The World Rally-Raid Championship (officially abbreviated as W2RC) is a rally raid series co-sanctioned by the FIA and FIM and promoted by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO).[1][2] The championship's seasons culminate with world championship titles in both automobile and motorcycle categories.
The combined World Championship series was conceived as a result of efforts by the ASO, FIA and FIM to harmonize regulations.[4] After a vote by the World Motorsport Council to officially make rally raid the seventh world championship under the FIA in 2021, they joined with the FIM to combine their respective international cross-country rallying series into a single World Rally-Raid Championship. The ASO, promoter of the Dakar Rally, was chosen by both world-governing bodies as the sole promoter of the series for a period of five years.[1]
The championship consists primarily of two forms of cross-country rallying:
Cross-Country Rally: Between four and six timed stages; total distance of 1200km.
Cross-Country Marathon: More than six timed stages; total distance of 2500km.
The cross-country baja format continues to be contested in the international FIA World Baja Cup and FIM Bajas World Cup competitions, separate from the world championship.
Categories and awards
The series covers various categories under both the FIA and FIM.[10][11]
FIA categories
T1 "Ultimate": Prototype Cross-Country Cars
FIA World Rally-Raid Championship for drivers, navigators, and manufacturers
T2 "Stock": Series Production Cross-Country Cars
FIA World Rally-Raid Championship for drivers and navigators
FIA Rally-Raid Championship for Stock drivers, navigators, and manufacturers
FIA Rally-Raid Championship for Teams
T3 "Challenger": Lightweight Prototype Cross-Country Vehicles
FIA World Rally-Raid Championship for drivers and navigators
FIA Rally-Raid Championship for Challenger drivers and navigators
FIA Rally-Raid Championship for Teams
T4 "SSV": Modified Production Cross-Country Side-by-Side Vehicles
FIA World Rally-Raid Championship for drivers and navigators
FIA Rally-Raid Championship for SSV drivers, navigators, and manufacturers
FIA Rally-Raid Championship for Teams
T5 "Truck": Prototype and Production Cross-Country Trucks
The FIA Rally-Raid Championship for Master Drivers is awarded to drivers over the age of 50.
Groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 are eligible for the overall FIA Rally-Raid World Championship titles for drivers and navigators, while only manufacturers in T1 are eligible. Additional Group-specific championships are awarded in Groups T2, T3, and T4. While T5 vehicles can participate no championship is awarded.
FIM categories
RallyGP
FIM RallyGP World Championship for riders and manufacturers
Rally2
FIM Rally2 World Cup for riders and teams
FIM Rally2 Junior Trophy
FIM Rally2 Women Trophy
FIM Rally2 Veteran Trophy
Rally3
FIM Rally3 World Cup for riders and teams
FIM Rally3 Junior Trophy
Quad
FIM Quad World Cup
Only riders competing in the RallyGP category are eligible for the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship. World Cup titles are available for champions of the Rally2, Rally3, and Quad categories.
