The 2009 World Rally Championship was the 37th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of twelve rallies and began on 30 January, with Rally Ireland and ended with Rally GB on 25 October. Sébastien Loeb won the World Drivers' championship at Rally GB by one point from Mikko Hirvonen, taking his sixth consecutive crown.[1] Citroën secured their fifth Manufacturers' title, Martin Prokop won the JWRC Drivers' championship and Armindo Araujo won the PWRC Drivers' championship.
Regulation changes
The number of mechanics available per car has been dropped from 12 to 8.[2]
Calendar
The 2009 season included twelve rallies, which was three fewer than the 2008 season, because the FIA imposed a "Round Rotation" System in order to attract candidate rallies to have a chance to be a WRC event. Monte Carlo, Sweden, Mexico, Jordan, Turkey, Germany, New Zealand, France and Japan were dropped from the calendar for 2009, but will return at the 2010 WRC Season. Ireland, Norway, Cyprus, Portugal, Poland and Australia returned to the 2009 season.[3]
The eight events also part of the Production World Rally Championship were Norway, Cyprus, Portugal, Argentina, Italy, Greece, Australia and Rally GB. The eight rallies also on the Junior World Rally Championship schedule were Ireland, Cyprus, Portugal, Argentina, Italy, Poland, Finland and Spain.
Teams and drivers
For The 2009 season, the championship has two manufacturer teams (Citroën Total World Rally Team and BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team) and three semi-factory teams (Stobart VK M-Sport Ford, Munchi's Ford and the Citroën Junior Team) that will be eligible for the manufacturers' championship.
Suzuki and Subaru pulled out of the WRC at the end of the 2008 championship, both citing the economic downturn currently affecting the automotive industry for their withdrawal.
Manufacturer entries |
Team |
Constructor |
Car |
Tyre |
No |
Drivers |
Co-drivers |
Rounds |
Citroën Total World Rally Team |
Citroën |
C4 WRC |
P
|
1 |
Sébastien Loeb |
Daniel Elena |
All |
2 |
Daniel Sordo |
Marc Marti |
All |
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team |
Ford |
Focus RS WRC 08/09 |
P
|
3 |
Mikko Hirvonen |
Jarmo Lehtinen |
All |
4 |
Jari-Matti Latvala |
Miikka Anttila |
All |
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team |
Ford |
Focus RS WRC 08 |
P
|
5 |
Urmo Aava |
Kuldar Sikk |
1–2 |
Matthew Wilson |
Scott Martin |
3–12 |
6 |
Henning Solberg |
Cato Menkerud |
All |
Citroën Junior Team |
Citroën |
C4 WRC |
P
|
7 |
Chris Atkinson |
Stéphane Prévot |
1 |
Evgeny Novikov |
Dale Moscatt |
2–4, 6–9 |
Stéphane Prévot |
11–12 |
8 |
Conrad Rautenbach |
Daniel Barritt |
All |
Munchi's Ford World Rally Team |
Ford |
Focus RS WRC 08 |
P
|
9 |
Federico Villagra |
Jorge Perez Companc |
3, 5-6, 9–11 |
Jose Diaz |
4, 7 |
10 |
Matti Rantanen |
Mikko Lukka |
9 |
Paul Bird |
Ian Windress |
11 |
Major Entries Not Registered as Manufacturers |
Petter Solberg World Rally Team |
Citroën |
Xsara WRC |
P
|
11 |
Petter Solberg |
Phil Mills |
2–9 |
C4 WRC |
11 |
Citroën Junior Team |
P
|
12 |
12 |
Sébastien Ogier |
Julien Ingrassia |
All |
16 |
Aaron Burkart |
Michael Kölbach |
12 |
Adapta World Rally Team |
Subaru |
Impreza WRC 2008 |
P
|
14 |
Mads Østberg |
Ole Kristian Unnerud |
2, 4, 6–7 |
Veronica Engan |
8 |
Jonas Andersson |
9, 12 |
20 |
Anders Grøndal |
Maria Andersson |
2 |
Prodrive |
P
|
15 |
Marcus Grönholm |
Timo Rautiainen |
4 |
Ketomaa World Rally Team |
Impreza WRC 2007 |
P
|
16 |
Jari Ketomaa |
Mika Stenberg |
9 |
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team |
Ford |
Focus RS WRC 08 |
P
|
15 |
Khalid Al Qassimi |
Michael Orr |
1, 3–4, 6–7, 9–12 |
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team |
P
|
15 |
Krzysztof Holowczyc |
Lukasz Kurzeja |
8 |
16 |
Matthew Wilson |
Scott Martin |
1–2 |
17 |
Steve Perez |
Paul Spooner |
12 |
Andreas Mikkelsen |
Škoda |
Fabia WRC |
P
|
16 |
Andreas Mikkelsen |
Ola Fløne |
8 |
P-G Andersson Rallying |
P
|
19 |
Per-Gunnar Andersson |
Anders Fredriksson |
2 |
Van Merksteijn Motorsport |
Ford |
Focus RS WRC 06/07 |
P
|
17 |
Peter Van Merksteijn, Jr. |
Eddy Chevaillier |
2, 4 |
18 |
Peter Van Merksteijn, Sr. |
Erwin Mombaerts |
2 |
Hans van Goor |
4 |
Ipatec Racing |
Focus RS WRC 06 |
P
|
66 |
Dennis Kuipers |
Kees Hagman |
4, 12 |
68 |
René Kuipers |
Erwin Berkhof |
4 |
Erwin Mombaerts |
12 |
Bozian Racing |
Peugeot |
307 WRC |
P
|
66 |
Dany Snobeck |
Gilles Mondesir |
11 |
Munchi's Ford World Rally Team |
Ford |
Focus RS WRC 08 |
P
|
72 |
Mattias Therman |
Janne Perälä |
9 |
J-WRC Entries
[4]
No |
Driver |
Co-driver |
Car |
Rounds |
31 |
Aaron Burkart |
Michael Kölbach |
Suzuki Swift S1600 |
1, 3, 5–6, 9, 11 |
32 |
Michał Kościuszko |
Maciek Szczepaniak |
Suzuki Swift S1600 |
3–6, 8–9 |
33 |
Simone Bertolotti |
Luca Celestini |
Suzuki Swift S1600 |
1, 4, 6, 8–9, 11 |
34 |
Luca Griotti |
Corrado Bonato |
Renault Clio R3 |
1, 4, 6, 8–9, 11 |
35 |
Yoann Bonato |
Benjamin Boulloud |
Suzuki Swift S1600 |
1, 4, 6, 8–9, 11 |
36 |
Hans Weijs, Jr. |
Bjorn Degandt |
Citroën C2 S1600 |
1, 4, 6, 8–9, 11 |
37 |
Kevin Abbring |
Erwin Mombaerts |
Renault Clio R3 |
1, 4, 6, 8–9, 11 |
38 |
Martin Prokop |
Jan Tománek |
Citroën C2 S1600 |
1, 3, 6, 8–9, 11 |
39 |
Alessandro Bettega |
Simone Scattolin |
Renault Clio S1600 |
5 |
Renault Clio R3 |
4, 6, 8 |
Mark Wallenwein |
Stefan Kopczyk |
9, 11 |
Additional guest entries† |
60 |
Ross Forde |
Arron Forde |
Suzuki Swift Sport |
1 |
59 |
Radosław Typa |
Maciek Wislawski |
Citroën C2 R2 |
8 |
60 |
Marcin Dobrowolski |
Michal Dobrowolski |
Citroën C2 R2 |
8 |
59 |
Kalle Pinomaki |
Matti Kaskinen |
Renault Clio R3 |
9 |
59 |
Jordi Martí |
Gabriel Sánchez |
Renault Clio R3 |
11 |
P-WRC Entries
[5]
No |
Driver |
Co-driver |
Car |
Rounds |
31 |
Martin Prokop |
Jan Tománek |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
2, 4–5, 7, 10, 12 |
32 |
Bernardo Sousa |
Jorge Carvalho |
Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000 |
2–4, 6–7, 10, 12 |
33 |
Toshihiro Arai |
Glenn Macneal |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
2–3, 5, 7, 10, 12 |
34 |
Gianluca Linari |
Andrea Cecchi |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
2–4, 7, 10 |
Paolo Gregoriani |
6 |
35 |
Martin Semerád |
Bohuslav Ceplecha |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
2–3 |
64 |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X |
4, 6–7, 12 |
36 |
Egoi Eder Valdés López |
Daniel Lucas |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
3–7, 12 |
37 |
Frederic Sauvan |
Thibault Gorczyca |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
2–3, 5–6 |
Sebastien Capanna |
7, 12 |
38 |
Gabor Mayer |
Róbert Tagai |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
3–7, 12 |
39 |
Riccardo Errani |
Stefano Casadio |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
– |
Simone Campedelli |
Danilo Fappani |
3, 6 |
Thomas Privé |
Patrice Zurro |
4 |
Stefano Marrini |
Roberto Mometti |
5 |
Armindo Araujo |
Miguel Ramalho |
10 |
Eyvind Brynildsen |
Denis Giraudet |
Škoda Fabia S2000 |
12 |
40 |
Andis Neikšāns |
Pēteris Dzirkals |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
2–4, 6–7 |
Dave Weston, Jr. |
Iuean Thomas |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
12 |
43 |
Luciano Bernardi |
Fabian Cretu |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X |
5 |
Mark Tapper |
Jeff Rudd |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
10 |
65 |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X |
4, 6–7, 12 |
44 |
Jaromir Tarabus |
Daniel Trunkat |
Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000 |
2 |
Filip Schovánek |
4 |
Nasser Al-Attiyah |
Giovanni Bernacchini |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
3 |
Spyros Pavlides |
Chris Patterson |
5, 12 |
Denis Giraudet |
7 |
45 |
Patrik Flodin |
Göran Bergsten |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
2, 4, 6–7, 12 |
Stewart Taylor |
Warwick Searle |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
10 |
46 |
Patrik Sandell |
Emil Axelsson |
Škoda Fabia S2000 |
2–4, 6–7, 12 |
47 |
Armindo Araujo |
Miguel Ramalho |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
2–4, 6–7, 12 |
48 |
Gaurav Gill |
David Senior |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
2–4 |
Hermann Gassner, Jr. |
Katharina Wustenhagen |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
6, 12 |
Stefano Marrini |
Roberto Mometti |
7 |
Liu Chao Dong |
Anthony McLoughlin |
10 |
49 |
Eyvind Brynildsen |
Denis Giraudet |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
2, 4–6, 10 |
Giorgio Bacco |
Nicola Arena |
12 |
50 |
Nasser Al-Attiyah |
Giovanni Bernacchini |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
4–7, 12 |
Richard Mason |
Sara Mason |
10 |
Additional guest entries† |
59 |
Andreas Mikkelsen |
Ola Fløene |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
2 |
60 |
Bernt Kollevold |
Veronica Engan |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
2 |
159 |
Nicos Thomas |
Stéphane Prévot |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
3 |
160 |
Charalambos Timotheu |
Savvas Laos |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
3 |
159 |
Bruno Magalhães |
Carlos Magalhães |
Peugeot 207 S2000 |
4 |
160 |
Ricardo Moura |
Paulo Fiuza |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
4 |
159 |
Gabriel Pozzo |
Daniel Stillo |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
5 |
160 |
Marcos Ligato |
Rubén Garcia |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X |
5 |
59 |
Lambros Athanassoulas |
Nikolaos Zakheos |
Škoda Fabia S2000 |
7 |
59 |
Cody Crocker |
Ben Atkinson |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
10 |
60 |
Neal Bates |
Coral Taylor |
Toyota Corolla S2000 |
10 |
- †^ – At each rally, the organiser may nominate two "guest drivers" from their country to score support category points.
Results and standings
Results and statistics
Colour |
Rally Surface |
Gold |
Gravel |
Silver |
Tarmac |
Blue |
Snow/Ice |
Bronze |
Mixed Surface |
|
Notes:
- ^1 — Stages 7 (Murley) and 8 (Fardross) were cancelled.[6]
- ^2 — Stages 3 (Evangelistria) and 16 (Loutraki 2) were cancelled.[7]
- ^3 — Stages 6 (CTEK East 1) and 11 (CTEK East 2) were cancelled.[8]
Drivers' championship
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (DNF) |
Black |
Excluded (EX) |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Cancelled (C) |
Blank |
Withdrew entry before the event (WD) |
|
Manufacturers' championship
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (DNF) |
Black |
Excluded (EX) |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Cancelled (C) |
Blank |
Withdrew entry before the event (WD) |
|
JWRC Drivers' championship
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (DNF) |
Black |
Excluded (EX) |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Cancelled (C) |
Blank |
Withdrew entry before the event (WD) |
|
PWRC Drivers' championship
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (DNF) |
Black |
Excluded (EX) |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Cancelled (C) |
Blank |
Withdrew entry before the event (WD) |
|
Statistics
Drivers
Constructors
References
External links