World Rally Championship-2

2013 champions Robert Kubica and Maciek Baran, Citroen DS3 RRC, Rallye Deutschland 2013

In the new WRC2 of 2013, entrants could nominate round-by-round for the first time which rallies they would be competing in and could choose any rally included in the WRC calendar with no minimum commitment or any requirement to compete in rallies outside Europe. By the end of the first season, it was noted by the FIA that the support championships were more popular than ever.[13] Thirteen drivers scored championship points in 2012's SWRC, compared to 36 in 2013's WRC2.

With the introduction of the R5 in Group R in 2013, the eligibility of the SWRC was extended to allow R5 and four wheel drive Group N cars into WRC2, alongside Super-2000, Regional Rally Cars (RRC) and R4.[14] This essentially merged the four-wheel drive and performance cars of PWRC and SWRC back into one competition whilst WRC3 championship was for two wheel drive cars. Between 2013 and 2015 two additional cup titles were also contested by those driving Group N cars, WRC 2 Production Car Cup for Drivers and Co-Drivers.[15]

Changes to the structure of the WRC support championships were made by the FIA ahead of the 2019 season, coinciding with approval and implementation of a new rally pyramid that emphasised tiers of corresponding numbers of classes, cars and competitions.[16]

The eligibility rules of WRC 2 were changed so that only R5 cars could enter in 2019. Further, Super-2000, Group N and R4 could no longer enter the WRC at all.[17] Simultaneously, the R5 class was renamed Rally2, which appeared in official regulations from 2020.

Meanwhile, the existing WRC 3 championship for two-wheel drive cars ceased after 2018, and WRC 2 was split into a championship for manufacturer teams called WRC 2 Pro; and a championship for privateer driver entries, which retained the name WRC 2.[18]

Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen in WRC 2 Pro, Rally Spain 2019

WRC 2 Pro was introduced in 2019 as a means of encouraging manufacturer entries to join the category and in response to complaints that privateers could not compete with the resources of the factory teams.[18][19] Entirely separate manufacturer, driver and co-driver championships were created. Competing in cars built to R5 specifications, manufacturer teams were permitted to enter up to two crews per event. Entries had to contest a minimum of eight rallies, including one outside Europe. Only the eight best results would contribute to the championship.[20]

The WRC 2 Pro series was abandoned after only one year following criticism that the structure was too difficult to understand.[21] Also, no new manufacturers had been attracted as desired. Of the three 2019 entrants, M-Sport Ford and Citroën had free entry courtesy of being in the WRC Manufacturer's championship. Somewhat against the intentions of the two championships, M-Sport Ford nominated customer owner-drivers whilst Citroën nominated an independent team, PH Sport, to run their entry with a customer driver. Conversely, M-Sport Ford and Škoda were supporting Eric Camilli and Fabian Kreim respectively as privateer entries in the privateer oriented WRC 2.

Škoda, the only paying entrant and victor, withdrew from entering WRC from 2020, instead supporting Toksport entries. However, it is not clear if Škoda's withdrawal was the cause of, effect of, or related to any changes in the championships.

Ford Fiesta Rally2, 2020

From 2020 to 2021, WRC2 was for manufacturer and independent teams approved by the FIA. Privateer drivers could only enter a new version of WRC3 for Rally2 cars in 2020 and 2021, which included budget restraints and restrictions on who could enter based on previous successes.[20]

The rally results service eWRC-Results advocates for the purpose of stats and comparison, that WRC3 in these years is a continuation of the 2019 WRC2 series, with the 2019 WRC 2 Pro being the origin of a new championship which became WRC2 in these years.[22][23] However this method of thinking would place the winner of four WRC 2 Teams Championships from 2015 to 2018, the manufacturer Škoda, in the privateer continuation.[24] It also doesn't account for the merge of the championships from 2022.

Following the launch of Group Rally3 cars in 2021, the 2022 WRC3 Championship became exclusively for those cars. WRC2 expanded to allow privateer drivers of Rally2 cars. Specific WRC2 championship titles for Juniors and cup titles for Masters were also created, although the WRC2 Masters category would be replaced by a WRC Masters Cup in 2023.

The following Super 2000 rally cars were eligible to compete in WRC2 up to the end of 2018:

• Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000
• Ford Fiesta S2000
• Peugeot 207 S2000
• Škoda Fabia S2000
• Toyota Auris S2000
• Volkswagen Polo S2000
• MG ZR S2000
• Opel Corsa S2000
• Proton Satria Neo S2000

The following RRC (Regional Race Car) were eligible to compete in WRC2 up to the end of 2018:

• Citroën DS3 RRC
• Ford Fiesta RRC
• Mini John Cooper Works S2000

The following cars were eligible to compete under the R4 or N4 rules up to the end of 2018:

• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
• Subaru Impreza STi