Junior WRC 2027: seven WRC2 rounds for the champion, new calendar
Photo: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
The 2027 FIA Junior WRC Championship will give its champion a seven-round WRC2 program for the 2028 season, up from four rounds in previous editions. The FIA and the WRC Promoter announced the 2027 calendar on Monday, November 2. All five rounds will take place in Europe, a move intended to cut travel and shipping costs. The prize, the scoring rules and the tire supply are also changing.
A longer WRC2 program for the champion
The 2027 champion will contest the WRC rounds in a Rally2 car during the 2028 season. Malcolm Wilson OBE, FIA Deputy President for Sport, explained the change in terms of adaptation time. The longer program should give the champion more time to get used to the higher performance of WRC2 cars, gain experience and establish a stronger position at the higher level.
Julien Vial, chief operating officer of the WRC Promoter, pointed to the series' track record. He named Sébastien Loeb, Elfyn Evans and Sami Pajari as examples of Junior WRC's role in developing future world champions.
Five rounds, all in Europe
The season opens on the snow and ice of Rally Sweden. The second round is held on the tarmac stages of Croatia Rally, and the third will run at Rally Italy. The fourth round takes the juniors to the fast gravel roads of Secto Rally Finland, before the final at Rally Scotland.
The organizers say the European calendar still preserves a variety of surfaces and conditions. Vial highlighted the choice of venue for the final. "I'm also pleased that Great Britain will host the final round again for the first time since 2019, and the changeable weather conditions you can expect in Scotland will bring a completely new element to the championship," he said.
Free Hankook tires for the full 2027 season
Hankook will supply Junior WRC competitors with free tires throughout the 2027 season. The organizers count tires among the main costs of competing in the championship. The initiative builds on Hankook's existing involvement in the FIA World Rally Championship.
"Junior WRC 2027 will be cheaper than in 2026 and will offer significantly bigger prizes for the winner," said Maciej Woda, Junior WRC director. Speaking on behalf of M-Sport Polska, Woda added that the company is very proud to be part of the championship.
New scoring and a mandatory Scotland finale
The format changes are meant to reward consistent results and keep the title fight open until the end of the season. Stage points from all five rallies will count toward the championship standings. However, the final classification will include each crew's best results from four rallies.
Starting Rally Scotland will be mandatory. A crew that does not take part in the final round will not be classified in the championship.
Double points for the season finale are also gone. Rally Scotland will award standard points, the same as the four earlier rounds.