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The Power Stage (abbreviated as PS) is a special stage that usually runs as the final stage of a rally in the World Rally Championship (WRC)[a] and European Rally Championship (ERC). Additional championship points are available to the fastest five crews through the stage regardless of where they actually finished in the rally.[2] Unlike normal special stages, which are timed to a tenth of a second, the timing of the Power Stage is to a thousandth of a second.[3]
Points scoring systems
The bonus scoring system initially used at the 1999 Tour de Corse and 1999 Rally Finland, branded as the "TV stage".[4][5] Drivers that had retired from the event could take part in the TV stage.[6]
Re-introduced in 2011, the top three crews through the stage could score extra bonus points, with the fastest crew receiving three points, the second-fastest receiving two points, and the third-fastest receiving one point.[5] In 2017, the scoring system was amended so the five fastest drivers through the stage were awarded points from five for first to one for fifth.[7] Manufacturers, WRC-2 and WRC-3 categories were also eligible to score Power Stage points in 2021. From 2022, WRC-2 awarded Power Stage points from three for first place, to one for third place. However, it was axed from 2024 onwards.[8] Power Stage points are no longer awarded in WRC-3.
Power Stages were also introduced during the 2022 European Rally Championship, using the final stage of each rally and awarding points to the five fastest crews in a similar fashion to the WRC.[9][10]
| Seasons | Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999, 2011–2016 | WRC | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 2017–present | WRC | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022–2023 | WRC-2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 2022–present | ERC | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Cancelled Power Stages
This list does not include cancelled rallies.
| No. | Rally | Stage name | Reason | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  2013 Monte Carlo Rally |
Lantosque – Lucéram 2 | Increase in local traffic due to bad weather. | [11] |
| 2. |  2020 Rally Mexico |
El Brinco | The rally ended prematurely in response to increased travel restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. | [12] |
Most wins in WRC
| Bold | Drivers or co-drivers active in the World Rally Championship |
| World Rally Championship Drivers' or Co-Drivers' champions |
By drivers
By co-drivers
Most wins per season
| Bold | Won the World Championship in the same year |
| Year | Driver(s) | Wins | Races |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 |  Didier Auriol |
2 | 2[c] |
| 2011 | Sébastien Ogier |
4 | 13 |
| 2012 | Sébastien Loeb |
4 | 13 |
| 2013 | Sébastien Ogier |
7 | 12[d] |
| 2014 | Sébastien Ogier |
6 | 13 |
| 2015 | Sébastien Ogier |
9 | 13 |
| 2016 | Sébastien Ogier |
7 | 13 |
| 2017 |  Thierry Neuville |
4 | 13 |
| 2018 | Thierry Neuville Ott Tänak Esapekka Lappi |
3 | 13 |
| 2019 | Ott Tänak |
6 | 13 |
| 2020 | Thierry Neuville Kalle Rovanperä |
2 | 6[e] |
| 2021 | Ott Tänak |
4 | 12 |
| 2022 | Kalle Rovanperä |
7 | 13 |
| 2023 | Kalle Rovanperä |
6 | 13 |
| 2024 | Thierry Neuville |
5 | 13 |
Points scored in WRC
| Bold | Drivers or co-drivers active in the World Rally Championship |
| World Rally Championship Drivers' or Co-Drivers' champions |
By drivers
By co-drivers
Most points per season
| Bold | Won the World Championship in the same year |
| Year | Driver(s) | Points | Races |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Didier Auriol |
6 | 2[c] |
| 2011 | Sébastien Loeb |
19 | 13 |
| 2012 | Sébastien Loeb |
19 | 13 |
| 2013 | Sébastien Ogier |
28 | 12[d] |
| 2014 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
25 | 13 |
| 2015 | Sébastien Ogier |
27 | 13 |
| 2016 | Sébastien Ogier |
26 | 13 |
| 2017 | Sébastien Ogier Thierry Neuville |
34 | 13 |
| 2018 | Sébastien Ogier |
37 | 13 |
| 2019 | Sébastien Ogier |
41 | 13 |
| 2020 | Ott Tänak Thierry Neuville |
18 | 6[e] |
| 2021 | Thierry Neuville |
35 | 12 |
| 2022 | Kalle Rovanperä |
50 | 13 |
| 2023 | Kalle Rovanperä |
43 | 13 |
| 2024 | Thierry Neuville |
45 | 13 |
Gallery
The Col de Braus mountain pass, which was contested as the power stage of Monte Carlo Rally.
Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle driving a Citroën DS3 WRC at Vargåsen, which was the power stage of 2014 Rally Sweden.
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia driving a Volkswagen Polo R WRC at Colin's Crest Arena during 2014 Rally Sweden.
The Ford Fiesta WRC of Elfyn Evans and Daniel Barritt jumping at the Rally de Portugal's iconic Fafe stage.
The Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC of Hayden Paddon and Sebastian Marshall during the power stage of 2018 Rally Italia Sardegna.
2018 Rally Finland winning crew Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja driving through the power stage in a Toyota Yaris WRC.
Notes
- ↑ 2018 Wales Rally GB used fourth to last stage as the power stage.[1]
- 1 2 3 4 Statistics updated as of the 2025 Central European Rally.
- 1 2 1999 consisted of 14 rallies, but Power Stage was only run on two.
- 1 2 2013 consisted of 13 rallies, but Power Stage was cancelled in Monte Carlo.
- 1 2 2020 consisted of seven rallies, but Power Stage was cancelled in Mexico.
References
- ↑ "2018 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB" (PDF). walesrallygb.com. Wales Rally GB. 14 August 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ↑ "World Motor Sport Council: 08 September 2010". fia.com. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
- ↑ "Regulations". fia.com. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ↑ "Season 1999". e-wrc.com. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- 1 2 Beer, Matt (8 September 2010). "WRC adds bonus points for TV stages". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
- ↑ Barry, Luke (31 July 2024). "The birth of two classic WRC elements". DirtFish. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ↑ "2017 WRC dates confirmed". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ Barry, Luke (14 November 2023). "WRC2 Powerstage axed for 2024". dirtfish.com. DirtFish. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ↑ "What is ERC". ERC – European Rally Championship. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ↑ "ERC 2022: What has changed?". Azoresrallye. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ↑ Evans, David (19 January 2013). "Monte Carlo Rally: Loeb wins as final stages cancelled". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ↑ Ramirez, Luis (14 March 2020). "WRC Rally Mexico to end early as more travel restrictions loom". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
External links
