Junior WRC dates announced

Rally Poland and Wales Rally GB have won places in this season’s Junior WRC Championship calendar.

Rally Poland and Wales Rally GB have won places in this season’s Junior WRC Championship calendar.
Poland will host the second round in place of the Acropolis Rally of Greece, which no longer hosts the WRC. Britain takes over from Rally de Espana as the final event.
The six-round series will begin in Portugal with Finland, Germany and France retaining their places during the middle of the season.
The championship is open to competitors under 28 (born on or after 1 January 1986), driving a Citroen DS3 R3 and using Michelin tyres and fuel from the FIA’s designated supplier.
Seasonally allocated numbers (51 - 70) will be given to each registered driver. All registered competitors will be automatically entered into the FIA WRC 3 Championship.
All six rounds count towards the title, won by Sweden's Pontus Tidemand (pictured) in 2013, and the champion will win a six-round WRC 2 programme in 2015 in a Citroën DS3 R5. Points will no longer be awarded for stage wins.
The Junior WRC forms part of the FIA’s plan to create a pyramid for drivers to progress from national and international level to the headline WRC category. The Junior WRC sits above the new ERC Junior Championship.
“It is our intention to establish this pyramid so that drivers wishing to pursue a professional career in our sport have a clear path, learning on all levels as they progress,” said the FIA’s Jarmo Mahonen.
“Here, in front of influential manufacturers, they have the chance to make their mark and with a drive in an R5 car for the winner, this really completes the logical path to the full WRC,” he added.
The calendar is:
Rally de Portugal 3 - 6 April; Rally Poland 26 - 29 June; Rally Finland 31 July - 3 August; Rallye Deutschland 21 - 24 August; Rallye France 2 - 5 October; Wales Rally GB 13 - 16 November.

wrc.com