The 2011 World Rally Championship was the 39th season of the
FIAWorld Rally Championship. The season consisted of 13 rallies, beginning with
Rally Sweden on 10 February and ended with
Wales Rally GB on 13 November.
The new technical regulations for the
World Rally Car became effective from 2011.[4] The cars were based on the previous
Super 2000 cars, fitted with a supplementary kit, which included turbo and rear-wing additions.[4] The kit must be able to be fitted or removed within a defined time limit, to be determined.[4] They will be powered by a 1600cc turbo engine instead of the previous 2000cc turbo unit.[5]
The sporting regulations were amended to allow any tyre manufacturer to supply tyres. Regulations were implemented to control costs. The amended regulations were presented to the WMSC for a fax vote before 20 July 2010.[6]
Michelin and British tyre firm
DMACK became the two tyre suppliers for the season, following
Pirelli's contract coming to an end and their announcement as the official tyre supplier for
Formula One.[7]
Additional championship points will be awarded to the top three crews on a televised stage on the final day of each rally, known as the "Power Stage". 3 points will be awarded to the stage winner, with 2 and 1 for second and third respectively.[8][9]
Calendar
The 2011 championship was contested over thirteen rounds in Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Oceania.
Following a fax vote by the members of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), the following calendar had been agreed for the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship.[10][11]
After being promoted to the Citroën works team for the
2010 Rally Finland in place of
Dani Sordo,
Sébastien Ogier signed a contract to drive for the team for the entire 2011 season, despite an offer from Ford.
Mini returned to the World Rally Championship as a factory team for the first time since 1967. The manufacturer used the
Mini John Cooper Works, to be run by Dave Richards'
Prodrive team after Prodrive failed in their bid to join the
2010 and
2011Formula One grids. The John Cooper Works WRC will be run in a limited campaign of selected events for the 2011 season, with a view to taking part in the full World Championship from 2012.[16]
Citroën secured the manufacturers' championship in Catalunya.
† –
ICE 1 Racing was excluded from the manufacturers' championship after they failed to take part in
Rally Australia. As the team is considered to be a WRC entry (as opposed to a development entry, like the
Mini WRC Team), it was obligated to take part in at least two rounds of the championship outside Europe. Driver Kimi Räikkönen had previously taken part in
Rally Jordan, but had not competed in any further events outside Europe, and Rally Australia was the final flyaway round of the championship.[22]
The 2011 World Rally Championship was the 39th season of the
FIAWorld Rally Championship. The season consisted of 13 rallies, beginning with
Rally Sweden on 10 February and ended with
Wales Rally GB on 13 November.
The new technical regulations for the
World Rally Car became effective from 2011.[4] The cars were based on the previous
Super 2000 cars, fitted with a supplementary kit, which included turbo and rear-wing additions.[4] The kit must be able to be fitted or removed within a defined time limit, to be determined.[4] They will be powered by a 1600cc turbo engine instead of the previous 2000cc turbo unit.[5]
The sporting regulations were amended to allow any tyre manufacturer to supply tyres. Regulations were implemented to control costs. The amended regulations were presented to the WMSC for a fax vote before 20 July 2010.[6]
Michelin and British tyre firm
DMACK became the two tyre suppliers for the season, following
Pirelli's contract coming to an end and their announcement as the official tyre supplier for
Formula One.[7]
Additional championship points will be awarded to the top three crews on a televised stage on the final day of each rally, known as the "Power Stage". 3 points will be awarded to the stage winner, with 2 and 1 for second and third respectively.[8][9]
Calendar
The 2011 championship was contested over thirteen rounds in Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Oceania.
Following a fax vote by the members of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), the following calendar had been agreed for the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship.[10][11]
After being promoted to the Citroën works team for the
2010 Rally Finland in place of
Dani Sordo,
Sébastien Ogier signed a contract to drive for the team for the entire 2011 season, despite an offer from Ford.
Mini returned to the World Rally Championship as a factory team for the first time since 1967. The manufacturer used the
Mini John Cooper Works, to be run by Dave Richards'
Prodrive team after Prodrive failed in their bid to join the
2010 and
2011Formula One grids. The John Cooper Works WRC will be run in a limited campaign of selected events for the 2011 season, with a view to taking part in the full World Championship from 2012.[16]
Citroën secured the manufacturers' championship in Catalunya.
† –
ICE 1 Racing was excluded from the manufacturers' championship after they failed to take part in
Rally Australia. As the team is considered to be a WRC entry (as opposed to a development entry, like the
Mini WRC Team), it was obligated to take part in at least two rounds of the championship outside Europe. Driver Kimi Räikkönen had previously taken part in
Rally Jordan, but had not competed in any further events outside Europe, and Rally Australia was the final flyaway round of the championship.[22]