New to the FIA Junior WRC? Don’t worry. Find out everything you need to know about next year’s championship, including what the cars are, where rallies take place and more.

For young rally drivers, picking the right career path to accelerate your chances of reaching the sport’s top level can be a daunting prospect. There are tens - if not hundreds - of series that cater towards up-and-coming talent at regional, national and international level. 

At the top of that tree, though, is the FIA Junior WRC - the championship that has given drivers like Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Thierry Neuville a foot in the door to go on to bigger things. In fact, graduates from the FIA Junior WRC have combined to produce 462 WRC podiums and 185 WRC victories.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

The championship will be accepting entries from drivers who were born on or after 1 January 1993. So, if you're aged 30 or below, you are eligible.

WHAT ARE THE CARS?

The Series serves as the perfect introduction to WRC thanks in part thanks to the impressive, four-wheel drive, Ford Fiesta Rally3, designed and developed by M-Sport Poland. All competitors drive identical Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars, using a base setup to level the playing field, the cars are run and maintained by M-Sport Poland throughout the entire season

The Fiesta Rally3 is based on Ford’s standard road-going model, but delivers over 235bhp from its 1.5 litre engine and 400Nm of torque. This is sent to all four wheels via a five-speed sequential gearbox.

 

IS THERE A PRIZE?

Yes! And it’s the biggest in rallying…

For 2023, the champion's prize package will include four arrive and drive rallies on European WRC events in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 car (the next step up from Rally3). The winner will also get the chance to test the Monday before each event to gain more experience. 

Should the Junior WRC Champion be able to provide extra budget, two additional rounds will be available as a cost-capped option that has been agreed and set by the FIA which also includes a Monday test.

WHY SHOULD I ENTER?

Because it's the most cost-effective way to home your skills and gain on-event experience at WRC level. Former champions include WRC drivers Sébastien Ogier, Sébastien Loeb, Elfyn Evans and Dani Sordo. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

  • M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 rental and servicing
  • Rally car transport
  • FIA nominated fuel and Pirelli tyre allocation for each rally
  • Service park hospitality for driver & co-driver
  • Rally car insurance with an excess of €15,000
  • FIA Junior WRC priority entry
  • Rebuilds and repairs as and when required
  • Dedicated media team
  • On-site photo and video service

M-SPORT DIRECTOR MALCOLM WILSON

"It’s amazing to see the FIA Junior WRC Championship begin this four-wheel drive era with the Fiesta Rally3. I remember when it was launched in 2001, I said the likes of Carlos Sainz, Colin McRae, Tommi Makinen and Richard Burns won’t be competing forever. The same is now true for the then future stars that came through Junior WRC such as Loeb, Ogier, Sordo, Evans and Breen. It makes me hugely proud that M-Sport plays such a pivotal in role in this prestigious championship, with some of the aforementioned drivers seeing success on WRC rallies with M-Sport.  

"The championship is the most cost-effective way for any budding young driver to get onto the world stage. Every driver uses identical machinery, so it is very easy to measure yourself and your performance against other competitors. It is with our ‘Ladder of Opportunity’ that the most promising drivers can progress by having the new Ford Fiesta Rally3 in their arsenal to tackle some of the toughest stages in the world."