for Rally2 cars in 2020 and 2021. WRC 2 Pro was replaced by a sole WRC2 in 2020.

Rules

In the 2022 season teams and individuals may enter WRC2. To score in the WRC2 Championship for Teams on any rally teams must enter and start with two cars. Teams may enter a maximum of 6 rallies in Europe with the best 5 results contributing to the championship points. Teams are also permitted to enter a seventh rally outside Europe for bonus points.

Drivers and/or Co-Drivers must enter a maximum 7 rallies and the best 6 results contribute to championship points. Drivers born on or after 1 January 1992 are automatically considered for the Junior championship providing they have not previously won WRC2 or WRC3, or have ever been nominated to score points in the WRC manufacturers championship. The Masters Cup, introduced in 2022, is for drivers born on or before 1 January 1972 to run alongside WRC2. Power Stage points are awarded to the fastest three drivers, on a 3, 2 then 1 point basis.

Teams, drivers and co-drivers need to indicate on the entry form for each rally if they intend to nominate it as one of their scoring rounds. For this reason (and the requirement for teams to enter two cars), it is not unusual for teams, drivers and co-drivers to enter every round yet nominate and score points in different rounds. Prior to the introduction of nominated events, the first 7 results counted which may have encouraged non-participation on certain events.

Eligible models

The following Rally2 or R5 cars are currently eligible for entry into WRC2:

* Ford Fiesta Rally2
* Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo
* Hyundai i20 N Rally2
* Citroën C3 Rally2
* Citroën DS3 R5
* Citroën C3 R5
* Ford Fiesta R5
* Hyundai i20 R5
* Peugeot 208 T16 R5
* Škoda Fabia R5
* Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
* Proton Iriz R5

Historic eligibility

The following Super 2000 rally cars were eligible to compete in SWRC and WRC2 up to the end of 2016:

* Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000
* Ford Fiesta S2000
* Peugeot 207 S2000
* Škoda Fabia S2000
* Toyota Auris S2000
* Volkswagen Polo S2000
* MG ZR S2000
* Opel Corsa S2000
* Proton Satria Neo S2000

The following RRC (Regional Race Car) were eligible to compete in SWRC in 2012 and WRC2 up to the end of 2016:

* Citroën DS3 RRC
* Ford Fiesta RRC
* Mini John Cooper Works S2000

The following cars were eligible under the R4 or N4 rules between 2013-2016:

* Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
* Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
* Subaru Impreza STi

Results

Drivers' Championship

SWRC and WRC2

WRC 2 Pro

Statistics

;By driver's country

;By manufacturer

Round wins

:''Updated after 2022 Rally Japan.''

SWRC and WRC2

WRC 2 Pro

Gallery

Image:MEX 2008 RB 61 service 1.jpg, Jan Kopecký's Fiat Grande Punto S2000 at the 2008 Rally México

See also

* WRC3 (Four-wheel drive, 2020–)
* WRC 3 (Two-wheel 2013–2018)
* Junior WRC
*Production World Rally Championship
*FIA 2-Litre World Rally Cup
* List of WRC2 drivers

Footnotes

References

External links

SWRC at WRC.com

WRC2 at WRC.com

{{FIA

Rally racing series
*
Recurring sporting events established in 2010