Teams thrilled as WRC turns 500

Leading team bosses have expressed their delight to be competing on the 500th round of the FIA World Rally Championship in Finland this week.

Although Brother Rally New Zealand in late June technically marked the milestone, because FISA, then motorsport’s world governing body, annulled the results of the 1986 Rallye Sanremo, Neste Oil Rally Finland is therefore the 500th world championship rally to count.

“To have 500 World Rally Championship events is fantastic and it shows the championship is very strong,” said Volkswagen Motorsport head Jost Capito. “It’s an honour for Volkswagen to be involved in the 500th event and we’re really looking forward to next year when we start with our new team.”

Yves Matton, the boss of the Citroen Total World Rally Team, said: “For sure it’s good because 500 is a big number and it shows the WRC has a lot of history and value. It’s also good to know that for a long time now the WRC has been accessible to so many people around the world.”

Ford World Rally Team boss Malcolm Wilson added: “The WRC has witnessed many changes since its launch in 1973, but what hasn’t altered is the excitement this sport generates. Everyone recalls their own favourite moments in WRC history - and there have been many - and I look forward to enjoying many more as the series heads towards 600.”

After two stages of this year’s Neste Oil Rally Finland, eight-time world champion Sebastien Loeb holds a narrow lead for Citroen over Ford driver Petter Solberg.