ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

World Rally Championship 2007

The 2007 FIA World Rally Championship was launched in Monte Carlo on January 19th and concluded in the UK on December 2nd. The championship featured a total of 16 World Championship races held across four continents, marking an expansion from previous seasons. Sébastien Loeb secured his fourth consecutive drivers' world championship title, claiming eight individual wins and accumulating a total of 116 World Championship points.

Unlike its predecessor in 2006, the 2007 season saw the exclusion of Cyprus, Turkey, and Australia from the calendar, with their places taken by Rally Norway and Rally Ireland. The FIA also considered reinstating Rally Portugal after a four-year hiatus but ultimately decided against it for this particular year's championship.

The 35th season recognized by the FIA World Rally Championship was marked by significant changes in regulations. One notable innovation introduced during this period was remote service, allowing teams to access technical support remotely throughout the event. Furthermore, two new categories were created to compete for the Manufacturer's championship: Manufacturer (M) and Team (MT). To qualify for these championships, manufacturers must participate with at least two cars of their own make in 10 or more rallies.

The Citroën Total World Rally Team returned to the WRC in 2007 after a hiatus. Sébastien Loeb joined forces with Daniel Sordo, while Kronos remained as a Manufacturer team with Manfred Stohl returning to drive for them. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi announced its return to the championship in 2007, fielding Toni Gardemeister and Khalid Al Qassimi.

The season also saw notable additions to the calendar, including Rally Norway and Rally Ireland, which marked their debut on the WRC schedule. In contrast, three events were dropped from the calendar: Australia, Cyprus, and Turkey. The championship concluded with Ford securing the manufacturer's title ahead of Citroën and Subaru.