2021 was the first season with the
WRC Promoter GmbH as the championship promoter after succeeding
IMG,[1] subsequently formed Rallycross Promoter GmbH.[2]Johan Kristoffersson won the Drivers' Championship for the fourth time.
Hansen World RX Team won the Teams' Championship.
Calendar
The 2021 championship was due to be contested over 10 rounds in
Europe, the
Middle East, and
Sub-Saharan Africa. The initial calendar was released on 16 December 2020, it included two unconfirmed slots: 1 for a round in Europe, and one for a round in the Middle East/Asia.[3]
On 26 March 2021, the calendar was adjusted due to the effects of
COVID-19 pandemic; and the rounds in Finland, Middle East, and South Africa were removed from the calendar.[4] On 12 May 2021; the calendar was adjusted again by cancelling
World RX of Norway, postponing
World RX of Sweden, and
World RX of Portugal returned to the calendar as the final round.[5]
After being on the 2020 calendar, then cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World RX of Russia,
World RX of Finland and
World RX of Abu Dhabi were not included on the initial calendar.
The
World RX of South Africa firstly returned to the initial calendar, however it was removed from the calendar after the adjustment of the calendar.
The
World RX of Riga - Latvia was firstly not included in the initial calendar, it returned to the calendar after the adjustment. However, it is still subject to the contract.[4] On the 19th of July, it was announced that the event had been expanded to a double-header weekend, bringing the total number of championship rounds to 9.[6]
The
World RX of Germany was originally scheduled to hold a double header for rounds 2 and 3 of the season, but was later postponed due to the circuit aiding in the disaster relief efforts following the
2021 European floods.[7]
Series News
The FIA announced a tender process to find a new promoter to replace IMG. IMG had been the championship's promoters since its inception in 2014.[8]
On 11 February 2021, it was announced that WRC Promoter GmbH would replace IMG as the championship's promoter,[9] subsequently formed Rallycross Promoter GmbH on 21 April 2021.[2]
^World RX of Sweden was originally due to take place on 2–4 July 2021; however it was rescheduled to 20–22 August 2021 in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic[5]
^Hervé Knapick was entered into round 9, but was later withdrawn as a result of crash damage sustained in round 8.
^Fraser McConnell is a Jamaican driver competing under a Swedish license.
^Jan Oscar Ortfeldt is a Swedish driver competing under an Italian license.
^Dan Öberg was deducted 10 championship points for the use of a fourth turbo over the season.