All information on this page is not part of canon.
The Global Rally Series (GRS) is a rallying series organized by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 12-14 three-day events driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice. Each rally is usually split into 8–12 special stages which are run against the clock on closed roads.
The GRS was formed from well-known and popular international rallies as well as the World Rally Championship and the series was first contested in 1978. A modified 2021 Extreme E Spark Odyssey is the current car specification in the series. It evolved from the "Dakar Rally-esque" specification which can be modified production cars or cars especially made for the series, the cars feature turbochargers, shock absorbers, anti-lag systems, four-wheel-drive, sequential gearboxes, aerodynamic parts and other enhancements.
Structure
Each season normally consists of anywhere from 12-14 rallies driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice. Points from these events are calculated towards the drivers' and manufacturers' world championships. The driver's championship and manufacturer's championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. This means, for example, that a driver driving for Toyota can win the driver's championship but Peugeot can win the manufacturer's championship.
This is the points system, all 3 classes use this, this points system was introduced in 2010 when the series officially became FIA sanctioned.
Position
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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5th
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6th
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7th
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8th
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9th
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10th
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Points
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25
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18
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15
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12
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10
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8
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6
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4
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2
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1
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In the championship currently, the top 2 drivers for a manufacturer will score points for said manufacturer in the Manufacturers championship.
In the current era, each rally usually consists of between eight and twelve special stages of distances ranging from under 2 km (1.2 mi) (known as super special stages) to over 16 kilometres (10 mi) making rally lengths shorter than in the WRC. These competitive stages are driven on closed roads which are linked by non-competitive road sections—open roads on which all road laws of that country must be adhered to.
A GRS event, just like a WRC event, begins with reconnaissance (recce) on Tuesday and Wednesday, allowing crews to drive through the stages and create or update their pace notes. On Thursday, teams can run through the shakedown stage to practice and test their set-ups. The competition typically begins on Friday and ends on Sunday, though some rallies—most notably the Monte Carlo Rally—may be run over four or five days. Cars start the stages at two-minute intervals in clear weather, or three-minute intervals if it is decided that visibility may be a problem for competitors. Each day, or leg, has a few designated service parks between the stages, where the teams can – within strict time limits – perform maintenance and repairs on their cars. The service park also allows spectators and the media to get close to the teams and their cars and drivers. Between the days, after a 45-minute end of day service, cars are locked away in parc fermé, a quarantine environment where teams are not permitted to access or work on their cars.
Each rally's distance is divided by 3 pre season this makes up even sections for the 3 days of competition, then the stages are split into Sprints and Endurance stages.
2021 Rule Changes
In 2021, the GRS became unique whilst keeping close ties to the WRC. In order to modernize the series the GRS became a spec series using the Extreme E Spark Odyssey rally car however this was modified to be made road legal for the road sections of a rally - in turn this turned the heads of many manufacturers: some left whilst some joined, teams also had a say on what type of engine they would like with most opting for/building a hybrid engine for their cars, the rule changes also allowed some drivers to make their own teams which was actually encouraged by the FIA.
The FIA and GRS officials decided that development of the Odyssey was not limited so normal research and development protocols applied throughout the season.
Relationship with the Dakar Rally
From 2020 onwards the GRS agreed to a deal with the Dakar Rally to open the GRS season this was done for logistical reasons as most drivers would already be at the Dakar's host country to race there, however the actual GRS round would take place on the two days before the Dakar making that particular support round the only round in the championship to not have a weekend time slot, it was also agreed that the GRS race would use Dakar Rally stages making the round unique as crews would use navigation systems to guide them around, it is also the longest rally on the current season calendar.
Championship Winners
Season
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Championship for Drivers
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Championship for Manufacturers
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Driver
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Car
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Manufacturer
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Car
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1978
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1979
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1980
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1981
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1982
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1983
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1984
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1985
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1986
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1987
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1988
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1989
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1990
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1991
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1992
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1993
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1994
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1995
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1996
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1997
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1998
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1999
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2000
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2001
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2002
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2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
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2010
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2011
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2012
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2013
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2014
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2015
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2016
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2017
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2018
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2019
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2020
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2021
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Driver Records
Wins
Championship wins
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Driver
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Total
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Season
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1
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TBD
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0
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TBD
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Event wins
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Driver
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Stage wins
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Driver |
Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Driver Statistics
Template:Col-begin
Template:Col-4
Podiums
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Driver
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-4
Points
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Driver
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-4
Starts
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Driver
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-4
Retirements
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Driver
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-end
Constructor Records
Template:Col-begin
Template:Col-4
Championships
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Constructor
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-4
Wins
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Constructor
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-4
Podiums
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Constructor
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-4
Wins by Car
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Constructor
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-4
Podiums by Car
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Constructor
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-end
Team Records
Template:Col-begin
Template:Col-4
Championships
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Team
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-4
Template:Col-4
Podiums
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Team
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Total
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1
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TBD |
0
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Template:Col-end
List of rallies
Rallies by season
2020-2021
Rnd
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2020
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2021
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1
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Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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