37th season of the FIA World Rally Championship
The 2009 World Rally Championship was the 37th season of the FIA World Rally Championship . The season consisted of twelve rallies and began on 30 January, with Rally Ireland and ended with Rally GB on 25 October. Sébastien Loeb won the World Drivers' championship at Rally GB by one point from Mikko Hirvonen , taking his sixth consecutive crown.[ 1] Citroën secured their fifth Manufacturers' title, Martin Prokop won the JWRC Drivers' championship and Armindo Araujo won the PWRC Drivers' championship.
The number of mechanics available per car has been dropped from 12 to 8.[ 2]
The 2009 championship was contested over twelve rounds in Europe, South America and Oceania.
The 2009 season included twelve rallies, which was three fewer than the 2008 season , because the FIA imposed a "Round Rotation" System in order to attract candidate rallies to have a chance to be a WRC event. Monte Carlo, Sweden, Mexico, Jordan, Turkey, Germany, New Zealand, France and Japan were dropped from the calendar for 2009, but will return at the 2010 WRC Season . Ireland, Norway, Cyprus, Portugal, Poland and Australia returned to the 2009 season.[ 3]
The eight events also part of the Production World Rally Championship were Norway, Cyprus, Portugal, Argentina, Italy, Greece, Australia and Rally GB. The eight rallies also on the Junior World Rally Championship schedule were Ireland, Cyprus, Portugal, Argentina, Italy, Poland, Finland and Spain.
In 2009 two categories are eligible to compete for the Manufacturer's championship:
Manufacturer (M)
must take part in all the rallies of the Championship with two cars of the same make
must enter only cars corresponding to the latest homologated version of a World Rally Car in conformity with the 2009 Appendix J
must inform the FIA of the name of the first driver entered for the season at the time of registration for the Championship. No change of the first driver is authorised, except in a case of force majeure. The driver of the second car may be changed for each of the rallies in the Championship
Manufacturer Team (MT)
must take part in a minimum of 8 Championship rallies with one or two cars; those rallies must be nominated on registering for the Championship
cannot enter World Rally Cars homologated during the year 2009 and cannot use parts homologated after 2 January 2009
can only score points in the events it nominated on registering.
The registered Manufacturers are Citroën Total World Rally Team and BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team ; the registered Manufacturer Teams are Stobart VK M-Sport Ford , Munchi's Ford and Citroën Junior Team .
Suzuki and Subaru pulled out of the WRC at the end of the 2008 championship , both citing the economic downturn then affecting the automotive industry for their withdrawal.
Manufacturers
Team
Manufacturer
Car
Tyre
No
Drivers
Co-drivers
Rounds
Citroën Total World Rally Team
Citroën
C4 WRC
P
1
Sébastien Loeb
Daniel Elena
All
2
Daniel Sordo
Marc Marti
All
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Ford
Focus RS WRC 08 Focus RS WRC 09
P
3
Mikko Hirvonen
Jarmo Lehtinen
All
4
Jari-Matti Latvala
Miikka Anttila
All
Manufacturer Teams
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team
Ford
Focus RS WRC 08
P
5
Urmo Aava
Kuldar Sikk
1–2
Matthew Wilson
Scott Martin
3–12
6
Henning Solberg
Cato Menkerud
All
Citroën Junior Team
Citroën
C4 WRC
P
7
Chris Atkinson
Stéphane Prévot
1
Evgeny Novikov
Dale Moscatt
2–4, 6–9
8
Conrad Rautenbach
Daniel Barritt
1–8, 10–11
11
Petter Solberg
Phil Mills
12
12
Sébastien Ogier
Julien Ingrassia
5, 9–12
Munchi's Ford World Rally Team
Ford
Focus RS WRC 08
P
9
Federico Villagra
Jorge Perez Companc
3, 5–6, 9–11
José Díaz
4, 7
Petter Solberg World Rally Team
Citroën
Xsara WRC
P
11
Petter Solberg
Phil Mills
2–9
C4 WRC
11
Citroën Junior Team
P
7
Evgeny Novikov
Stéphane Prévot
11
8
Conrad Rautenbach
Daniel Barritt
9, 12
12
Sébastien Ogier
Julien Ingrassia
1–4, 6–8
16
Aaron Burkart
Michael Kölbach
12
Adapta World Rally Team
Subaru
Impreza WRC 2008
P
14
Mads Østberg
Ole Kristian Unnerud
2, 4, 6–7
Veronica Engan
8
Jonas Andersson
9, 12
20
Anders Grøndal
Maria Andersson
2
Prodrive
P
15
Marcus Grönholm
Timo Rautiainen
4
Ketomaa World Rally Team
Impreza WRC 2007
P
16
Jari Ketomaa
Mika Stenberg
9
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Ford
Focus RS WRC 08
P
15
Khalid Al Qassimi
Michael Orr
1, 3–4, 6–7, 9–12
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team
P
15
Krzysztof Holowczyc
Lukasz Kurzeja
8
16
Matthew Wilson
Scott Martin
1–2
17
Steve Perez
Paul Spooner
12
Andreas Mikkelsen
Škoda
Fabia WRC
P
16
Andreas Mikkelsen
Ola Fløene
8
P-G Andersson Rallying
P
19
Per-Gunnar Andersson
Anders Fredriksson
2
Van Merksteijn Motorsport
Ford
Focus RS WRC 06/07
P
17
Peter Van Merksteijn, Jr.
Eddy Chevaillier
2, 4
18
Peter Van Merksteijn, Sr.
Erwin Mombaerts
2
Hans van Goor
4
Ipatec Racing
Focus RS WRC 06
P
66
Dennis Kuipers
Kees Hagman
4, 12
68
René Kuipers
Erwin Berkhof
4
Erwin Mombaerts
12
Bozian Racing
Peugeot
307 WRC
P
66
Dany Snobeck
Gilles Mondesir
11
Munchi's Ford World Rally Team
Ford
Focus RS WRC 08
P
10
Matti Rantanen
Mikko Lukka
9
Paul Bird
Ian Windress
11
72
Mattias Therman
Janne Perälä
9
[ 4]
No
Driver
Co-driver
Car
Rounds
31
Aaron Burkart
Michael Kölbach
Suzuki Swift S1600
1, 3, 5–6, 9, 11
32
Michał Kościuszko
Maciek Szczepaniak
Suzuki Swift S1600
3–6, 8–9
33
Simone Bertolotti
Luca Celestini
Suzuki Swift S1600
1, 4, 6, 8–9, 11
34
Luca Griotti
Corrado Bonato
Renault Clio R3
1, 4, 6, 8–9, 11
35
Yoann Bonato
Benjamin Boulloud
Suzuki Swift S1600
1, 4, 6, 8–9, 11
36
Hans Weijs, Jr.
Bjorn Degandt
Citroën C2 S1600
1, 4, 6, 8–9, 11
37
Kevin Abbring
Erwin Mombaerts
Renault Clio R3
1, 4, 6, 8–9, 11
38
Martin Prokop
Jan Tománek
Citroën C2 S1600
1, 3, 6, 8–9, 11
39
Alessandro Bettega
Simone Scattolin
Renault Clio S1600
5
Renault Clio R3
4, 6, 8
Mark Wallenwein
Stefan Kopczyk
9, 11
Additional guest entries†
60
Ross Forde
Arron Forde
Suzuki Swift Sport
1
59
Radosław Typa
Maciek Wislawski
Citroën C2 R2
8
60
Marcin Dobrowolski
Michal Dobrowolski
Citroën C2 R2
8
59
Kalle Pinomaki
Matti Kaskinen
Renault Clio R3
9
59
Jordi Martí
Gabriel Sánchez
Renault Clio R3
11
[ 5]
No
Driver
Co-driver
Car
Rounds
31
Martin Prokop
Jan Tománek
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2, 4–5, 7, 10, 12
32
Bernardo Sousa
Jorge Carvalho
Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000
2–4, 6–7, 10, 12
33
Toshihiro Arai
Glenn Macneal
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2–3, 5, 7, 10, 12
34
Gianluca Linari
Andrea Cecchi
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2–4, 7, 10
Paolo Gregoriani
6
35
Martin Semerád
Bohuslav Ceplecha
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2–3
64
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
4, 6–7, 12
36
Egoi Eder Valdés López
Daniel Lucas
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
3–7, 12
37
Frederic Sauvan
Thibault Gorczyca
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2–3, 5–6
Sebastien Capanna
7, 12
38
Gabor Mayer
Róbert Tagai
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
3–7, 12
39
Riccardo Errani
Stefano Casadio
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
–
Simone Campedelli
Danilo Fappani
3, 6
Thomas Privé
Patrice Zurro
4
Stefano Marrini
Roberto Mometti
5
Armindo Araujo
Miguel Ramalho
10
Eyvind Brynildsen
Denis Giraudet
Škoda Fabia S2000
12
40
Andis Neikšāns
Pēteris Dzirkals
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2–4, 6–7
Dave Weston, Jr.
Iuean Thomas
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
12
43
Luciano Bernardi
Fabian Cretu
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
5
Mark Tapper
Jeff Judd
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
10
65
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
4, 6–7, 12
44
Jaromir Tarabus
Daniel Trunkat
Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000
2
Filip Schovánek
4
Nasser Al-Attiyah
Giovanni Bernacchini
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
3
Spyros Pavlides
Chris Patterson
5, 12
Denis Giraudet
7
45
Patrik Flodin
Göran Bergsten
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2, 4, 6–7, 12
Stewart Taylor
Warwick Searle
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
10
46
Patrik Sandell
Emil Axelsson
Škoda Fabia S2000
2–4, 6–7, 12
47
Armindo Araujo
Miguel Ramalho
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2–4, 6–7, 12
48
Gaurav Gill
David Senior
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2–4
Hermann Gassner, Jr.
Katharina Wustenhagen
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
6, 12
Stefano Marrini
Roberto Mometti
7
Liu Chao Dong
Anthony McLoughlin
10
49
Eyvind Brynildsen
Denis Giraudet
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2, 4–6, 10
Giorgio Bacco
Nicola Arena
12
50
Nasser Al-Attiyah
Giovanni Bernacchini
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
4–7, 12
Richard Mason
Sara Mason
10
Additional guest entries†
59
Andreas Mikkelsen
Ola Fløene
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2
60
Bernt Kollevold
Veronica Engan
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2
159
Nicos Thomas
Stéphane Prévot
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
3
160
Charalambos Timotheu
Savvas Laos
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
3
159
Bruno Magalhães
Carlos Magalhães
Peugeot 207 S2000
4
160
Ricardo Moura
Paulo Fiuza
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
4
159
Gabriel Pozzo
Daniel Stillo
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
5
160
Marcos Ligato
Rubén Garcia
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
5
59
Lambros Athanassoulas
Nikolaos Zakheos
Škoda Fabia S2000
7
59
Cody Crocker
Ben Atkinson
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
10
60
Neal Bates
Coral Taylor
Toyota Corolla S2000
10
†^ – At each rally, the organiser may nominate two "guest drivers" from their country to score support category points.
Results and standings [ edit ]
Results and statistics [ edit ]
Colour
Rally Surface
Gold
Gravel
Silver
Tarmac
Blue
Snow/Ice
Bronze
Mixed Surface
Notes:
^1 – Stages 7 (Murley) and 8 (Fardross) were cancelled.[ 6]
^2 – Stages 3 (Evangelistria) and 16 (Loutraki 2) were cancelled.[ 7]
^3 – Stages 6 (CTEK East 1) and 11 (CTEK East 2) were cancelled.[ 8]
Drivers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)
Manufacturers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)
Citroën secured the manufacturers' championship in Catalunya.
JWRC Drivers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)
PWRC Drivers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)