Experts predict a great year ahead for the WRC

World Rally Championship bosses are predicting a classic season at the highest level of rallying in 2011.

The introduction of new regulations, new cars and a new manufacturer arriving in the shape of MINI means this season’s WRC will be one of the most eagerly anticipated in years.

The new campaign starts with Rally Sweden next month, where Citroen’s DS3 WRC will take on the Ford Fiesta RS WRC for the first time.

“It’s fantastic for the sport,” said Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson. “It’s going to be so exciting. Nobody has any real idea where their car is against the opposition. Okay, we’ve done testing and we’re very happy with where the Fiesta is, but until we get to the end of the first stage we’re in the dark in terms of how competitive it is.”

Citroen team manager Sven Smeets said the current build-up reminded him of the start of the C4 WRC’s career in 2007.

“When we arrived in Monte Carlo [in 2007], we had done a lot of testing,” said Smeets, “but we really didn’t know what would happen in that first stage. The car worked and worked well. Now, it’s the same, except everybody has new cars, it’s not just us. We’re all looking forward to Sweden to see what happens, but we have no idea what will happen against Ford.”

MINI is expected to join the WRC on Rally d’Italia-Sardegna in May and Northern Irishman Kris Meeke, who will drive the make’s lead Countryman WRC, says the sense of anticipation is just the same in the Prodrive-run team.

“Citroen and Ford will find out sooner than us where they’re at,” said Meeke. “But for us, we’re in the dark completely until we put the numbers on the side of the car!”

Rally Sweden, which will be based in Karlstad from February 10-13, is the first of 13-round WRC season.