1997 World Rally Championship

Last updated

The 1997 World Rally Championship was the 25th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season saw many changes in the championship. Most notably, Group A was partially replaced by the World Rally Car with manufacturers given the option which regulations to construct to. One inherent benefit to manufacturers by adopting WRC regulations was removing the need to mass-produce road-going versions of the cars that they competed with, under the previous rules for homologation. This meant that vehicles such as the Escort RS Cosworth and Subaru Impreza Turbo no longer had to be mass-produced for general sale in order to compete at World Championship level, and thus acting as a means of attracting increased competition and involvement by manufacturers. In the few years that follow, the Championship saw the added presence of WRC cars from companies such as Toyota, Hyundai, Seat, Citroën, and Peugeot, who would all compete under WRC regulations without having to manufacture equivalent specialised road cars for public sale. Both Ford and Subaru switched to WRC in 1997, except Mitsubishi who stayed with Group A to maintain the links to their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution road cars. Subaru's transition was much more gradual for similar reasons with the early Subaru Impreza WRCs still largely Group A in nature.

Contents

Events also became shorter and more compact, event rotation system used in previous three seasons was dropped and registered manufacturers were required to contest the expanded 14 event calendar for the first time. In due course the World Rally Car rules would bring new manufactures into the sport, but at the start of 1997 it was still Subaru versus Mitsubishi versus Ford as before, although, by mid season Toyota Team Europe were back with a Corolla World Rally Car. The Drivers' championship was very tightly contested and in the end Tommi Mäkinen won his second drivers' world championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV by a single point ahead of Subaru Impreza WRC driver Colin McRae after the final round in Great Britain. Carlos Sainz was third in the leading Ford Escort WRC. The Manufacturers' title was won by Subaru with Ford second and Mitsubishi third.

One major flaw in the new class system was exposed by the increasing speed of the naturally aspirated front-wheel-drive FIA 2-Litre World Rally Cup cars. The tarmac specification cars built by Peugeot and Renault that competed in the all-tarmac French and Spanish championships became major threats on WRC tarmac events Rallye Catalunya and the Tour de Corse with Gilles Panizzi defeating all but two of the WRC four-wheel-drive turbos in his Peugeot 306 Maxi, taking third place in both events.

Calendar

The 1997 championship was contested over fourteen rounds in Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and Oceania.

RoundDatesRace
119–22 January Flag of Monaco.svg Monte Carlo Rally
27–10 February Flag of Sweden.svg Swedish Rally
31–3 March Flag of Kenya.svg Safari Rally
423–26 March Flag of Portugal.svg Rally Portugal
514–16 April Flag of Spain.svg Rally Catalunya
65–7 May Flag of France.svg Tour de Corse
722–24 May Flag of Argentina.svg Rally Argentina
88–10 June Flag of Greece.svg Acropolis Rally
92–5 August Flag of New Zealand.svg Rally New Zealand
1029–31 August Flag of Finland.svg Rally Finland
1119–21 September Flag of Indonesia.svg Rally Indonesia
1212–15 October Flag of Italy.svg Rally Sanremo
1330 October-2 November Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rally Australia
1423–25 November Flag of the United Kingdom.svg RAC Rally
Sources: [1] [2]

Teams and drivers

Manufacturer teams
TeamManufacturerCarTyreNoDriversRounds
Flag of Japan.svg Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV
Lancer Evo III
M 1 Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen All
2 Flag of Germany.svg Uwe Nittel 1–2, 5–6, 10, 12
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Burns 3–4, 7–9, 11, 13–14
10 Flag of Germany.svg Uwe Nittel 8
11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ed Ordynski 13
13 Flag of Japan.svg Kenjiro Shinozuka 13
Flag of Japan.svg 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRC 97 P 3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae All
4 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Liatti 1, 5–6, 12
Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Eriksson 2–4, 7–11, 13–14
8 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Liatti 14
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Escort WRC M 5 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz All
6 Flag of Germany.svg Armin Schwarz 1–6
Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen 7–14
16 Flag of Italy.svg Angelo Medeghini 14
Flag of Japan.svg Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Corolla WRC M 7 Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol 10–14
8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neal Bates 11, 13
9 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 10, 14
10 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Freddy Loix 12
Source: [3]
Major entries not registered as manufacturers
TeamManufacturerCarDriversRounds
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg R.A.S. Sport Ford Escort RS Cosworth Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol 1
Flag of Monaco.svg Jean-Pierre Richelmi 4, 8
Flag of Sweden.svg Mobil Ford Motorsport Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist 2
Flag of Finland.svg Blue Rose Team Flag of Finland.svg Jarmo Kytölehto 2
Flag of Sweden.svg Bo-Be Plastindustri AB Flag of Sweden.svg Mats Jonsson 2
Flag of Russia.svg Gazprom Rally Team Flag of Russia.svg Alexander Zheludov 14
Escort WRC Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Bruno Thiry 14
Flag of Portugal.svg Totta Peres Competicao Flag of Portugal.svg Fernando Peres4
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgacom Turbo Team Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Gregoire de Mevius 4, 8, 12, 14
Flag of Greece.svg Ford Motor Hellas Flag of Greece.svg Leonídas Kyrkos8
Flag of Finland.svg Blue Rose Team Flag of Finland.svg Jarmo Kytölehto 10
Flag of Finland.svg Ford Team Finland Flag of Finland.svg Sebastian Lindholm 10
Flag of Italy.svg Jolly Club Flag of Italy.svg Gianfranco Cunico 12
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Motorsport Consultancy Flag of Finland.svg Ari Vatanen 14
Flag of Japan.svg Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Freddy Loix 1, 4, 8, 10, 13
Flag of Germany.svg Isolde Holderied 1
Flag of Denmark.svg Henrik Lundgaard 1
Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Rådström 2, 8
Flag of Sweden.svg Tomas Jansson 2, 10
Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 2, 4, 7
Flag of Sweden.svg Mats Thorszelius 2
Flag of Kenya.svg Ian Duncan 3
Flag of Uganda.svg Karim Hirji 3
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neal Bates 9
Flag of Japan.svg Fujimoto Yoshio 11, 13
Flag of Italy.svg H.F. Grifone SRL Flag of Spain.svg José Mariá Ponce 1
Flag of Argentina.svg Raúl Sufan 4–5, 7–13
Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol 7
Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Aghini 12
Flag of Italy.svg Pierlorenzo Zanchi 12
Flag of Germany.svg Mitsubishi Ralliart Germany Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III
Lancer Evo IV
Flag of Uruguay.svg Gustavo Trelles 1–2, 4–5, 7–10, 12
Flag of Austria.svg Manfred Stohl 1–2, 4–5, 7, 10, 12
Flag of Spain.svg Luis Climent 4–6, 8, 10, 13–14
Flag of Austria.svg Kris Rosenberger 12, 14
Flag of Sweden.svg Mitsubishi Ralliart Sweden Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Bäcklund 2
Flag of Sweden.svg Stig-Olov Walfridson 2
Flag of Finland.svg Mitsubishi Ralliart Finland Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kangas 2, 10
Flag of Finland.svg Jouko Puhakka 10
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ralliart New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg Geoff Argyle 9
Flag of New Zealand.svg Reece Jones 9
Flag of New Zealand.svg Marty Roestenburg 9
Flag of New Zealand.svg Craig Marshall9
Flag of Sweden.svg Renault Team Sweden Renault Mégane Maxi Flag of Sweden.svg Jonas Kruse 2, 10
Flag of Portugal.svg Renault Gest Galp Flag of Portugal.svg José Carlos Macedo4
Flag of Portugal.svg Pedro Azeredo 4
Flag of Austria.svg Renault Elf Team Flag of Austria.svg Raphael Sperrer 4–5, 10, 12
Flag of Spain.svg Renault Sport España Flag of Spain.svg Miguel Martínez 5
Flag of France.svg Société Diac Flag of France.svg Philippe Bugalski 6
Flag of France.svg Serge Jordan 6
Flag of France.svg Claude Balesi 6
Flag of Italy.svg Italian Promotor Sport Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Andreucci 12
Flag of Italy.svg Corrado Fontana 12
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Renault Dealer Rallying UK Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robbie Head 14
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Rowe 14
Flag of Japan.svg Subaru Allstars Subaru Impreza WRC 97 Flag of France.svg Frédéric Dor 12
Impreza 555 3–4, 8–10
Flag of Portugal.svg Rui Madeira 4–5
Flag of Japan.svg Yukihiko Sakurai 4, 8, 14
Flag of Italy.svg A.R.T. Engineering Flag of Italy.svg Angelo Medeghini 5, 10
Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Navarra 8, 12, 14
Flag of San Marino.svg Massimo Ercolani 12
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Subaru Rally Team Australia Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter 'Possum' Bourne 9, 13
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg Graham9, 13
Flag of Japan.svg Subaru Rally Team Japan Flag of Japan.svg Yoshihiro Kataoka 9
Flag of Japan.svg Hideaki Miyoshi 9, 11, 13
Flag of Japan.svg Toshihiro Arai 13
Flag of Portugal.svg Peugeot Esso Competição Peugeot 306 Maxi Flag of Portugal.svg Adruzilo Lopes 4
Flag of France.svg Peugeot Sport Flag of France.svg François Delecour 5–6
Flag of France.svg Gilles Panizzi 5–6
Flag of Spain.svg Peugeot Sport España Flag of Spain.svg Jaime Azcona 5
Source: [3]

Results and standings

Drivers' championship

Pos.Driver MON
Flag of Monaco.svg
SWE
Flag of Sweden.svg
KEN
Flag of Kenya.svg
POR
Flag of Portugal.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
FRA
Flag of France.svg
ARG
Flag of Argentina.svg
GRE
Flag of Greece.svg
NZL
Flag of New Zealand.svg
FIN
Flag of Finland.svg
INA
Flag of Indonesia.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
AUS
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
 Pts 
1 Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen 33Ret11Ret13Ret1Ret32663
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae Ret41Ret412RetRetRetRet11162
3 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz 22RetRet102Ret12Ret14Ret351
4 Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen Ret23226Ret229
5 Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Eriksson 1RetRet3Ret1Ret3RetRet28
6 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Liatti 1252724
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Burns 2RetRet4444421
8 Flag of Germany.svg Armin Schwarz 4643Ret911
9 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Freddy Loix 162Ret37578
10 Flag of France.svg Gilles Panizzi 338
11 Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol Ret58Ret83Ret6
12 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 8Ret4Ret55
13 Flag of Kenya.svg Ian Duncan 34
14 Flag of Finland.svg Jarmo Kytölehto Ret34
15 Flag of Sweden.svg Thomas Rådström 554
16 Flag of New Zealand.svg Possum Bourne 554
17 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Grégoire De Mévius 47RetRet3
18 Flag of France.svg François Delecour DSQ43
19 Flag of Finland.svg Sebastian Lindholm 43
20 Flag of Germany.svg Uwe Nittel 5Ret8867Ret3
21 Flag of Kenya.svg Jonathan Toroitich 52
22 Flag of Monaco.svg Jean-Pierre Richelmi 5Ret2
23 Flag of Italy.svg Angelo Medeghini 5Ret102
24 Flag of Sweden.svg Tomas Jansson 752
25 Flag of Japan.svg Yoshio Fujimoto 5Ret2
26 Flag of Denmark.svg Henrik Lundgaard 61
27 Flag of France.svg Frédéric Dor 617112329151
28 Flag of Japan.svg Masao Kamioka 6Ret141
29 Flag of Portugal.svg Rui Madeira 1561
30 Flag of France.svg Philippe Bugalski 61
31 Flag of Uruguay.svg Gustavo Trelles 916713613717Ret1
32 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neal Bates 6Ret81
33 Flag of Finland.svg Pasi Hagström 61
34 Flag of Malaysia.svg Karamjit Singh 116Ret171
35 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ed Ordynski 61
Pos.Driver MON
Flag of Monaco.svg
SWE
Flag of Sweden.svg
KEN
Flag of Kenya.svg
POR
Flag of Portugal.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
FRA
Flag of France.svg
ARG
Flag of Argentina.svg
GRE
Flag of Greece.svg
NZL
Flag of New Zealand.svg
FIN
Flag of Finland.svg
INA
Flag of Indonesia.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
AUS
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
 Pts 
Sources: [4] [5]
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleDid not finish (Ret)
BlackExcluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
BlankWithdrew entry from
the event (WD)

Manufacturers' championship

Pos.ManufacturerNo. MON
Flag of Monaco.svg
SWE
Flag of Sweden.svg
KEN
Flag of Kenya.svg
POR
Flag of Portugal.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
FRA
Flag of France.svg
ARG
Flag of Argentina.svg
GRE
Flag of Greece.svg
NZL
Flag of New Zealand.svg
FIN
Flag of Finland.svg
INA
Flag of Indonesia.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
AUS
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Points
1 Flag of Japan.svg 555 Subaru World Rally Team 3Ret41Ret412RetRetRetRet111114
411RetRet253Ret1Ret32RetRet
2 Flag of the United States.svg Ford Motor Co 522RetRet102Ret12Ret14Ret391
64643Ret9Ret23226Ret2
3 Flag of Japan.svg Team Mitsubishi Ralliart 133Ret11Ret13Ret1Ret32686
25Ret2Ret88Ret4474Ret44
Pos.ManufacturerNo. MON
Flag of Monaco.svg
SWE
Flag of Sweden.svg
KEN
Flag of Kenya.svg
POR
Flag of Portugal.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
FRA
Flag of France.svg
ARG
Flag of Argentina.svg
GRE
Flag of Greece.svg
NZL
Flag of New Zealand.svg
FIN
Flag of Finland.svg
INA
Flag of Indonesia.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
AUS
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Points
Sources: [5] [4]
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleDid not finish (Ret)
BlackExcluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
BlankWithdrew entry from
the event (WD)

Group N Cup

Pos.Driver MON
Flag of Monaco.svg
SWE
Flag of Sweden.svg
KEN
Flag of Kenya.svg
POR
Flag of Portugal.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
FRA
Flag of France.svg
ARG
Flag of Argentina.svg
GRE
Flag of Greece.svg
NZL
Flag of New Zealand.svg
FIN
Flag of Finland.svg
INA
Flag of Indonesia.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
AUS
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
 Pts 
1 Flag of Uruguay.svg Gustavo Trelles 14111114Ret84
2 Flag of Spain.svg Luís Climent 3RetRet27Ret126
Flag of Austria.svg Manfred Stohl 362536426
4 Flag of Japan.svg Shigeyuki Konishi Ret2121
Flag of Malaysia.svg Karamjit Singh 31Ret421
6 Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Bäcklund 113
Flag of Kenya.svg Johnny Hellier 113
Flag of France.svg Jean-Marie Santoni 113
Flag of Finland.svg Jouko Puhakka 113
Flag of Italy.svg Mario Stagni 113
Flag of New Zealand.svg Reece Jones 2Ret313
12 Flag of Japan.svg Hideaki Miyoshi Ret3310
13 Flag of Germany.svg Armin Kremer 28
Flag of Sweden.svg Stig-Olov Walfridsson 28
Flag of Poland.svg Sobiesław Zasada 28
Flag of Italy.svg Antonello Fidanza 28
Flag of France.svg Jacques Andreani28
Flag of Argentina.svg Roberto Sanchez 28
Flag of Finland.svg Olli Harkki 2Ret8
Flag of Italy.svg Luca Baldini28
Flag of Japan.svg Yoshihiro Kataoka RetRet28
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeremy Easson 28
14 Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kangas 357
23 Flag of Kenya.svg Anwar Azar 35
Flag of Spain.svg David Nafría 35
Flag of Austria.svg Achim Mörtl 35
Flag of Greece.svg Pavlos Moschoutis 35
Flag of Finland.svg Marko Ipatti 35
Flag of Slovenia.svg Boris Popovič 35
Pos.Driver MON
Flag of Monaco.svg
SWE
Flag of Sweden.svg
KEN
Flag of Kenya.svg
POR
Flag of Portugal.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
FRA
Flag of France.svg
ARG
Flag of Argentina.svg
GRE
Flag of Greece.svg
NZL
Flag of New Zealand.svg
FIN
Flag of Finland.svg
INA
Flag of Indonesia.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
AUS
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
 Pts 
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleDid not finish (Ret)
BlackExcluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
BlankWithdrew entry from
the event (WD)

Events

1997 World Rally Championship event map
WRC-1997.png
Black = TarmacBrown = GravelBlue = Ice/SnowRed = Mixed Surface
1997 World Rally Championship schedule and results
Rally NameDates RunPodium Drivers (Finishing Time)Podium Cars
Flag of Monaco.svg Monte Carlo Rally 19 January–22 January
  1. Flag of Italy.svg Piero Liatti (4h:26m:58s)
  2. Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz (4h:27m:53s)
  3. Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen (4h:29m:29s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
Flag of Sweden.svg Swedish Rally 7 February–10 February
  1. Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Eriksson (3h:51m:49s)
  2. Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz (3h:52m:05s)
  3. Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen (3h:52m:15s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
Flag of Kenya.svg Safari Rally 1 March–3 March
  1. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae (11h:29m:00s)
  2. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Burns (11h:36m:04s)
  3. Flag of Kenya.svg Ian Duncan (11h:40m:18s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  2. Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evolution IV
  3. Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205
Flag of Portugal.svg Rally Portugal 23 March–26 March
  1. Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen (4h:53m:01s)
  2. Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Freddy Loix (4h:57m:06s)
  3. Flag of Germany.svg Armin Schwarz (4h:59m:34s)
  1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
  2. Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205
  3. Ford Escort WRC
Flag of Spain.svg Rally Catalunya 14 April–16 April
  1. Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen (4h:08m:46s)
  2. Flag of Italy.svg Piero Liatti (4h:08m:53s)
  3. Flag of France.svg Gilles Panizzi (4h:11m:55s)
  1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
  2. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  3. Peugeot 306 Maxi
Flag of France.svg Tour de Corse 5 May–7 May
  1. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae (4h:31m:08s)
  2. Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz (4h:31m:16s)
  3. Flag of France.svg Gilles Panizzi (4h:31m:46s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Peugeot 306 Maxi
Flag of Argentina.svg Rally Argentina 22 May–24 May
  1. Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen (4h:25m:38s)
  2. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae (4h:26m:39s)
  3. Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Eriksson (4h:30m:06s)
  1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
  2. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  3. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
Flag of Greece.svg Acropolis Rally 8 June–10 June
  1. Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz (4h:56m:24s)
  2. Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen (4h:56m:41s)
  3. Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen (5h:01m:27s)
  1. Ford Escort WRC
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
Flag of New Zealand.svg Rally New Zealand 2 August–5 August
  1. Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Eriksson (4h:14m:11s)
  2. Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz (4h:14m:24s)
  3. Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen (4h:14m:30s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Ford Escort WRC
Flag of Finland.svg Rally Finland 29 August–31 August
  1. Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen (3h:16m:18s)
  2. Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen (3h:16m:25s)
  3. Flag of Finland.svg Jarmo Kytölehto (3h:18m:18s)
  1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Ford Escort WRC
Flag of Indonesia.svg Rally Indonesia 19 September–21 September
  1. Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz (4h:37m:30s)
  2. Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen (4h:37m:46s)
  3. Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Eriksson (4h:38m:49s)
  1. Ford Escort WRC
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
Flag of Italy.svg Rally Sanremo 13 October–15 October
  1. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae (4h:08m:25s)
  2. Flag of Italy.svg Piero Liatti (4h:08m:31s)
  3. Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen (4h:08m:37s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  2. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  3. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rally Australia 30 October–2 November
  1. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae (4h:05m:31s)
  2. Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen (4h:05m:37s)
  3. Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol (4h:05m:52s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  2. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
  3. Toyota Corolla WRC
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg RAC Rally 23 November–25 November
  1. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae (3h:54m:31s)
  2. Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen (3h:57m:18s)
  3. Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz (3h:58m:24s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 97
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Ford Escort WRC
Source: [1]

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The 2000 World Rally Championship was the 28th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 14 rallies. The drivers' world championship was won by Marcus Grönholm in a Peugeot 206 WRC, breaking the streak of Tommi Mäkinen who had won the previous 4 titles for Mitsubishi, ahead of Richard Burns and Carlos Sainz. The manufacturers' title was won by Peugeot, ahead of Ford and Subaru.

The 1999 World Rally Championship was the 27th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 14 rallies. Tommi Mäkinen won his fourth drivers' world championship driving for Mitsubishi, ahead of Richard Burns and Didier Auriol. The manufacturers' title was won by Toyota, ahead of Subaru and Mitsubishi.

The 1998 World Rally Championship was the 26th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 13 rallies. Tommi Mäkinen won his third consecutive drivers' world championship driving for Mitsubishi, ahead of Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae. The manufacturers' title was won by Mitsubishi, ahead of Toyota and Subaru. This year also marked the Ford Escort's last full-season works outing before being replaced by the Ford Focus WRC in 1999. The season ended in dramatic fashion when Carlos Sainz's Corolla WRC stopped approximately 300 metres from the finishing line in the final stage at Margam due to mechanical failure, thus surrendering his fourth place on the rally and handing the title to Mäkinen.

The 1996 World Rally Championship was the 24th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 9 rallies. As a result of their 1995 disqualification, Toyota Team Europe were not allowed to compete in this year's championship, so only three works teams contested the championship. The drivers' world championship was won by Tommi Mäkinen in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3, ahead of Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz. The manufacturers' title was won by Subaru.

The 1995 World Rally Championship was the 23rd season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC). The season consisted of 8 rallies. The drivers' world championship was won by Colin McRae in a Subaru Impreza 555, ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz. The manufacturers' title was won by Subaru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asia-Pacific Rally Championship</span> FIA regional rally championship

The Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) is an international rally championship organized by the FIA encompassing rounds in Asia and Oceania. Group N cars dominated the championship for many years but in recent years cars built to R5 and S2000 regulations have tended to be the frontrunners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peugeot 206 WRC</span> Rally car

The Peugeot 206 WRC is a World Rally Car based on the Peugeot 206. It was used by Peugeot Sport, Peugeot's factory team, in the World Rally Championship from 1999 to 2003. The car brought Peugeot the manufacturers' world title three years in a row from 2000 to 2002. Marcus Grönholm won the drivers' title in 2000 and 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subaru World Rally Team</span> 1980-2008 rallying team, three-time winner of the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers

The Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT) was Subaru's World Rally Championship (WRC) team. It used a distinctive blue with yellow colour scheme that is a throwback to the sponsorship deal with State Express 555, a BAT cigarette brand popular in Asia. 555 logos were found on Subaru cars from 1993 to 2003, although less prevalent since 1999 due to BAT's participation in Formula One with British American Racing. Subaru's WRC efforts date back to 1980, however, in 1989 British firm Prodrive took over its operations, and its base moved from Japan to Banbury, England.

The FIA WRC2 is a support championship of the World Rally Championship (WRC). The calendar consists of the same rallies and stages as the parent series and crews usually compete immediately after Rally1 class crews. WRC2 is limited to production-based cars homologated under Group Rally2 rules. There are separate specific championship titles awarded to Teams, Drivers and Co-Drivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Production World Rally Championship</span> Rally championship

The FIA Production car World Rally Championship, or PWRC, was a companion rally series to the World Rally Championship, contested mainly by Group N rally cars.

References

  1. 1 2 "WRC 1997". eWRC-results.com . Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  2. "1997 WRC calendar". Jonkka's World Rally Archive. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 "FIA World Rally Championship Entry List 1997". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Season 1997 – Championship standings". Jonkka's World Rally Archive. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 "FIA World Rally Championship Standings 1997". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 16 January 2024.