2006 World Rally Championship
The 2006 World Rally Championship began on January 20 with the 74th Monte Carlo Rally. Finland's Marcus Grönholm, in a Ford Focus RS WRC, took the win ahead of France's Sébastien Loeb. After the Swedish Rally ended with the same top-two, Loeb and Kronos Citroën went on to win five rallies in a row. Despite an injury in a mountain-biking accident before the Rally of Turkey, Loeb secured his third drivers' title, whereas Ford won their first manufacturers' title since 1979.
Rule changes banned active differentials and water injection, as well as mandating that teams must re-use cars and engines on selected ‘pairs’ of events.
Rule changes
Since 2006 manufacturer is understood to mean a manufacturer, a team designated by a manufacturer, or a privateer team taking part with a single make of car.
Two categories were created to compete for the Manufacturer's championship:
Manufacturer 1 (M1)
- undertakes to take part in all the rallies of the Championship
- must enter only cars corresponding to the latest homologated version of a World Rally Car in conformity with the 2006 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
- In order to score points in the Championship, a Manufacturer 1 must take part with two cars of the same make in the 16 rallies of the calendar
Manufacturer 2 (M2)
- undertakes to take part in 10 or more Championship rallies which it has nominated
- cannot enter World Rally Cars homologated during the year 2006 and cannot use parts homologated after 2 January 2006
- cannot enter a driver who has been classified among the first six in the final classification of the FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers in the last five years
- In order to score points in the Championship, a Manufacturer 2 must take part with two cars of the same make in 10 or more rallies it nominated on registering for the Championship. The Manufacturer can only score points in the events it nominated on registering
Calendar
Teams and drivers
Manufacturers 1 |
Team |
Constructor |
Car |
Tyre |
No |
Drivers |
Rounds |
Kronos Total Citroën World Rally Team |
Citroën |
Xsara WRC |
BF
|
1 |
Sébastien Loeb |
1–12† |
Colin McRae |
13 |
Xavier Pons |
14–16 |
2 |
1–8 |
Daniel Sordo |
9–16 |
14 |
1–8 |
Xavier Pons |
9–10, 12–13 |
BP Ford World Rally Team |
Ford |
Focus RS WRC 06 |
BF
|
3 |
Marcus Grönholm |
All |
4 |
Mikko Hirvonen |
All |
Subaru World Rally Team |
Subaru |
Impreza WRC 2006 |
P
|
5 |
Petter Solberg |
All |
6 |
Stéphane Sarrazin |
1, 4–5, 9 |
Chris Atkinson |
2–3, 6–8, 10–16 |
14 |
Toshihiro Arai |
11 |
Impreza WRC 2005 |
16 |
Chris Atkinson |
1, 4–5, 9 |
46 |
Valentino Rossi |
15 |
Manufacturers 2 |
OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team |
Peugeot |
307 WRC |
BF
P
|
7 |
Manfred Stohl |
All |
8 |
Henning Solberg |
1–3, 6–8, 10, 12–16 |
Nicolas Bernardi |
5 |
25 |
Gianluigi Galli |
5–7,10 |
206 WRC |
21 |
Philippe Roux |
1, 5 |
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team |
Ford |
Focus RS WRC 04/06 |
BF
|
9 |
Matthew Wilson |
All |
10 |
Pieter Tsjoen |
1 |
Kosti Katajamäki |
2, 7–8, 10, 13 |
Luís Pérez Companc |
3, 6, 11–12, 14–15 |
Jari-Matti Latvala |
4–5, 9, 16 |
17 |
Juan Pablo Raies |
10 |
19 |
Andreas Mikkelsen |
16 |
23 |
Luís Pérez Companc |
2, 7 |
Red Bull Škoda Team |
Škoda |
Fabia WRC |
BF
|
11 |
Gilles Panizzi |
1, 4 |
Andreas Aigner |
2 |
Harri Rovanperä |
5, 7–8, 12–13, 16 |
Mattias Ekström |
9 |
12 |
Andreas Aigner |
1, 4–5, 7–9, 12–13, 16 |
Mattias Ekström |
2 |
Major entries not registered as manufacturers |
Astra Racing |
Peugeot |
307 WRC |
BF
|
14 |
Toni Gardemeister |
1, 4–5 |
Citroën |
Xsara WRC |
8–9, 12 |
MMSP LTD |
Mitsubishi |
Lancer WRC 05 |
P
BF
|
14 |
Gianluigi Galli |
1–2 |
15 |
Daniel Carlsson |
2, 10 |
18 |
Jussi Välimäki |
7–8, 10 |
22 |
Juho Hänninen |
10 |
First Motorsport Škoda |
Škoda |
Fabia WRC |
BF
|
15 |
François Duval |
1, 4–5, 7–9, 13, 16 |
Czech RT Škoda Kopecký |
18 |
Jan Kopecký |
1–2, 4–5, 7–10, 13, 16 |
PH Sport |
Citroën |
Xsara WRC |
BF
|
15 |
Janne Tuohino |
2, 10 |
Rally Team Olsbergs |
Subaru |
Impreza WRC 2004/5 |
P
BF
|
16 |
Thomas Radstrom |
2 |
Red Devil Atolye Kazaz |
19 |
Kristian Sohlberg |
2, 7, 10 |
Adapta AS |
20 |
Mads Østberg |
2, 10, 16 |
62 |
Anders Grøndal |
2 |
Tom Hogan Motors |
Ford |
Focus RS WRC |
BF
|
17 |
Gareth MacHale |
1–4, 6–7, 9, 11, 16 |
BSA |
Peugeot |
307 WRC |
BF
|
19 |
Alexandre Bengué |
4–5 |
Equipe de France FFSA |
20 |
Nicolas Vouilloz |
5 |
Notes
† Sebastien Loeb broke his arm before Rally Turkey and missed the remainder of the season.[1]
JWRC entries
No |
Entrant |
Drivers |
Co-driver |
Car |
Rounds |
32 |
PH Sport |
Kris Meeke |
Glenn Patterson |
Citroën C2 S1600 |
4–5, 9–10, 13, 16 |
42 |
Julien Pressac |
Gilles De Turckheim |
4–5, 7 |
Jacques Boyere |
9–10, 13 |
55 |
Brice Tirabassi |
Jacques-Julien Renucci |
4, 5, 7 |
Fabrice Gordon |
9 |
Fabio Fiandino |
Sabrina de Castelli |
Citroën C2 R2 |
10, 13 |
33 |
Suzuki Sport Europe |
Urmo Aava |
Kuldar Sikk |
Suzuki Swift S1600 |
2, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16 |
35 |
Per-Gunnar Andersson |
Jonas Andersson |
2, 6–7, 10, 13, 16 |
37 |
Pavel Valoušek |
Pierangelo Scalvini |
2, 5, 7 |
Zdeněk Hrůza |
9–10, 13 |
43 |
Jaan Mölder |
Katrin Becker |
16 |
48 |
Guy Wilks |
Phil Pugh |
2, 6–7, 10, 13, 16 |
36 |
Autorel Sport |
Luca Betti |
Piercarlo Capolongo |
Renault Clio S1600 |
4–5, 7, 9, 13, 16 |
39 |
Barroso Sport |
Conrad Rautenbach |
David Senior |
Renault Clio S1600 |
4–5, 7, 9–10, 13 |
41 |
Renault Sport |
Patrik Sandell |
Emil Axelsson |
Renault Clio S1600 |
2, 6–7, 10, 13, 16 |
51 |
Fatih Kara |
Cerm Bakancocuklari |
4–5, 7, 9, 13, 16 |
52 |
Bernd Casier |
Frédéric Miclotte |
4–5, 7, 9, 13, 16 |
43 |
M-Sport |
Jaan Mölder |
Katrin Becker |
Ford Fiesta S1600 |
2, 6 |
JM Engineering |
Suzuki Ignis S1600 |
7, 10, 13 |
44 |
Suzuki Shell Helix |
Michał Kościuszko |
Jaroslaw Baran |
Suzuki Ignis S1600 |
2, 4, 7, 9–10, 13 |
45 |
Styllex Tuning Motorsport |
Jozef Béreš |
Petr Starý |
Suzuki Ignis S1600 |
2, 4–5, 10, 13, 16 |
46 |
Power Car Team |
Andrea Cortinovis |
Massimiliano Bosi |
Renault Clio RS |
2, 4, 7, 10, 16 |
Flavio Zanella |
13 |
47 |
Hawk Racing Club |
Filippo Bordignon |
James Bardini |
Opel Astra OPC |
2, 10, 13 |
Justin Bardini |
4, 7, 16 |
49 |
Jipocar Czech National Team |
Martin Prokop |
Jan Tománek |
Citroën C2 S1600 |
2, 4, 7, 9–10, 13 |
50 |
Clio Junior Team |
Kalle Pinomäki |
Mikko Markkula |
Renault Clio S1600 |
10 |
Renault Clio RS |
2, 4–5, 9 |
Egon Kaur |
Avo Kristov |
16 |
53 |
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team |
Barry Clark |
Scott Martin |
Ford Fiesta ST |
4–5, 7, 9–10, 16 |
54 |
OMV Rally Team |
Aaron Burkart |
Jörg Bastuck |
Citroën C2 S1600 |
4 |
Tanja Geilhausen |
5, 7, 9, 13, 16 |
Additional guest entries |
59 |
Suzuki Sweden |
Peter Zachrisson |
Jan Svanström |
Suzuki Ignis S1600 |
2 |
60 |
Johan Karlsson Motorsport |
Johan Karlsson |
Mattias Gustavsson |
Peugeot 206 RC |
2 |
59 |
Equipe de France FFSA |
Yoann Bonato |
Benjamin Boulloud |
Renault Clio S1600 |
5 |
59 |
Motor Stars |
Matti Rantanen |
Jan Lönegren |
Honda Civic Type-R |
10 |
59 |
Dealer Team Suzuki |
James Wozencroft |
Robert Fagg |
Suzuki Ignis S1600 |
16 |
60 |
Tom Walster Rally Sport |
Tom Walster |
Paul Williams |
Ford Fiesta ST |
16 |
PWRC entries
No |
Entrant |
Drivers |
Co-driver |
Car |
Rounds |
31 |
Subaru Team Arai |
Toshihiro Arai |
Tony Sircombe |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
3, 6, 8, 12, 14–15 |
32 |
Tango Rally Team |
Marcos Ligato |
Rubén Garcia |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
3, 6, 8, 11, 14–15 |
34 |
Sebastián Beltran |
Ricardo Rojas |
3, 6, 8, 11, 14–15 |
35 |
Gabriel Pozzo |
Daniel Stillo |
3, 6, 8, 11, 14–15 |
33 |
Advan-Piaa Rally Team |
Fumio Nutahara |
Daniel Barritt |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
1, 3, 11–12, 14–15 |
37 |
Mitsubishi Paris West Team |
Mirco Baldacci |
Giovanni Agnese |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
3, 6, 8, 11, 14–15 |
37 |
Motoring Club |
Jari-Matti Latvala |
Miika Anttila |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
1, 3, 8, 11, 14–15 |
38 |
Syms Rally Team |
Leszek Kuzaj |
Maciek Szczepaniak |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
3, 6, 8, 11, 14–15 |
45 |
Aki Teiskonen |
Miika Teiskonen |
6, 8, 11–12, 14–15 |
39 |
QMMF |
Nasser Al-Attiyah |
Chris Patterson |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 15 |
40 |
Errani Team Group |
Stefano Marrini |
Tiziana Sandroni |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII |
1, 6, 11 |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
8, 14 |
Simone Campedelli |
Danilo Fappani |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII |
12 |
41 |
Subaru Team Quasys |
Takuma Kamada |
Hakaru Ichino |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
6, 8 |
Denis Giraudet |
11, 15 |
Khalid Al Qassimi |
Nicky Beech |
12 |
Dean Herridge |
Bill Hayes |
14 |
42 |
Subaru Rally Team Russia |
Sergey Uspenskiy |
Dmitry Eremeev |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
3, 6, 8, 14 |
Alexander Dorosinskiy |
15 |
Loris Baldacci |
Dario D'Esposito |
11 |
43 |
OMV CEE World Rally Team |
Andrej Jereb |
Miran Kacin |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
8 |
Jasen Popov |
Dilian Popov |
14 |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII |
1 |
Štěpán Vojtěch |
Michal Ernst |
3 |
Aaron Burkart |
Tanja Geilhausen |
12 |
Natalie Barratt |
Dale Moscatt |
15 |
44 |
Mellors Eliot Motorsport |
David Higgins |
Ross Butler |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII |
1 |
Ieuan Thomas |
8 |
46 |
PSM Motorsport |
Nigel Heath |
Steve Lancaster |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
6, 8, 11–12, 14 |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
15 |
Additional guest entries |
59 |
Subaru Rally Team USA |
Travis Pastrana |
Christian Edstrom |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
3 |
60 |
Francisco Name |
Francisco Name |
Armando Zapata |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII |
3 |
59 |
ALALamias Team |
Panayiotis Hatzitsopanis |
Nikolaos Petropoulos |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII |
8 |
60 |
Eko Racing Team |
Dimitris Nassoulas |
Mihalis Patrikoussis |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII |
8 |
59 |
Andreas Tsouloftas |
Andreas Tsouloftas |
Savvas Laos |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
12 |
60 |
Spyros Pavlides |
Spyros Pavlides |
Theodoros Vassiliades |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
12 |
59 |
Richard Mason Motorsport |
Richard Mason |
Sara Mason |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
15 |
60 |
Winger Subaru/Subaru NZ |
Chris West |
Garry Cowan |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
15 |
Results and standings
Drivers' championship
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (Ret) |
Black |
Excluded (EX) |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Blank |
Withdrew entry before the event (WD) |
|
Manufacturers' championship
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (Ret) |
Black |
Excluded (EX) |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Blank |
Withdrew entry before the event (WD) |
|
JWRC Drivers' championship
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (Ret) |
Black |
Excluded (EX) |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Blank |
Withdrew entry before the event (WD) |
|
PWRC Drivers' championship
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (Ret) |
Black |
Excluded (EX) |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Blank |
Withdrew entry before the event (WD) |
|
Events
Colour |
Rally Surface |
Gold |
Gravel |
Silver |
Tarmac |
Blue |
Snow/Ice |
Bronze |
Mixed Surface |
|
References
- ↑ Max Rally, accessed 8/5/2010