We need to talk about the WRC

Following the weekend’s Rally Islas Canarias, the fifth round of the 2026 World Rally Championship, the top five drivers in the standings are Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta, Oliver Solberg, Sami Pajari and Adrien Fourmaux. Being absolutely honest, how many of those names are familiar to you? I’m guessing it’s one or two at most.

Many of the WRC’s biggest and most successful stars have either retired, left to pursue the bright lights of circuit racing, or they’re part-timers these days. What does it say about an international motorsport series when the world’s best practitioners don’t seem to believe the prize of becoming champion is worth the effort? The door has at least been left wide open for a new champion to emerge, be it current points leader Evans (a runner-up five times), Japan’s Katsuta, or perhaps young Solberg, the most exciting thing to happen to the WRC in years.

This is a series in transition. Crisis would be an exaggeration – the current 14-round calendar is the biggest since 2019 and flagship events are drawing record-breaking crowds – but the WRC isn’t thriving like other FIA championships, notably Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship. And as the best drivers lose interest, I find I am too. Having been an avid supporter for years I don’t really follow it anymore, nor do I feel at all invested in one driver or team. I still love rallying as a discipline, still believe it to be the most visceral form of motorsport going, but my passion for the WRC itself has waned.