34th season in the FIA World Rally Championship
The 2006 World Rally Championship was the 34th season in the FIA World Rally Championship . The season began on January 20 with the 74th Monte Carlo Rally where Finland 's Marcus Grönholm , in a Ford Focus RS WRC , took the win ahead of France 's Sébastien Loeb . After the Swedish Rally ended with the same top-two, Loeb and Kronos Citroën went on to win five rallies in a row. Despite an injury in a mountain-biking accident before the Rally of Turkey , forcing Loeb to miss last four rallies, he secured his third drivers' title, whereas Ford won their first manufacturers' title since 1979 .
In an attempt to cut costs, new regulations required mechanical front and rear differentials, while the central differential remained active. Active suspension and water injections were also prohibited. Cars entered by a manufacturer had to be equipped with the same engine for two rallies; further limitations were imposed on the changing of some parts, including suspension, steering, turbochargers and gearboxes.
For 2006 manufacturer is understood to mean a manufacturer, a team designated by a manufacturer, or a privateer team taking part with a single make of car.
Two categories were created to compete for the Manufacturer's championship:
Manufacturer 1 (M1)
undertakes to take part in all the rallies of the Championship
must enter only cars corresponding to the latest homologated version of a World Rally Car in conformity with the 2006 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
In order to score points in the Championship, a Manufacturer 1 must take part with two cars of the same make in the 16 rallies of the calendar
Manufacturer 2 (M2)
undertakes to take part in 10 or more Championship rallies which it has nominated
cannot enter World Rally Cars homologated during the year 2006 and cannot use parts homologated after 2 January 2006
cannot enter a driver who has been classified among the first six in the final classification of the FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers in the last five years
In order to score points in the Championship, a Manufacturer 2 must take part with two cars of the same make in 10 or more rallies it nominated on registering for the Championship. The Manufacturer can only score points in the events it nominated on registering
The 2006 championship was contested over sixteen rounds in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania.
Manufacturers 1
Team
Manufacturer
Car
Tyre
No
Drivers
Co-Driver
Rounds
Kronos Total Citroën World Rally Team
Citroën
Xsara WRC
BF
1
Sébastien Loeb
Daniel Elena
1–12†
Colin McRae
13
Xavier Pons
14–16
2
1–8
Daniel Sordo
9–16
BP Ford World Rally Team
Ford
Focus RS WRC 06
BF
3
Marcus Grönholm
All
4
Mikko Hirvonen
All
Subaru World Rally Team
Subaru
Impreza WRC 2006
P
5
Petter Solberg
All
6
Stéphane Sarrazin
1, 4–5, 9
Chris Atkinson
2–3, 6–8, 10–16
Manufacturers 2
OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team
Peugeot
307 WRC
BF
7
Manfred Stohl
All
8
Henning Solberg
1–3, 6–8, 10, 12–16
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team
Ford
Focus RS WRC 04 Focus RS WRC 06
BF
9
Matthew Wilson
All
10
Pieter Tsjoen
1
Kosti Katajamäki
2, 7–8, 10, 13
Luís Pérez Companc
3, 6, 11–12, 14–15
Jari-Matti Latvala
4–5, 9, 16
Red Bull Škoda Team
Škoda
Fabia WRC
BF
11
Gilles Panizzi
1, 4
Andreas Aigner
2
Harri Rovanperä
5, 7–8, 12–13, 16
Mattias Ekström
9
12
Andreas Aigner
1, 4–5, 7–9, 12–13, 16
Mattias Ekström
2
Major entries not registered as manufacturers
Subaru World Rally Team
Subaru
Impreza WRC 2006
P
14
Toshihiro Arai
11
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team
Ford
Focus RS WRC 04
BF
17
Juan Pablo Raies
12
19
Andreas Mikkelsen
16
23
Luís Pérez Companc
2, 7
Gianluigi Galli
Peugeot
307 WRC
P
25
Gianluigi Galli
5–7, 10
Astra Racing
BF
14
Toni Gardemeister
1, 4–5
Citroën
Xsara WRC
8–9, 12
PH Sport
BF
15
Janne Tuohino
2, 10
Kronos Racing
26
Daniel Sordo
1–8
Xavier Pons
9–10, 12–13
MMSP LTD
Mitsubishi
Lancer WRC 05
'P 'BF
14
Gianluigi Galli
1–2
15
Daniel Carlsson
2, 10
18
Jussi Välimäki
7–8, 10
22
Juho Hänninen
10
First Motorsport Škoda
Škoda
Fabia WRC
BF
15
François Duval
1, 4–5, 7–9, 13, 16
Czech RT Škoda Kopecký
18
Jan Kopecký
1–2, 4–5, 7–10, 13, 16
Rally Team Olsbergs
Subaru
Impreza WRC 2004
'P 'BF
16
Thomas Radstrom
2
Red Devil Atolye Kazaz
Impreza WRC 2004/5
19
Kristian Sohlberg
2, 7, 10
Adapta AS
Impreza WRC 2003/4
20
Mads Østberg
2, 10, 16
Subaru Rally Team Australia
Impreza WRC 2005
16
Chris Atkinson
1, 4–5, 9
Valentino Rossi
46
Valentino Rossi
15
Tom Hogan Motors
Ford
Focus RS WRC
BF
17
Gareth MacHale
1–4, 6–7, 9, 11, 16
BSA
Peugeot
307 WRC
BF
19
Alexandre Bengué
4–5
Equipe de France FFSA
20
Nicolas Vouilloz
5
Pieter Tsjoen
Ford
Focus RS WRC
22
Pieter Tsjoen
9
Olivier Burri
Peugeot
Peugeot 307 WRC
M
63
Olivier Burri
1
Philippe Roux
Peugeot
Peugeot 206 WRC
BF
65
Philippe Roux
1, 5
Riccardo Errani
Škoda
Škoda Octavia WRC
P
66
Riccardo Errani
1
Austin MacHale
Ford
Ford Focus RS WRC
BF
67
Austin MacHale
1
Eamonn Boland
Ford
Ford Focus RS WRC
M
68
Eamonn Boland
1
Jimmy Joge
Peugeot
Peugeot 206 WRC
19
Jimmy Joge
2
Thomas Schie
Ford
Ford Focus RS WRC
20
Thomas Schie
2
24
10
Anders Grondal
Subaru
Subaru Impreza WRC
62
Anders Grondal
2
Cersanit Rally Team
Subaru
Subaru Impreza WRC
71
Michał Sołowow
2
Fabio Frisiero
Toyota
Toyota Corolla WRC
80
Fabio Frisiero
2
Ricardo Trivino
Peugeot
Peugeot 206 WRC
16
Ricardo Trivino
3
This is the first season without Carlos Sainz since 1986 .
† Sebastien Loeb broke his arm before Rally Turkey and missed the remainder of the season.[ 1]
No
Entrant
Drivers
Co-driver
Car
Rounds
32
PH Sport
Kris Meeke
Glenn Patterson
Citroën C2 S1600
4–5, 9–10, 13, 16
42
Julien Pressac
Gilles De Turckheim
4–5, 7
Jacques Boyere
9–10, 13
55
Brice Tirabassi
Jacques-Julien Renucci
4, 5, 7
Fabrice Gordon
9
Fabio Fiandino
Sabrina de Castelli
Citroën C2 R2
10, 13
33
Suzuki Sport Europe
Urmo Aava
Kuldar Sikk
Suzuki Swift S1600
2, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16
35
Per-Gunnar Andersson
Jonas Andersson
2, 6–7, 10, 13, 16
37
Pavel Valoušek
Pierangelo Scalvini
2, 5, 7
Zdeněk Hrůza
9–10, 13
43
Jaan Mölder
Katrin Becker
16
48
Guy Wilks
Phil Pugh
2, 6–7, 10, 13, 16
36
Autorel Sport
Luca Betti
Piercarlo Capolongo
Renault Clio S1600
4–5, 7, 9, 13, 16
39
Barroso Sport
Conrad Rautenbach
David Senior
Renault Clio S1600
4–5, 7, 9–10, 13
41
Renault Sport
Patrik Sandell
Emil Axelsson
Renault Clio S1600
2, 6–7, 10, 13, 16
51
Fatih Kara
Cerm Bakancocuklari
4–5, 7, 9, 13, 16
52
Bernd Casier
Frédéric Miclotte
4–5, 7, 9, 13, 16
43
M-Sport
Jaan Mölder
Katrin Becker
Ford Fiesta S1600
2, 6
JM Engineering
Suzuki Ignis S1600
7, 10, 13
44
Suzuki Shell Helix
Michał Kościuszko
Jaroslaw Baran
Suzuki Ignis S1600
2, 4, 7, 9–10, 13
45
Styllex Tuning Motorsport
Jozef Béreš
Petr Starý
Suzuki Ignis S1600
2, 4–5, 10, 13, 16
46
Power Car Team
Andrea Cortinovis
Massimiliano Bosi
Renault Clio RS
2, 4, 7, 10, 16
Flavio Zanella
13
47
Hawk Racing Club
Filippo Bordignon
James Bardini
Opel Astra OPC
2, 10, 13
Justin Bardini
4, 7, 16
49
Jipocar Czech National Team
Martin Prokop
Jan Tománek
Citroën C2 S1600
2, 4, 7, 9–10, 13
50
Clio Junior Team
Kalle Pinomäki
Mikko Markkula
Renault Clio S1600
10
Renault Clio RS
2, 4–5, 9
Egon Kaur
Avo Kristov
16
53
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team
Barry Clark
Scott Martin
Ford Fiesta ST
4–5, 7, 9–10, 16
54
OMV Rally Team
Aaron Burkart
Jörg Bastuck
Citroën C2 S1600
4
Tanja Geilhausen
5, 7, 9, 13, 16
Additional guest entries
59
Suzuki Sweden
Peter Zachrisson
Jan Svanström
Suzuki Ignis S1600
2
60
Johan Karlsson Motorsport
Johan Karlsson
Mattias Gustavsson
Peugeot 206 RC
2
59
Equipe de France FFSA
Yoann Bonato
Benjamin Boulloud
Renault Clio S1600
5
59
Motor Stars
Matti Rantanen
Jan Lönegren
Honda Civic Type-R
10
59
Dealer Team Suzuki
James Wozencroft
Robert Fagg
Suzuki Ignis S1600
16
60
Tom Walster Rally Sport
Tom Walster
Paul Williams
Ford Fiesta ST
16
No
Entrant
Drivers
Co-driver
Car
Rounds
31
Subaru Team Arai
Toshihiro Arai
Tony Sircombe
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
3, 6, 8, 12, 14–15
32
Tango Rally Team
Marcos Ligato
Rubén Garcia
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
3, 6, 8, 11, 14–15
34
Sebastián Beltran
Ricardo Rojas
3, 6, 8, 11, 14–15
35
Gabriel Pozzo
Daniel Stillo
3, 6, 8, 11, 14–15
33
Advan-Piaa Rally Team
Fumio Nutahara
Daniel Barritt
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
1, 3, 11–12, 14–15
37
Mitsubishi Paris West Team
Mirco Baldacci
Giovanni Agnese
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
3, 6, 8, 11, 14–15
37
Motoring Club
Jari-Matti Latvala
Miikka Anttila
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
1, 3, 8, 11, 14–15
38
Syms Rally Team
Leszek Kuzaj
Maciek Szczepaniak
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
3, 6, 8, 11, 14–15
45
Aki Teiskonen
Miika Teiskonen
6, 8, 11–12, 14–15
39
QMMF
Nasser Al-Attiyah
Chris Patterson
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 15
40
Errani Team Group
Stefano Marrini
Tiziana Sandroni
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
1, 6, 11
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
8, 14
Simone Campedelli
Danilo Fappani
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
12
41
Subaru Team Quasys
Takuma Kamada
Hakaru Ichino
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
6, 8
Denis Giraudet
11, 15
Khalid Al Qassimi
Nicky Beech
12
Dean Herridge
Bill Hayes
14
42
Subaru Rally Team Russia
Sergey Uspenskiy
Dmitry Eremeev
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
3, 6, 8, 14
Alexander Dorosinskiy
15
Loris Baldacci
Dario D'Esposito
11
43
OMV CEE World Rally Team
Andrej Jereb
Miran Kacin
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
8
Jasen Popov
Dilian Popov
14
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
1
Štěpán Vojtěch
Michal Ernst
3
Aaron Burkart
Tanja Geilhausen
12
Natalie Barratt
Dale Moscatt
15
44
Mellors Eliot Motorsport
David Higgins
Ross Butler
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
1
Ieuan Thomas
8
46
PSM Motorsport
Nigel Heath
Steve Lancaster
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
6, 8, 11–12, 14
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
15
Additional guest entries
59
Subaru Rally Team USA
Travis Pastrana
Christian Edstrom
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
3
60
Francisco Name
Francisco Name
Armando Zapata
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
3
59
ALALamias Team
Panayiotis Hatzitsopanis
Nikolaos Petropoulos
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
8
60
Eko Racing Team
Dimitris Nassoulas
Mihalis Patrikoussis
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
8
59
Andreas Tsouloftas
Andreas Tsouloftas
Savvas Laos
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
12
60
Spyros Pavlides
Spyros Pavlides
Theodoros Vassiliades
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
12
59
Richard Mason Motorsport
Richard Mason
Sara Mason
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
15
60
Winger Subaru/Subaru NZ
Chris West
Garry Cowan
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
15
Results and standings [ edit ]
Drivers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)
Manufacturers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)
Ford secured the manufacturers' championship in New Zealand.[ 3]
JWRC Drivers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)
PWRC Drivers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)
Colour
Rally Surface
Gold
Gravel
Silver
Tarmac
Blue
Snow/Ice
Bronze
Mixed Surface