2008 World Rally Championship

36th season of the FIA World Rally Championship 2008 World Rally Championship World Drivers' Champion Sébastien Loeb World Manufacturers' Champion Citroën 2007 2009 The 2008 World Rally Championship was the 36th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 15 rallies and began on 24 January, with the 2008 Monte Carlo Rally. Frenchman Sébastien Loeb successfully retained the Drivers' World Championship, his and co-driver Daniel Elena's record-breaking fifth consecutive title, all of them attained driving Citroëns. In addition, Citroën secured their fourth Manufacturers' title, and their first since 2005, from 2006 and 2007 victors, Ford. thumb|Sébastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena won a record-breaking fifth WRC championship. Rule changes thumb|left|The banning of tyre mousse made punctures much more common (pictured Jaan Mölder with a rear wheel puncture in Italy). The running order for the first day is governed by championship position, with the championship leader running first on the road. For every other day of a rally, the order is decided by the previous end of day classification (with the leader on classification running first). The term 'leg' has been replaced by 'day' in order to sound more understandable. Extra 10-minute service prior to the finish podium has been added, intended to allow the service park to remain an attraction until the end of the event.http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/156400-0/fia_reveals_regulation_changes.html FIA reveals regulation changes. 2007-10-24 2008-02-11 Crash.net https://web.archive.org/web/20080126223056/http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/156400-0/fia_reveals_regulation_changes.html 26 January 2008 live With the switch to Pirelli tyres, tyre mousse (along with all anti-deflation devices) has been banned, and fewer compounds are available. Also the teams aren't allowed to modify tyres by themselves (e.g. by making additional cuts) anymore.http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/158685-0/new_tyre_rules_good_for_wrc,_says_mikko.html New tyre rules good for WRC, says Mikko. 2008-01-15 2008-02-11 Crash.net https://web.archive.org/web/20080218202240/http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/158685-0/new_tyre_rules_good_for_wrc%2C_says_mikko.html 18 February 2008 live http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/158421-0/loeb_tyre_changes_create_a_lot_of_unknowns.html Loeb: Tyre changes create a lot of unknowns. 2008-01-04 2008-02-11 Crash.net https://web.archive.org/web/20080207024646/http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/158421-0/loeb_tyre_changes_create_a_lot_of_unknowns.html 7 February 2008 live At the first event of the season, the available tires were the soft slick DS tire (Pirelli PZero), the WX snow tire without studs, and the WX snow tire with studs (both variants of Pirelli Sottozero).http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/158896-1/preview_rallye_monte_carlo_-_pt_1.html Preview: Rallye Monte Carlo – Pt. 1. 2008-01-23 2008-02-11 Crash.net The same snow tyres were used in Sweden as well. Later on loose surface tyres were introduced: Pirelli Scorpion, available in two variants – hard compound for abrasive surfaces, such as roads in Mexico or Greece, and soft one, for more muddy stages as seen on Welsh event.http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=360&desc=Third%20new%20Pirelli%20WRC%20tyre%20makes%20debut%20on%20Rally%20Mexico Third new Pirelli WRC tyre makes debut on Rally Mexico 2008-02-15 2008-02-16 WRC.com https://web.archive.org/web/20080218145547/http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=360&desc=Third%20new%20Pirelli%20WRC%20tyre%20makes%20debut%20on%20Rally%20Mexico 18 February 2008 dead Tire walls have been strengthened in order to endure long, rough gravel stages often full of sharp rocks. The tread on Scorpions is asymmetric and directional, as it has proven more efficient during the tests. Calendar The 2008 championship was contested over fifteen rounds in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas and Oceania. Rd.Start dateFinish dateRallyRally headquartersSurfaceStagesDistanceSupport class124 January27 JanuaryMON 76th Rallye Automobile Monte-CarloValence, Drôme, FranceMixed19365.09 kmNone28 February10 FebruarySWE 57th Uddeholm Swedish RallyKarlstad, Värmland CountySnow20340.24 kmPWRC328 February2 MarchMEX 5th Corona Rally MexicoLeón, GuanajuatoGravel20353.75 kmJWRC427 March30 MarchARG 28th Rally ArgentinaCarlos Paz, CórdobaGravel21347.91 kmPWRC524 April27 AprilJOR 1st Jordan RallyAmmanGravel22359.26 kmJWRC616 May18 MayITA 5th Rally d'Italia SardiniaOlbia, SardiniaGravel17344.73 kmJWRC729 May1 JuneGRC 55th BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally of GreeceTatoi, Northern AtticaGravel20331.52 kmPWRC813 June15 JuneTUR 9th Rally of TurkeyKemer, Antalya ProvinceGravel19360.12 kmPWRC931 July3 AugustFIN 58th Neste Oil Rally FinlandJyväskylä, Central FinlandGravel24340.42 kmPWRC/JWRC1015 August17 AugustGER 27th ADAC Rallye DeutschlandTrier, Rhineland-PalatinateTarmac19352.63 kmJWRC1128 August31 AugustNZL 39th Repco Rally New ZealandHamilton, WaikatoGravel18353.04 kmPWRC122 October5 OctoberESP 44th RallyRACC Catalunya - Costa DauradaSalou, CataloniaTarmac18353.62 kmJWRC1310 October12 OctoberFRA 52nd Tour de Corse - Rallye de FranceAjaccio, CorsicaTarmac16359.02 kmJWRC1431 October2 NovemberJPN 8th Pioneer Carrozzeria Rally JapanSapporo, HokkaidoGravel29343.69 kmPWRC155 December7 DecemberGBR 64th Wales Rally GBCardiff, WalesGravel19282.35 kmPWRCSources: Juwra 2008 WRC calendar https://www.juwra.com/calendar_2008.html 14 January 2025 Juwra Calendar changes The 2008 season included 15 rallies, which was one less than the 2007 season. Rally Norway, Rally Portugal and Rally Ireland were dropped from the calendar for 2008. Rally of Turkey returned to the schedule, and Jordan Rally was part of the calendar for the first time. Rally Australia was planned to make a return after being absent in 2007, but the organizers submitted a request to the FIA to delay the event's return to the schedule until 2009. The events also part of the Production World Rally Championship were Sweden, Argentina, Greece, Turkey, Finland, New Zealand, Japan and GB. The seven rallies also on the Junior World Rally Championship schedule were Mexico, Jordan, Italy, Finland, Germany, Spain and France. Teams and drivers In 2008 two categories are valid to compete for the Manufacturer's championship: Manufacturer (M) must take part in all the rallies of the Championship with two cars of the same make must enter only cars corresponding to the latest homologated version of a World Rally Car in conformity with the 2008 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 Manufacturer Team (MT) must take part in a minimum of 10 Championship rallies with two cars of the same make; those rallies must be nominated on registering for the Championship cannot enter World Rally Cars homologated during the year 2008 and cannot use parts homologated after 2 January 2008 can only score points in the events it nominated on registering. The teams and drivers for the 2008 season are as follows: All teams ran Pirelli tyres. Manufacturers Manufacturer Car TeamTyre No Drivers Co-drivers Rounds Citroën C4 WRC FRA Citroën Total World Rally TeamPirelli 1 FRA Sébastien Loeb MCO Daniel Elena All 2 ESP Daniel Sordo ESP Marc Marti All Ford Focus RS WRC 07 1-9Focus RS WRC 08 10-15 GBR BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally TeamPirelli 3 FIN Mikko Hirvonen FIN Jarmo Lehtinen All 4FIN Jari-Matti LatvalaFIN Miikka Anttila 1–11, 14–15BEL François DuvalFRA Patrick Pivato 12–13 Subaru Impreza WRC 2007 1-6Impreza WRC 2008 7-15 JPN Subaru World Rally TeamPirelli 5 NOR Petter Solberg GBR Phil Mills All 6 AUS Chris Atkinson BEL Stéphane Prévot All Suzuki SX4 WRC JPN Suzuki World Rally TeamPirelli 11 FIN Toni Gardemeister FIN Tomi Tuominen All 12 SWE Per-Gunnar Andersson SWE Jonas Andersson All Manufacturer Teams Ford Focus RS WRC 07 GBR Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally TeamPirelli 7 ITA Gianluigi Galli ITA Giovanni Bernacchini 1–10 BEL François Duval FRA Patrick Pivato 11, 14 FRA Denis Giraudet 15 GBR Matthew Wilson GBR Scott Martin 12–13 8 BEL François Duval BEL Eddy Chevaillier 1 FRA Patrick Pivato 10 NOR Henning Solberg NOR Cato Menkerud 2, 4–5, 7–9 GBR Matthew Wilson GBR Scott Martin 3, 6, 11, 14–15 FIN Jari-Matti Latvala FIN Miikka Anttila 12–13 ARG Munchi's Ford World Rally TeamPirelli 9 ARG Federico Villagra ARG Jorge Pérez Companc 3–9, 11–12, 14 10 NOR Henning Solberg NOR Cato Menkerud 3, 6, 11–12, 14 ARG Luís Pérez Companc ARG Jose Maria Volta 4, 9 GBR Barry Clark ARG José Díaz 5 IRL Paul Nagle 8 GRC Armodios Vovos GRC Loris Meletopoulos 7 World Rally Car entries ineligible to score manufacturer points Manufacturer Car Team Tire Drivers Co-driversRounds Citroën C4 WRC EST World Rally Team EstoniaPirelli EST Urmo Aava EST Kuldar Sikk 2, 5–13, 15 FRA Equipe de France FFSAPirelli FRA Sébastien Ogier FRA Julien Ingrassia 15 ZWE Conrad RautenbachPirelli ZWE Conrad Rautenbach GBR David Senior 3–15 Xsara WRC 1–2 Ford Focus RS WRC 07 GBR BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally TeamPirelliARE Khalid Al QassimiGBR Michael Orr 1–2, 5–7, 9–10, 12–13, 15 GBR Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally TeamPirelli NOR Henning Solberg NOR Cato Menkerud 1, 10, 13, 15Pirelli GBR Matthew Wilson GBR Scott Martin 1, 4–5, 7–10Pirelli GBR Barry Clark IRL Paul Nagle 13, 15Pirelli ITA Valentino Rossi ITA Carlo Cassina 15 Focus RS WRC 04Pirelli GBR Steve Perez GBR Paul Spooner 15Pirelli GBR Dave Weston Jr. GBR Aled Davies 15Focus RS WRC 07NLD Van Merksteijn MotorsportNLD Peter van Merksteijn Sr.NLD Erwin Berkhof12NLD Hilco van Beek10Focus RS WRC 06Pirelli 10Focus RS WRC 06Pirelli2, 6Focus RS WRC 06Pirelli NLD Peter van Merksteijn Jr. BEL Eddy Chevaillier 10, 12Focus RS WRC 06 GBR RamsportPirelli NOR Andreas Mikkelsen NOR Ola Fløene 2, 8–10, 12–13Focus RS WRC 07Pirelli SWE Maria Andersson 6Focus RS WRC 06Pirelli FIN Matti Rantanen FIN Jan Lönegren 9 NLD Ipatec RacingPirelli NLD René Kuipers BEL Erwin Mombaerts 10Pirelli NLD Dennis Kuipers NLD Kees Hagman 10 NLD Erik WeversPirelli NLD Erik Wevers NLD Jalmar van Weeren 10 Focus RS WRC 04 FIN Clo RacingPirelli FIN Jouni Arolainen FIN Risto Pietiläinen 9 Peugeot 307 WRC FRA Team Rallye CuoqPirelli FRA Jean-Marie Cuoq FRA Philippe Janvier 1 FRA Laurent CarbonaroPirelli FRA Laurent Carbonaro FRA Marc-Emilien Choudey 1 FRA Armando Pereira FRA Armando Pereira FRA Antoine Paque 13 FRA José MicheliPirelli FRA José Micheli FRA Virginie Dejoye 13 206 WRC FRA Frédéric RomeyerPirelli FRA Frédéric Romeyer FRA Thomas Fournel 1 MEX Triviño Racing MEX Ricardo Triviño ESP Sergio Salom 3 ESP Escuderia OsonaPirelli ESP Albert Orriols ESP Lluis Pujolar 12 FRA Alain VauthierPirelli FRA Alain Vauthier FRA Gaëtan Houssin 13 FRA Georges Guebey FRA Georges Guebey FRA Nadège Passaquin 13 Škoda Fabia WRC NED Harry KleinjanPirelli NED Harry Kleinjan NED Annemieke Hulzebos 10 Octavia WRC Evo3 ITA Errani TeamPirelli ITA Riccardo Errani ITA Stefano Casadio 1 FIN Jukka Metsälä FIN Jukka Metsälä FIN Sari Ohra-Aho 9 Subaru Impreza WRC 2008 JPN Subaru World Rally TeamPirelli FRA Brice Tirabassi FRA Fabrice Gordon 12–13 Impreza WRC 2007 NOR Adapta World Rally TeamPirelli NOR Mads Østberg NOR Ole Kristian Unnerud 2, 6–7, 9–10, 12–13, 15 IRL Eamonn Boland IRL Eamonn Boland IRL Michael Joseph Morrissey 12, 15GBR Gareth JonesPirelliGBR Gareth JonesIRL David Moynihan10GBR Clive Jenkins12–13, 15 NED Mark van EldikPirelli NED Mark van Eldik NED Michel Groenewoud 10Impreza WRC 2001 ESP Escuderia Motor Terrassa ESP Joan Ollé ESP Nicolas del Corral 12Impreza WRC 2005 FRA François Padrona FRA François Padrona FRA Jean-François Mancini 13 Team and driver changes Suzuki made their full season debut in the WRC after a part time campaign in 2007. Their drivers were reigning JWRC champion Per-Gunnar Andersson and Toni Gardemeister.18 January 2008 SUZUKI WORLD RALLY TEAM EMBARKS ON FIRST FULL SEASON OF WORLD RALLYING https://media.suzuki.co.uk/releases/431 25 March 2025 Suzuki Kronos left the WRC after the 2007 season to focus on running Peugeot Team Belux in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Marcus Grönholm retired from the WRC after the 2007 season. He was replaced by Jari-Matti Latvala who had driven for Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team the previous season. Latvala himself was replaced by Gianlugi Galli at Stobart. The second Stobart seat was shared between 2007 drivers Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg although the Norwegian would sometimes be nominated to score points for Munchi’s Ford.Wilkins Robert Stobart team reveals line-up for '08 https://www.crash.net/wrc/news/120396/1/stobart-team-reveals-line-up-for-08 25 March 2025 Crash.netWilkins Robert Henning back with Munchi's https://www.crash.net/wrc/news/121120/1/henning-back-with-munchis 25 March 2025 Crash.net François Duval was given a one off drive Stobart VK M-Sport in Monte Carlo as a tarmac specialist.Wilkins Robert Duval inks deal with Stobart team https://www.crash.net/wrc/news/120391/1/duval-inks-deal-with-stobart-team 25 March 2025 Crash.net He was given another one off drive in Germany.8 August 2008 Rally Deutschland: Stobart M-Sport preview https://au.motorsport.com/wrc/news/rally-deutschland-stobart-m-sport-preview-2008-08-08/2762002/ 25 March 2025 Motorsport After Gianlugi Galli broke his left femur in a crash, Duval would replace Galli from New Zealand onwards, despite Marcus Grönholm being initially offered the drive.Evans David 21 August 2008 Duval replaces Galli for New Zealand https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/duval-replaces-galli-for-new-zealand-4423263/4423263/ 25 March 2025 AutosportEvans David 19 August 2008 Gronholm turns down WRC comeback https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/gronholm-turns-down-wrc-comeback-4423274/4423274/ 25 March 2025 Autosport Duval would be promoted to the main Ford team for the remaining two Tarmac rallies in France and Spain, replacing the struggling Latvala.Salisbury Matt Ford replaces Latvala for asphalt events https://www.crash.net/wrc/news/121754/1/ford-replaces-latvala-for-asphalt-events 25 March 2025 Crash.net 2007 Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy winner Barry Clark was signed by Ford on a part time campaign where he would participate in four events with Stobart and Munchi’s.15 March 2008 Barry Clark won the Fiesta Sporting Trophy International series in 2007 and this year will get to take in three rounds in the WRC in a latest spec Ford Focus RS WRC car. https://www.tntsports.co.uk/wrc/_sto1510543/story.shtml 25 March 2025 TNT Sports Subaru had planned to run a third full time car for Xavier Pons, but the deal fell through before the Monte Carlo Rally.Wilkins Robert Pons to be dropped by Subaru? https://www.crash.net/wrc/news/120402/1/pons-to-be-dropped-by-subaru 25 March 2025 Crash.net J-WRC entries No Drivers Co-driver Car Rounds 31 CZE Martin Prokop CZE Jan Tománek Citroën C2 S1600 3, 6, 9–10, 12–13 32 EST Jaan Mölder BEL Frédéric Miclotte Suzuki Swift S1600 3, 5–6, 9, 12–13 33 DEU Aaron Burkart DEU Michael Kölbach Citroën C2 S1600 3, 6, 9–10, 12–13 34 ITA Andrea Cortinovis ITA Giancarla Guzzi Renault Clio S1600 5–6, 9–10, 12–13 35 POL Michał Kościuszko POL Maciek Szczepaniak Suzuki Swift S1600 3, 5–6, 9, 12–13 36 LTU Vilius Rožukas LTU Andrius Šošas Citroën C2 S1600 5–6 37 ITA Simone Bertolotti ITA Daniele Vernuccio Renault Clio R3 5–6, 9–10, 12–13 38 ITA Francesco Fanari ITA Massimiliano Bosi Citroën C2 R2 3, 5–6, 10 ITA Dario Andrian 9 ITA Daniele Benedetti 12 39 ITA Stefano Albertini ITA Piercarlo Capolongo Renault Clio R3 5–6, 9–10, 12–13 40 SRB Miloš Komljenović SRB Aleksandar Jeremić Renault Clio R3 3, 5–6, 9 GBR Kris Meeke GBR Chris Patterson 12 FRA Arnaud Augoyard FRA Nicolas Baudin 13 41 SWE Patrik Sandell SWE Emil Axelsson Renault Clio S1600 3, 5–6, 9, 12–13 42 FRA Sébastien Ogier FRA Julien Ingrassia Citroën C2 S1600 3, 5–6, 10, 12–13 43 DEU Florian Niegel DEU Andre Kachel Suzuki Swift S1600 5–6, 10, 12–13 Suzuki Swift Sport 9 44 NLD Hans Weijs, Jr. NLD Hans van Goor Citroën C2 R2 5–6, 9–10, 12–13 45 NLD Kevin Abbring BEL Erwin Mombaerts Renault Clio R3 5, 9, 13 BEL Bjorn Degandt 6, 10, 12 46 IRL Shaun Gallagher IRL Michael Morrissey Citroën C2 S1600 3, 5–6, 10 IRL Paul Kiely 9, 12 47 LUX Gilles Schammel BEL Renaud Jamoul Renault Clio R3 5–6, 9–10, 12–13 48 ITA Alessandro Bettega ITA Simone Scattolin Renault Clio R3 5–6, 9–10, 12–13 Additional guest entries 59 FIN Kalle Pinomäki FIN Matti Kaskinen Suzuki Swift S1600 9 59 ESP Sergio Perez ESP Oriol Julià Citroën C2 S1600 12 59 FRA Pierre Campana FRA Samuel Teissier Renault Clio R3 13 60 FRA Pierre Marché FRA Julien Giroux Suzuki Swift S1600 13 P-WRC entries No Drivers Co-driver Car Rounds 31 JPN Toshihiro Arai AUS Glenn MacNeall Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2, 4, 7–8, 11, 14 32 SMR Mirco Baldacci ITA Giovanni Agnese Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 4, 7–8, 11, 14–15 33 CZE Martin Prokop CZE Jan Tománek Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 4, 7–8, 11, 15 34 ITA Gianluca Linari ITA Roberto Mometti Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2 ITA Gianni Melani 4 ITA Paolo Gregoriani 7 ITA Barbara Perugini 8 ITA Franco Giusti 11 ITA Matteo Braga 14 35 RUS Evgeny Novikov RUS Dmitry Chumak Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 7 RUS Evgeny Kalachev 8 AUS Dale Moscatt 11, 14–15 36 NOR Eyvind Brynildsen FRA Denis Giraudet Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 9, 14 SWE Maria Andersson 7–8 AUS Glenn MacNeall 15 37 CYP Spyros Pavlides FRA Denis Giraudet Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4, 7, 11 GBR Steve Lancaster 15 SWE Oscar Svedlund SWE Björn Nilsson 9 JPN Yasunori Hagiwara JPN Koichi Kato 14 38 JOR Amjad Farrah ITA Nicola Arena Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 4, 7–8 SWE Patrik Flodin SWE Göran Bergsten 9 NZL Stewart Taylor NZL Warwick Searle 11 GBR Darren Gass GBR Neil Shanks 15 39 QAT Nasser Al-Attiyah GBR Chris Patterson Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2, 4, 7–8, 11, 15 40 ITA Stefano Marrini ITA Matteo Braga Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 4 ITA Tiziana Sandroni 14 SMR Loris Baldacci ITA Rudy Pollet 7, 15 ITA Riccardo Errani ITA Stefano Casadio 8 41 AUT Andreas Aigner DEU Klaus Wicha Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 4, 7–8, 11, 15 42 PRT Bernardo Sousa PRT Carlos Magalhães Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 4 PRT Jorge Carvalho 7–8, 11, 15 43 RUS Evgeny Vertunov RUS Georgiy Troshkin Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2, 7–9, 11, 14 44 HUN Gábor Mayer HUN Robert Tagai Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4, 7–8 CHN Liu Chao Dong AUS Anthony McLoughlin 11 SWE Patrik Flodin SWE Göran Bergsten 15 FIN Tapio Suominen FIN Pasi Hedman Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 9 45 FIN Jussi Tiippana FIN Marko Salminen Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2 SVN Andrej Jereb SVN Miran Kacin 4, 7 ITA Francesco Trevisin SMR Alessandro Biordi 8 FIN Teemu Arminen FIN Tuomo Nikkola 9, 15 46 FIN Jari Ketomaa FIN Miika Teiskonen Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 15 47 ITA Fabio Frisiero ITA Simone Scattolin Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 9 ITA Giorgio Bacco SMR Silvio Stefanelli Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4, 8 ITA Fabio Pizzol 11 CZE Jaromír Tarabus CZE Daniel Trunkát Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000 15 48 RUS Evgeny Aksakov EST Aleksander Kornilov Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 4, 7–9, 15 49 ITA Simone Campedelli ITA Danilo Fappani Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 4, 7–9, 15 50 PRT Armindo Araújo PRT Miguel Ramalho Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 7–8, 11, 14–15 51 IDN Subhan Aksa IDN Hendrik Mboi Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII 2, 4 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 7, 9, 11, 14 52 FIN Juho Hänninen FIN Mikko Markkula Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 7, 9, 11, 14–15 53 DEU Uwe Nittel DEU Detlef Ruf Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2, 4 DEU Michael Wenzel 7–8 ITA Giovanni Manfrinato ITA Carlo Pisano 9, 15 54 USA Travis Pastrana GBR Derek Ringer Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4, 7 FIN Jussi Tiippana FIN Marko Salminen 9 USA Ken Block ITA Alex Gelsomino 11 JPN Hiroshi Yanagisawa JPN Osamu Yoda 14 GBR Mark Higgins GBR Rory Kennedy 15 55 SWE Patrik Sandell SWE Emil Axelsson Peugeot 207 S2000 2, 4, 7–8, 15 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 11 56 JPN Fumio Nutahara GBR Daniel Barritt Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 4, 7, 9, 11, 15 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 14 57 EST Martin Rauam EST Silver Kütt Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 4, 7–8, 11, 14 EST Egon Kaur EST Simo Koskinen Subaru Impreza WRX STI 15 58 IND Naren Kumar GBR Nicky Beech Subaru Impreza WRX STI 7–9, 11, 14 IND Gaurav Gill 15 Additional guest entries 59 SWE Patrik Flodin SWE Göran Bergsten Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2 60 SWE Oscar Svedlund SWE Björn Nilsson Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2 59 ARG Marcos Ligato ARG Rubén García Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 4 60 ARG Sebastián Beltran CHL Ricardo Rojas Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 4 59 GRC Panayiotis Hatzitsopanis GRC Andreas Andrikopoulos Subaru Impreza WRX STI 7 60 GRC Lambros Athanassoulas GRC Nikolaos Zakheos Subaru Impreza WRX STI 7 159 FIN Juha Salo FIN Mika Stenberg Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 9 160 FIN Jussi Välimäki FIN Teppo Leino Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 9 59 NZL Hayden Paddon NZL John Kennard Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 11 60 NZL Chris West NZL Garry Cowan Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 11 59 JPN Katsuhiko Taguchi AUS Mark Stacey Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 14 60 JPN Takuma Kamada JPN Naoki Kase Subaru Impreza WRX STI 14 59 GBR David Higgins GBR Ieuan Thomas Subaru Impreza WRX STI 15 60 GBR Guy Wilks GBR Phil Pugh Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 15 All entries utilized Pirelli tyres. Events The Rally Finland is notable this year for having dropped its famous Ouninpohja stage. This has been done for safety reasons, however this is likely to be a huge disappointment for race fans.What's on Dave – 2008 WRC Calendar What's on Dave http://uktv.co.uk/dave/stepbystep/aid/598029 2008-02-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20080130105513/http://uktv.co.uk/dave/stepbystep/aid/598029 30 January 2008 live Colour Rally Surface Gold Gravel Silver Tarmac Blue Snow/Ice Bronze Mixed Surface Round Rally name Podium finishers Statistics Rank Driver Car Time Stages Length Starters Finishers 1 FRA/MCO Monte Carlo Rally(24–27 January) — Results and report1FRA Sébastien LoebCitroën C4 WRC 3:39:17.0 19 365.09 km 47 342FIN Mikko HirvonenFord Focus RS WRC 07 3:41:51.43AUS Chris AtkinsonSubaru Impreza WRC2007 3:42:15.6 2 SWE Swedish Rally(8–10 February) — Results and report1FIN Jari-Matti LatvalaFord Focus RS WRC 07 2:46:41.2 20 340.24 km 61 492FIN Mikko HirvonenFord Focus RS WRC 07 2:47:39.53ITA Gianluigi GalliFord Focus RS WRC 07 2:49:04.4 3 MEX Rally Mexico(28 February– 2 March) — Results and report1FRA Sébastien LoebCitroën C4 WRC3:33:29.9 20 353.75 km 40 282AUS Chris AtkinsonSubaru Impreza WRC20073:34:36.03FIN Jari-Matti LatvalaFord Focus RS WRC 073:35:09.6 4 ARG Rally Argentina(27–30 March) — Results and report1FRA Sébastien LoebCitroën C4 WRC4:05:48.6 21 347.91 km 56 312AUS Chris AtkinsonSubaru Impreza WRC20074:08:21.83ESP Daniel SordoCitroën C4 WRC4:09:53.3 5 JOR Jordan Rally(24–27 April) — Results and report1FIN Mikko HirvonenFord Focus RS WRC 074:02:47.9 22 359.26 km 54 332ESP Daniel SordoCitroën C4 WRC4:04:03.63AUS Chris AtkinsonSubaru Impreza WRC20074:07:47.4 6 ITA Rally d'Italia Sardegna(16–18 May) — Results and report1FRA Sébastien LoebCitroën C4 WRC3:57:17.2 17 344.73 km 57 382FIN Mikko HirvonenFord Focus RS WRC 073:57:27.83FIN Jari-Matti LatvalaFord Focus RS WRC 073:57:32.5 7 GRC Acropolis Rally(28 May– 1 June) — Results and report1FRA Sébastien LoebCitroën C4 WRC3:54:54.7 20 331.52 km 60 422NOR Petter SolbergSubaru Impreza WRC20083:56:04.23FIN Mikko HirvonenFord Focus RS WRC 073:56:50.8 8 TUR Rally of Turkey(13–15 June) — Results and report1FIN Mikko Hirvonen Ford Focus RS WRC 07 4:42:07.1 19 360.12 km 60 372FIN Jari-Matti Latvala Ford Focus RS WRC 07 4:42:15.03FRA Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC 4:42:32.8 9 FIN Rally Finland(31 July– 3 August) — Results and report1 FRA Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC 2:54:05.5 24 340.42 km 99 682 FIN Mikko Hirvonen Ford Focus RS WRC 07 2:54:14.53 AUS Chris Atkinson Subaru Impreza WRC2008 2:57:22.5 10 DEU Rallye Deutschland(15–17 August) — Results and report1 FRA Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC 3:26:19.7 19 352.89 km 81 572 ESP Daniel Sordo Citroën C4 WRC 3:27:07.43 BEL François Duval Ford Focus RS WRC 07 3:27:39.7 11 NZL Rally New Zealand(28–31 August) — Results and report1 FRA Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC 3:59:18.9 18 353.04 km 57 352 ESP Dani Sordo Citroën C4 WRC 3:59:36.43 FIN Mikko Hirvonen Ford Focus RS WRC 08 4:00:00.4 12 ESP Rally Catalunya(2–5 October) — Results and report1 FRA Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC 3:21:17.4 18 353.62 km 69 482 ESP Daniel Sordo Citroën C4 WRC 3:21:42.33 FIN Mikko Hirvonen Ford Focus RS WRC 08 3:22:19.9 13 FRA Tour de Corse(10–12 October) — Results and report1 FRA Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC 3:42:58.0 16 359.02 km 71 542 FIN Mikko Hirvonen Ford Focus RS WRC 08 3:46:22.73 BEL François Duval Ford Focus RS WRC 08 3:46:29.6 14 JPN Rally Japan(31 October– 2 November) — Results and report1 FIN Mikko Hirvonen Ford Focus RS WRC 08 3:25:03.0 29 343.69 km 86 572 FIN Jari-Matti Latvala Ford Focus RS WRC 08 3:25:34.13 FRA Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC 3:27:33.6 15 GBR Wales Rally GB(5–7 December) — Results and report1 FRA Sébastien Loeb Citroën C4 WRC 2:43:09.6 19 282.35 km 78 472 FIN Jari-Matti Latvala Ford Focus RS WRC 08 2:43:22.33 ESP Daniel Sordo Citroën C4 WRC 2:45:30.2 Standings Drivers' championship Pos. Position Driver MONMCO SWESWE MEXMEX ARGARG JORJOR ITAITA GRCGRC TURTUR FINFIN GERDEU NZLNZL ESPESP FRAFRA JPNJPN GBRGBR  Pts  1 FRA Sébastien Loeb 1 Ret 1 1 10 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 122 2 FIN Mikko Hirvonen 2 2 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 4 3 3 2 1 8 103 3 ESP Daniel Sordo 11 6 17 3 2 5 5 4 4 2 2 2 Ret DSQ 3 65 4 FIN Jari-Matti Latvala 12 1 3 15 7 3 7 2 39 9 Ret 6 4 2 2 58 5 AUS Chris Atkinson 3 21 2 2 3 6 Ret 13 3 6 Ret 7 6 4 Ret 506 NOR Petter Solberg 5 4 12 Ret Ret 10 2 6 6 5 4 5 5 8 4 46 7 BEL François Duval 4 3 Ret 4 3 Ret 6 25 8 NOR Henning Solberg 9 13 5 Ret 4 7 8 5 5 7 9 11 15 Ret Ret 22 9 ITA Gianluigi Galli 6 3 Ret 7 8 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret 17 10 GBR Matthew Wilson 10 Ret 6 Ret 5 12 6 7 9 12 17 9 8 7 9 15 11 EST Urmo Aava 18 Ret 8 4 Ret 16 8 5 35 7 DNS 13 12 SWE Per-Gunnar Andersson 8 Ret Ret 24 Ret 9 11 Ret Ret 15 6 32 17 5 5 12 13 FIN Toni Gardemeister Ret 7 Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret 8 10 7 13 13 6 7 10 14 ARG Federico Villagra 7 6 6 14 13 9 Ret 8 12 9 9 15 ZWE Conrad Rautenbach Ret 16 16 4 26 13 10 8 10 13 Ret Ret 14 Ret 15 6 16 NOR Andreas Mikkelsen 5 Ret 19 12 11 8 11 5 17 FRA Jean-Marie Cuoq 7 2 18 FIN Matti Rantanen 7 2 19 FIN Juho Hänninen 8 21 13 14 29 24 10 Ret 1 20 AUT Andreas Aigner 31 8 14 11 Ret Ret 13 1 21 FRA Sébastien Ogier 8 11 22 36 19 Ret 20 26 1 Pos. Position Driver MONMCO SWESWE MEXMEX ARGARG JORJOR ITAITA GRCGRC TURTUR FINFIN GERDEU NZLNZL ESPESP FRAFRA JPNJPN GBRGBR Pts Sébastien Loeb secured the drivers' championship title in Japan. Manufacturers' championship Pos. Position Manufacturer No. Car number MONMCO SWESWE MEXMEX ARGARG JORJOR ITAITA GREGRC TURTUR FINFIN GERDEU NZLNZL ESPESP FRAFRA JPNJPN GBRGBR Points 1 FRA Citroën Total World Rally Team 1 1 Ret 1 1 8 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 191 2 8 5 9 3 2 5 4 4 4 2 2 2 Ret Ret 3 2 GBR BP Ford World Rally Team 3 2 2 4 4 1 2 3 1 2 4 3 3 2 1 8 173 4 12 1 3 7 6 3 5 2 8 7 Ret 4 3 2 2 3 JPN Subaru World Rally Team 5 5 4 8 Ret Ret 9 2 6 6 5 4 5 5 8 4 98 6 3 8 2 2 3 6 Ret 9 3 6 Ret 7 6 4 Ret 4 GBR Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team 7 6 3 Ret 6 7 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 7 Ret 6 67 8 4 7 6 Ret 4 10 6 5 5 3 9 6 4 7 9 5 JPN Suzuki World Rally Team 11 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 7 8 6 11 8 6 7 34 12 7 Ret Ret 8 Ret 8 8 Ret Ret 9 5 12 9 5 56 ARG Munchi's Ford World Rally Team 9 7 5 5 11 9 7 Ret 7 10 9 22 10 5 Ret 9 7 Ret 8 Ret 8 9 Ret Pos. Position Manufacturer No. Car number MONMCO SWESWE MEXMEX ARGARG JORJOR ITAITA GREGRC TURTUR FINFIN GERDEU NZLNZL ESPESP FRAFRA JPNJPN GBRGBR Points Citroën secured the manufacturers' championship in Wales. Junior championship thumb|Junior world champion Sébastien Ogier competing in a Citroën C2 S1600 at the 2008 Rallye Deutschland. Pos. Position Driver MEXMEX JORJOR ITAITA FINFIN GERDEU ESPESP FRAFRA  Pts  1 FRA Sébastien Ogier 1 1 5 1 Ret 2 42 2 DEU Aaron Burkart 4 3 4 2 3 5 34 3 CZE Martin Prokop 7 10 1 Ret 1 1 32 4 IRL Shaun Gallagher 6 2 4 5 4 4 30 5 POL Michał Kościuszko 3 Ret 1 3 9 Ret 22 6 ITA Alessandro Bettega Ret 2 Ret 3 2 Ret 7 SWE Patrik Sandell 5 Ret 7 2 5 6 8 EST Jaan Mölder 2 Ret 9 Ret 6 11 11 9 ITA Stefano Albertini 5 6 13 10 7 9 9 10 LUX Gilles Schammel 3 12 7 Ret Ret 10 8 11 DEU Florian Niegel 4 Ret 9 8 10 7 12 ITA Simone Bertolotti 6 Ret 10 5 8 Ret 13 NLD Kevin Abbring Ret Ret 6 6 11 8 7 14 FRA Pierre Campana 3 6 15 FRA Pierre Marché 4 5 16 ITA Andrea Cortinovis 7 11 DNS 7 DNS DNS 4 17 NLD Hans Weijs, Jr. Ret 8 8 Ret Ret 12 2 18 ITA Francesco Fanari 8 9 13 12 9 Ret 1 19 SRB Miloš Komljenović Ret 8 Ret 11 Pos. Position Driver MEXMEX JORJOR ITAITA FINFIN GERDEU ESPESP FRAFRA Pts Production championship Points table:2008 Production WRC Classification Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/wrc/2008/Pages/pwrc_classification.aspx 2009-02-01 Pos. Position Driver SWESWE ARGARG GRCGRC TURTUR FINFIN NZLNZL JPNJPN GBRGBR  Pts  1 AUT Andreas Aigner 11 1 1 1 Ret 2 38 2 FIN Juho Hänninen 1 7 1 5 1 Ret 36 3 FIN Jari Ketomaa 2 3 Ret 3 6 4 28 4 SWE Patrik Sandell 3 Ret Ret 2 2 22 5 CZE Martin Prokop 4 7 14 DSQ 1 Ret 17 6 EST Martin Rauam 5 DSQ 4 3 Ret 15 7 JPN Fumio Nutahara 4 4 5 Ret 8 Ret 8 PRT Armindo Araújo 7 3 5 12 9 7 14 9 PRT Bernardo Sousa 8 8 2 11 7 9 12 10 SWE Patrik Flodin 16 DSQ 1 10 11 SMR Mirco Baldacci Ret Ret 3 Ret 6 Ret 9 12 JPN Toshihiro Arai 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret 3 13 RUS Evgeny Novikov Ret 15 Ret Ret 2 Ret 8 14 ARG Sebastián Beltrán 2 15 FIN Jussi Välimäki 2 16 GBR Guy Wilks 3 6 17 RUS Evgeny Aksakov 13 12 5 Ret 7 Ret 18 RUS Evgeny Vertunov Ret 6 6 Ret Ret Ret 19 NOR Eyvind Brynildsen 15 Ret Ret 10 4 5 20 SWE Oscar Svedlund Ret 4 21 NZL Hayden Paddon 4 22 DEU Uwe Nittel 5 Ret Ret Ret 4 23 JPN Takuma Kamada 5 24 CZE Jaromír Tarabus 5 25 JOR Amjad Farrah 6 9 Ret 3 26 CYP Spyros Pavlides 11 Ret 10 6 27 FIN Jussi Tiippana 11 6 28 ITA Simone Campedelli 9 9 Ret 7 8 10 29 JPN Katsuhiko Taguchi 7 2 30 ITA Giorgio Bacco 13 8 Ret 1 31 GBR David Higgins 8 32 SMR Loris Baldacci 8 Ret 33 NZL Stewart Taylor 8 Pos. Position Driver SWESWE ARGARG GRCGRC TURTUR FINFIN NZLNZL JPNJPN GBRGBR Pts References External links 2008 calendar at WRC.com FIA World Rally Championship 2008 at ewrc-results.com * Category:World Rally Championship seasons World Rally Championship