Wales Rally GB is to move back to a more traditional position at the end of the
World Rally Championship season after the
FIA confirmed the 2013 calendar at a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council.
There are no new events on the calendar, although Australia returns and takes the place of the New Zealand on the schedule.
With the Welsh event moving back to November, organisers will hope for a boost in the entry list after a disappointing line-up this year, not helped by the fact that potential entrants from national championships had still to conclude their regular campaigns.
Aside from confirming the calendar, the
FIA has also announced a series of changes that will come into force from 2013 onwards.
In a bid to attract more entries, and to reduce costs, WRC Teams competing next year will now only have to compete in one non-European rally, although those teams must still nominate and take part in a minimum of seven events.
The various support championships will also be overhauled for the new season, with the SWRC and PWRC both being renamed.
“The structure of the support Championships has been revised to reflect the interests and demands of the competitors,” the
FIA said in a statement. “From 2013, the current Championship for S2000 cars will be replaced by the WRC-2 Championship including cars with four-wheel drive (R5, R4 and S2000). A specific cup for cars in the Group N category will also form part of the
FIA WRC-2 Championship, and titles for teams, drivers and co-drivers will be awarded to those who have scored the most points in six of the seven events in which they have taken part.
“The current Production Car
World Rally Championship will be replaced by the
FIA WRC-3 Championship, including Group R cars with two-wheel drive (R3, R2 and R1). Titles for teams, drivers and co-drivers will be awarded to those who have scored the most points in five of the six events in which they have taken part.
“The current
FIA WRC Academy will be re-named the
FIA Junior WRC Championship.”
2013 World Rally Championship title:20/01
Rallye Monte Carlo10/02
Rally Sweden 10/03
Rally Mexico14/04
Rallye de Portugal05/05
Rally Argentina 02/06
Acropolis Rally 23/06
Rally d'Italia 04/08
Rally Finland TBC
Rallye Deutschland 15/09
Rally Australia 06/10
Rallye de France 27/10
Rally de Espana
17/11 Rally of Great Britain
The finish date given is the Sunday of the rally weekend. Itineraries are however subject to final confirmation by event organisers.