The 2022 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with the 11th round, Repco Rally New Zealand.
Championship Rundown
Kalle Rovanperä continues to lead the WRC Championship by a comfortable margin. Although that margin is slowly becoming smaller and smaller as each rally passes. As Rovanperä has only been able to gain nine points in the last two rallies. Ott Tänak continues to close in on Rovanperä. Winning both Rally Finland and Ypres Rally Belgium as well as finishing second at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece earlier this month. Thierry Neuville was able to take back third overall from Elfyn Evans after Evans retired in Greece. Neuville now sits 15 points above Evans. Takamoto Katsuta rounds out the top five sitting 16 points behind Evans.
Championship Standings Before Repco Rally New Zealand
- Rovanperä 207
- Tänak 154
- Neuville 131
- Evans 116
- Katsuta 100
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Rundown
The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team is coming off a strong performance in Greece. Well, what should’ve been a strong performance if misfortune didn’t get in their way. M-Sport will only have two factory drivers this weekend, with Craig Breen and Gus Greensmith attending the event. Adrien Fourmaux was scheduled to attend the event after missing Rally Greece due to damage. Unfortunately for Fourmaux M-Sport would pull him from New Zealand. Fourmaux is currently scheduled to race Rally Spain next month.
Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team Rundown
The Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team has seemed to be on top of the WRC recently. With Ott Tänak winning both Rally Finland and Ypres Rally Belgium. Along with Thierry Neuville taking the win in Rally Greece. The win in Rally Greece also came with a Hyundai podium sweep, as Neuville, Tänak and Sordo would fill the top three. Oliver Solberg will return to the WRC after missing Rally Greece. Solberg is coming off his strongest WRC finish to date, finishing fourth overall at Ypres Rally Belgium.
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team Rundown
The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team is coming off a rather disappointing Rally Greece. With no drivers finishing in the top five. Kalle Rovanperä would suffer misfortune for the second straight rally and finish 15th overall. Takamoto Katsuta who has consistently been in the top five this season finished sixth overall, over two minutes behind Breen, who sat in fifth. Evans and Lappi would both perform strongly until they both, unfortunately, had to retire. Toyota may have a saving grace this weekend, however. As reigning WRC Champion Sebastian Ogier will race Repco Rally New Zealand this weekend. Ogier hasn’t raced since Safari Rally Kenya where he placed fourth overall.
My name is Joe Moore. I am a writer for Belly Up Hockey, Belly Up Racing, and Belly Up Sports. You can find me on Twitter.
