Countdown to the 2016 WRC (World Rally Champion 2016)
Countdown to the 2016 WRC (World Rally Championship) has already begun with the Rallye Monte Carlo just around the corner, from 18 – 24 January 2016. The WRC, as usual, kicks things off at the Principality’s Casino square on Thursday, with two stages near Digne-les-Bains and the run north to Gap. Thereafter, the rally crews hit the next three stages in the Hautes Alpes and Isère regions, north of Gap.
For Saturday routes, the crews return to Monaco via two passes of the marathon 51.55km Lardier et Valença–Faye and the classic Sisteron–Thoard. On Sunday’s final leg, they run in the Alpes Maritimes mountains above Monaco, featuring the legendary Col de Turini.
Following Monte Carlo, the WRC crews brave up for the cold of the Rally Sweden from 11 – 14 February, then move to the desert heat of the Rally of Mexico, scheduled for 3 – 6 March.
The second quarter of the calendar begins with the Rally of Argentina, 21 – 24 April, where the competitors face the fast stages of the Calamuchita Valley, rugged roads in the plains of the Punilla Valley and rocky, narrow mountain tracks. Rally Argentina features plenty of sandy gravel roads and river crossings. Immediately following the Rally Argentina are the Rally Portugal and Rally Sardinia for the months of May and June.
Two rally events are scheduled for the month of July, the Rally Poland and Finland; one at the beginning of July and the other at the end of July. The August month has the Rally Deutschland, which is one of the more exciting rallies in all of Europe. Rally Deutschland starts and finishes in front of the Porta Nigra Roman gate in Trier. There are four distinct types of stages: bumpy narrow Mosel vineyard roads, Baumholder military tracks with many different surfaces, roads in the Eifel mountains and smooth country tests in Saarland.
From Germany, the WRC crews next hit the Rally China, a new fixture for 2016. The Rally China extends the new season’s calendar to 14 events, instead of thirteen rallies. The Chinese rally is promptly followed by the Rally Tour de Corse in France and Rally Catalunya at the end of September and the month of October.
The Wales Rally or Rally GB, which traditionally is the WRC finale, is new season’s penultimate round, scheduled from 27 – 30 October. The WRC finale honor for the new season has been awarded to Australia, which is on tap for 17 – 20 November.
2016 WRC Calendar
Rallye Monte Carlo 18 – 24 January
Rally Sweden 11 – 14 February
Gunajuato Rally México 03 – 06 March
Rally Argentina 21 – 24 April
Vodafone Rally de Portugal 19 – 22 May
Rally Italia Sardegna 09 – 12 June
73rd LOTOS Rally Poland 01 – 03 July
Neste Oil Rally Finland 28 – 31 July
ADAC Rallye Deutschland 18 – 21 August
Rally China 08 – 11 September
Tour de Corse Rallye de France 29 September – 02 October
RallyRACC Catalunya – Rally de España 13 – 16 October
Wales Rally GB 27 – 30 October
Coates Hire Rally Australia 17 – 20 November
