Will there be a new WRC champion in the end of 2024?
The 2024 FIA World Rally Championship season has surpassed the halfway mark with the first seven rounds behind and six more ahead, starting with Tet Rally Latvia. Belgian driver Thierry Neuville is leading the overall standings of the WRC championship.
In the 2024 WRC calendar, there are 13 rounds. The season started with Rallye Monte-Carlo in January and will conclude with the Rally Japan in November. Tet Rally Latvia, held in Latvia, is the eighth round in the WRC calendar.
Belgian driver Thierry Neuville started the year with a victory at the Rallye Monte-Carlo, placing him in the lead of the championship standings after the first seven rounds. As a pilot for Hyundai Shell Mobis, Neuville has accumulated 136 points, which is 15 points more than his closest competitor, Elfyn Evans. Despite Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers securing five wins, Evans has yet to achieve a victory this season. However, his consistent performance throughout the season keeps him in contention for the title.
With 115 points in third place is 2019 World Champion Ott Tänak from Estonia, known for his speed on fast gravel rallies such as those in Poland, Latvia, and Finland. In Poland, however, Tänak had to settle for zero points after Saturday, as he collided with an animal on the very first full rally stage. Nevertheless, he demonstrated his speed by earning 11 points in the Super Sunday and Power Stage classifications.
Legendary Frenchman Sébastien Ogier unexpectedly joined the battle for the top spots in the standings, despite not competing for full season. Following victories in Croatia and Portugal, the Toyota driver led the Rally Italia Sardegna until the very last stage, where a puncture forced him to concede to Estonian Tänak. Ogier was also on the entry list for the Rally Poland, but had to skip it due to a traffic incident during reconnaissance, resulting in a loss of valuable championship points. In overall, Ogier has accumulated 92 points.
Adrien Fourmaux, who drives for the M-Sport Ford team, has one point less than Ogier, with 91 points. He has had a consistently strong performance throughout the season, including three third-place finishes in Monte Carlo, Sweden, and Poland. Previous World Championship round in Poland saw the debut of Latvian Mārtiņš Sesks, who started in M-Sport Ford built non-hybrid Puma Rally1 car. The Latvian pilot showed great performance, earning nine points, which puts him in 12th place among WRC main class pilots in the overall standings.
In the manufacturer standings, there is a fierce battle between Hyundai Shell Mobis and Toyota Gazoo Racing teams, with only 10 points separating the two. The Korean and Japanese manufacturers' competition sees Hyundai at 311 points, while Toyota has accumulated 301 points. The M-Sport Ford team competes in the WRC championship with two main drivers, limiting the team's total points to 156 in the overall standings.
Already from July 18 to 21, in the Tet Rally Latvia stage, the next championship points will be distributed, where we will see whether Neuville will manage to further strengthen his advantage, or whether competitors will show strong resistance in the battle for the 2024 World Rally Championship title.
WRC Championship Standings for drivers
POSITION DRIVER POINTS
1. Tjerī Noivils 136
2. Elfins Evanss 121
3. Ots Tanaks 115
4. Sebastjēns Ožjē 92
5. Adriens Formo 91
6. Kalle Rovanpera 63
7. Takamoto Katsuta 58
8. Andreass Mikelsens 29
9. Dani Sordo 27
10. Esapeka Lapi 23
WRC Championship Standings for teams
POSITION Team Points
1 Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team 311
2 Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 301
3 M-Sport Ford World Rally Team 156
News and other information about the Tet Rally Latvia, round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), available at www.lvrally.com, as well as on social media X @LVRally, Facebook @LVRally, Instagram @lvrally, and TikTok @tetrallylatvia. While, news about the FIA World Rally Championship available at www.wrc.com.
Tet Rally Latvia, round of the FIA World Rally Championship, is set to take place on July 18-21, 2024. The event is possible thanks to the support provided by Ministry of Education and Science, rally city Liepāja and capital city Rīga, as well as municipalities of Tukums, Talsi, and Kuldīga. Special thanks to general sponsor Tet, many thanks to our main sponsors Ramirent, Sportland, and X3000, official car partner Toyota, as well as sponsors BTA, Fristads, and SIXT. Thanks to our partners Canon Biznesa Centrs Liepāja, Latvijas Valsts meži and municipality of Dienvidkurzeme. Informative support provided by news portal DELFI, Sporta Avīze un Talsu Vēstis. Thanks to Tet Rally Latvia supporters shopping malls AKROPOLE, AOK, Ballīte Ballītē, Biķernieku trase, Conti STL, Conway, CSDD, DHL, Eco Baltia vide, Elnetworks, Flora, FN Serviss, Getic, Jānis Pūce, Löfbergs, Liepāja Special Economic Zone, MB Grupa, Mission Latvia, OCT Composites, Peltors, Rentadisplay, Rīgas Brīvostas pārvalde, Riga Motormusem, SignTech, Swecon, Swan, Törley, Travel Latvia, as well as technical partner Sports Racing Technologies. Tet Rally Latvia is organised by RA Events in cooperation with Speed Festival Kurzeme and Latvian Automobile Federation.
Tet Rally Latvia supports initiatives carried out by Latvian Children's Support Centre,
who has created and are developing social rehabilitation facility for children with special needs.
We invite you to support this initiative, by making a donation here: http://www.lbaf.lv/lv/ka-ziedot.