A Brief History of WRC

The World Rally Championship (WRC) was created as a summation of car rally and car manufacturer competitions. Initially, there was car racing in Europe, while manufacturers had their own championship based on car specifications. Since the ultimate goal of these 2 competitions converged to cars, they joined hands to form the FIA, translated to the International Federation of Automobiles.

The first event was held in 1973 in multiple countries. There were 13 events spread throughout the world. The hosting countries would form the integral legs of the championships and continue to do so until today. Currently, there are 14 events spread out in 3 days, running on gravel, tarmac, ice and snow roads. Cars for each event are customised to withstand the differing conditions.

In the current season, Sebastian Ogier is the defending WRC world champion, with Julien Ingrassia as the co-driver. Hyundai is the car provider driven by the champions.

WRC – Rules/Things You need to know before placing a bet

To standardise the race for fair participation, WRC has definite guidelines. They range from car specification and racing conditions. All participants have to pass through all the conditions set. The following are some of the conditions set for a contemporary rally car.

Rally Cars

It must be an utmost 1.6 litres direct-injection turbo engine, complete with 4-wheel driveability. They also have sequential gearboxes and anti-lag systems, which makes them unique from a car in their categories. The suspension and material strength must overcome all-weather (hot, wet, snow and gravel) conditions. On completion, the car costs about £500,000. Some of the most car brands participating in the WRC include Citroën, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen and Hyundai.

Participating Teams

Thanks to the structure at FIA, the main difference between teams is the make of the racing car. Every car brand entered into the competition comes complete with a team. A full team comprises a driver, co-driver who also works as a navigator, and the technical team. On average a complete WRC team comprises at least 100 people.

Race Set-Up

Currently, WRC has 14 events worldwide, with each event having between 15 to 25 stages. These stages generally take place over 3 days. Each of the events must have a tarmac, gravel, ice and snow roads to complete the challenge. The WRC championship reward winners at the stage level. They also earn points which cumulatively contribute to the final tally that announces the overall championship winner.

Top WRC Betting Sites

All substantive online bookmakers have WRC markets. However, others have invested heavily in the sport by customising offers to suit the competition. Ranking the betting sites uses conditions such as the number of markets, promotions and ease of betting. Some of the offers include odds boost, in-play betting features and deposit bonuses. Below are some of the recognised sportsbooks on WRC and motorsport betting.

Unibet

Unibet lists all the markets on any motorsport events, WRC included. Owing to the magnitude of the event on the motorsport calendar, the coverage is huge, complete with complimentary features. Gamers can apply the welcome bonus on the WRC markets, effectively increasing their bet time. Other features include a statistics link and occasional cash-out option.

However, there are no special bonuses for motorsport gaming, yet proceeds from other promotions can be used on their markets. Unibet has a variety of markets with competitive odds compared to other bookies.

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Betway

Betway is one of the leading bookies in the United Kingdom in markets and offers. Motorsport offers are not any different. The frequency of motorsport markets rely on their availability, but all betting features are included. In special circumstances, Betway may create a unique offer for WRC lovers.

Besides, other in-house offers make motorsport gaming appreciative. Cash-out is big on Betway, with a majority of sports using it. Other features include free bets, bet building, bet boost and welcome bonuses.

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STSBET

Motorsport betting set up on STSBet is well established with the theme colours making betting easy and fun. It has diversified markets, competitive odds and numerous events. Sportsbook offers like welcome bonus and reload bonuses can be applied to WRC betting. Notwithstanding, it hosts continental and local motorsport championships to increase the visibility of motorsport.

Notable features in STSBet motorsport betting include the statistics link on every event, the special occasion offers, insurance bets and bet boosts. There is also a live-betting and cash-out option at STSBet sportsbook.

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WRC Bets Explained

Terminologies used in WRC betting form a significant part of betting options. These terms explain various actions before, during and after racing. Incidentally, the actions before form pre-match betting options while those occurring as the race progresses form in-play bets. Below are common bets used in contemporary motorsport gaming.

Outright Championship

Probably one of the most popular bets in World Rally is to predict the outright winner of the championships. This is to bet on the driver or team that has the highest number of points gained throughout the season.

Individual Rally Stage winner

Every leg within the WRC series has its winner. The winner of an individual rally within the circuit is an individual rally winner, hence the market. Of all the participating drivers, the bettor has to choose their preferred winner. It is one of the most common markets in any WRC event.

Proposition Bets

A variety of factors surround any WRC betting market. They may or may not directly affect the overall outcome of the championship. Betting sites allow such props on the wager to that effect. Examples include:

  • Which manufacturer will not complete the race?
  • Who will get a tire puncture?
  • The driver that will crash midway
Best Bookmakers for WRC

WRC Live Streaming

The technology is entrenching on bookmakers to complete the end to end sports betting experience. It is expensive, but a necessary venture that allows the gamer to follow the WRC proceedings on their phone. A section of the contemporary and classic sportsbook has this offer. However, only a handful of the rallies go live, based on their significance.

Of all sportsbooks listed on this review, Unibet has a page on its menu dedicated to live streaming. Besides the visuals, there is also information and commentaries broadcasted on the live stream.

Popular WRC Drivers

Several drivers have graced the WRC stage since the competition started. Every driver had his timelines, although some have a history over the years. However, 2 of them have ignited new-age WRC rivalry to make the sport more competitive and fun to follow. They include Sebastian Ogier and Ott Tanak.

Sebastian Ogier

Born in December 1983, Oger is a renowned name in WRC games. For the last 8 years, he has won 7 times, cementing his name as the best WRC driver of the decade. He is still active, which gives him the opportunity to beat the current WRC record holder. His co-driver is fellow Frenchman Julien Ingrassia.

Ott Tanak

Right on the heels of Ogier is Ot Tanakt, an Estonian national. He won the 2019 WRC edition, breaking records on the way. He is the first non-French to win the WRC trophy in over 18 years, and the first Toyota team winner in over 25 years. He is also in the race to win the 2020 season.

Top Odds for WRC Betting

The Most Famous Rallies

Every WRC season has its own highlights. From broken records to spectacular sites and record entries, each has its own story to tell. Rally drivers and motorsport enthusiasts remember each season differently.

Notably, the listed areas make up the WRC world circuit. In most cases, each season since inception has multiple unique occurrences. Below are some of these editions, complete with pointers and memories.

Dyfi, Wales Rally GB

Of the 22 stages in Great Britain’s WRC rally, the Dyfi stretch is one of them. It is a 25.86km circuit and one of the most unique stages in the championship. The road is 100% gravel and crisscrosses different altitudes. The difference between the lowest point and the highest is 105m. Considering the overall distance of the stretch and altitude, it is one of the most unforgiving rally races in the world.

Rally Sweden

The rally traces its roots over 20 years before it became part of the WRC circuit. It is a spectacle since the roads are covered in snow, making it one of the hardest parts in the whole championship. The weather conditions must remain the same to achieve the target of the competition. Incidentally, winners of Rally Sweden have a commanding advantage and stand a good chance of winning the overall trophy.

El Cóndor, Rally Argentina

It is a 16.43 gravel road with a 746 metres altitude difference. El Condor is situated in a high altitude area in Argentina and comes forth as a defining stretch in the WRC series. The roads are narrow, with steep slopes and foggy weather. The spectacle viewpoint of the Argentinian terrain and the cold requires resilience and experience, which makes the El Condor stretch memorable.

WRC Betting FAQs

Yes. There are different markets on a single WRC event, each with its probabilities. Gamers can select from the listed markets, based on their estimations and statistics. The most common markets are outright winners, podium finish and rally stage winner.

Each bookmaker has its strength in WRC coverage. Of all the listed bookies, Unibet has multiple WRC events and markets. It also has multiple features to spice up WRC betting, a factor that increases the traffic flow.

Numerous bookies have a large number of WRC markets, with Betway, Unibet and STSBet leading the pack. They rely on creativity and rallying activities to create betting markets. The more the market, the higher the customer base.

Yes. Most welcome bonuses cover all bookmakers sports, WRC bets inclusive. Their structure and probability are the same as other markets on the sportsbook. They also undergo the same wager as other sports on the sportsbook.

Best in betting is a subjective term, based on the number of markets, offers and gaming patterns. However, some bookies are outstanding, namely Unibet. Its dedication to WRC and motorsport gaming, in general, is admirable.

The individual rally winner is the best bet on a WRC single; it doesn’t require a lot of statistics to decode. It lists the participating drivers, and the bettor has to select. However, other markets, such as the outright championship are also good.

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Written by:   Terry Riley

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