# 1997 World Rally Championship

The 1997 World Rally Championship was the 25th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season saw many changes in the championship. Most notably, Group A was partially replaced by the World Rally Car with manufacturers given the option which regulations to construct to. One inherent benefit to manufacturers by adopting WRC regulations was removing the need to mass-produce road-going versions of the cars that they competed with, under the previous rules for homologation. This meant that vehicles such as the Escort RS Cosworth and Subaru Impreza Turbo no longer had to be mass-produced for general sale in order to compete at World Championship level, and thus acting as a means of attracting increased competition and involvement by manufacturers. In the few years that follow, the Championship saw the added presence of WRC cars from companies such as Toyota, Hyundai, Seat, Citroën, and Peugeot, who would all compete under WRC regulations without having to manufacture equivalent specialised road cars for public sale. Both Ford and Subaru switched to WRC in 1997, except Mitsubishi who stayed with Group A to maintain the links to their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution road cars. Subaru's transition was much more gradual for similar reasons with the early Subaru Impreza WRCs still largely Group A in nature.
Events also became shorter and more compact, event rotation system used in previous three seasons was dropped and registered manufacturers were required to contest the expanded 14 event calendar for the first time. In due course the World Rally Car rules would bring new manufactures into the sport, but at the start of 1997 it was still Subaru versus Mitsubishi versus Ford as before, although, by mid season Toyota Team Europe were back with a Corolla World Rally Car. The Drivers' championship was very tightly contested and in the end Tommi Mäkinen won his second drivers' world championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV by a single point ahead of Subaru Impreza WRC driver Colin McRae after the final round in Great Britain. Carlos Sainz was third in the leading Ford Escort WRC. The Manufacturers' title was won by Subaru with Ford second and Mitsubishi third.
One major flaw in the new class system was exposed by the increasing speed of the naturally aspirated front-wheel-drive FIA 2-Litre World Rally Cup cars. The tarmac specification cars built by Peugeot and Renault that competed in the all-tarmac French and Spanish championships became major threats on WRC tarmac events Rallye Catalunya and the Tour de Corse with Gilles Panizzi defeating all but two of the WRC four-wheel-drive turbos in his Peugeot 306 Maxi, taking third place in both events.

## Calendar

The 1997 championship was contested over fourteen rounds in Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and Oceania.
| Rd. | Start date | Finish date | Rally | Rally headquarters | Surface | Stages | Distance |
| 1 | 18 January | 22 January | 65th Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo | Monte Carlo | Mixed | 18 | 398.30 km |
| 2 | 7 February | 10 February | 46th International Swedish Rally | Karlstad, Värmland County | Snow | 24 | 411.17 km |
| 3 | 1 March | 3 March | 45th Safari Rally Kenya | Nairobi | Gravel | 13 | 1318.0 km |
| 4 | 23 March | 26 March | 31st TAP Rallye de Portugal | Figueira da Foz, Coimbra | Gravel | 31 | 419.78 km |
| 5 | 14 April | 16 April | 33rd Rallye Catalunya - Costa Brava - Rallye de España | Lloret de Mar, Catalonia | Tarmac | 18 | 387.70 km |
| 6 | 5 May | 7 May | 41st Tour de Corse - Rallye de France | Ajaccio, Corsica | Tarmac | 18 | 408.0 km |
| 7 | 22 May | 25 May | 17th Rally Argentina | Carlos Paz, Córdoba | Gravel | 23 | 413.4 km |
| 8 | 8 June | 10 June | 44th Acropolis Rally | Athens | Gravel | 20 | 402.86 km |
| 9 | 2 August | 5 August | 28th Smokefree Rally New Zealand | Manukau, Auckland | Gravel | 24 | 395.99 km |
| 10 | 29 August | 31 August | 47th Neste Rally Finland | Jyväskylä, Central Finland | Gravel | 22 | 381.55 km |
| 11 | 19 September | 21 September | 22nd Rally of Indonesia | Medan, North Sumatra | Gravel | 22 | 402.17 km |
| 12 | 12 October | 15 October | 39th Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia | Sanremo, Liguria | Tarmac | 25 | 396.21 km |
| 13 | 30 October | 2 November | 10th API Rally Australia | Perth, Western Australia | Gravel | 24 | 421.42 km |
| 14 | 23 November | 25 November | 54th Network Q RAC Rally | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | Gravel | 26 | 381.11 km |
| Sources: ||||||||

## Teams and drivers

| Team | Manufacturer | Car | Tyre | No. | Driver | Co-Driver | Rounds |
| Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi | Lancer Evo IV | M | 1 | Tommi Mäkinen | Seppo Harjanne | All |
| Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi | Lancer Evo III | M | 2 | Uwe Nittel | Christina Thörner | 1–2, 5–6, 10, 12 |
| Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi | Carisma GT Evo IV | M | 2 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | 3–4, 7–9, 11, 13–14 |
| Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi | Lancer Evo III | Y | 11 | Ed Ordynski | Mark Stacey | 13 |
| Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi | Lancer Evo III | Y | 13 | Kenjiro Shinozuka | Fred Gocentas | 13 |
| 555 Subaru WRT | Subaru | Impreza S5 WRC '97 | P | 3 | Colin McRae | Nicky Grist | All |
| 555 Subaru WRT | Subaru | Impreza S5 WRC '97 | P | 4 | Piero Liatti | Fabrizia Pons | 1, 5–6, 12 |
| 555 Subaru WRT | Subaru | Impreza S5 WRC '97 | P | 4 | Kenneth Eriksson | Staffan Parmander | 2–4, 7–11, 13–14 |
| 555 Subaru WRT | Subaru | Impreza S5 WRC '97 | P | 8 | Piero Liatti | Fabrizia Pons | 14 |
| 555 Subaru WRT | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | 10 | Peter 'Possum' Bourne | Craig Vincent | 9 |
| Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford | Ford Escort WRC | M | 5 | Carlos Sainz | Luis Moya | All |
| Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford | Ford Escort WRC | M | 6 | Armin Schwarz | Denis Giraudet | 1–5 |
| Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford | Ford Escort WRC | M | 6 | Armin Schwarz | Phil Mills | 6 |
| Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford | Ford Escort WRC | M | 6 | Juha Kankkunen | Juha Repo | 7–14 |
| Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford | Ford Escort WRC | M | 16 | Angelo Medeghini | Barbara Medeghini | 14 |
| Toyota Castrol Team | Toyota | Corolla WRC | M | 7 | Didier Auriol | Denis Giraudet | 10–14 |
| Toyota Castrol Team | Toyota | Corolla WRC | M | 8 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | 10 |
| Toyota Castrol Team | Toyota | Corolla WRC | M | 9 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | 14 |
| Toyota Castrol Team | Toyota | Corolla WRC | M | 9 | Neal Bates | Coral Taylor | 11 |
| Toyota Castrol Team | Toyota | Corolla WRC | M | 8 | Neal Bates | Coral Taylor | 13 |
| Toyota Castrol Team | Toyota | Corolla WRC | M | 9 | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | 12 |

### Non Manufacturer Entries

Major entries not registered as manufacturers :
| Team | Manufacturer | Car | Tyre | Drivers | Co-drivers | Rounds |
| R.A.S. Sport | Ford | Ford Escort RS Cosworth | M | Didier Auriol | Jean-Marc Andrié | 1 |
| R.A.S. Sport | Ford | Ford Escort RS Cosworth | M | Jean-Pierre Richelmi | Thierry Barjou | 4, 8 |
| Dieter Depping | Ford | Ford Escort RS Cosworth | M | Dieter Depping | Dieter Hawranke | 1 |
| Bo-Be Plastindustri AB | Ford | Ford Escort RS Cosworth | P | Mats Jonsson | Johnny Johansson | 2 |
| Mobil Ford Motorsport | Ford | Ford Escort RS Cosworth | M | Stig Blomqvist | Benny Melander | 2 |
| Blue Rose Team | Ford | Ford Escort RS Cosworth | M | Jarmo Kytölehto | Arto Kapanen | 2 |
| Blue Rose Team | Ford | Escort WRC | M | Jarmo Kytölehto | Arto Kapanen | 10 |
| Totta Peres Competição | Ford | Escort WRC | M | Fernando Peres | Ricardo Caldeira | 4 |
| Belgacom Turbo Team | Ford | Escort WRC | M | Grégoire de Mevius | Jean-Marc Fortin | 4, 8, 12, 14 |
| Leonídas Kirkos | Ford | Escort WRC | M | Leonídas Kirkos | Nikos Panou | 8 |
| Ford Team Finland | Ford | Escort WRC | M | Sebastian Lindholm | Timo Hantunen | 10 |
| Jolly Club | Ford | Escort WRC | P | Gianfranco Cunico | Pierangelo Scalvini | 12 |
| Motorsport Consultancy | Ford | Escort WRC | P | Ari Vatanen | Roger Freeman | 14 |
| Gazprom Rally Team | Ford | Escort WRC | M | Bruno Thiry | Stéphane Prévot | 14 |
| Gazprom Rally Team | Ford | Ford Escort RS Cosworth | M | Alexander Zheludov | Viktor Timkovskiy | 14 |
| Marlboro Toyota Castrol Belgium | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | 1, 4, 8, 10, 13 |
| Toyota Castrol Deutschland | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | P | Isolde Holderied | Catherine François | 1 |
| Toyota Denmark Rally Team | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Henrik Lundgaard | Freddy Pedersen | 1 |
| Toyota Castrol Team Sweden | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Thomas Rådström | Lars Bäckman | 2 |
| Toyota Castrol Team Sweden | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Thomas Rådström | Denis Giraudet | 8 |
| Toyota Castrol Team Sweden | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | 'Gullabo' | Pecka Svensson | 2 |
| Toyota Castrol Team Sweden | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | 2 |
| Toyota Kenya | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Ian Duncan | David Williamson | 3 |
| Toyota Castrol Finland | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | 4 |
| H.F. Grifone SRL | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Raúl Sufan | Martin Christie | 4–5, 7–13 |
| H.F. Grifone SRL | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | 7 |
| H.F. Grifone SRL | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Didier Auriol | Denis Giraudet | 7 |
| H.F. Grifone SRL | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Andrea Aghini | Loris Roggia | 12 |
| H.F. Grifone SRL | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Pier Lorenzo Zanchi | Dario D'Esposito | 12 |
| Toyota Team Australia | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | D | Neal Bates | Coral Taylor | 9 |
| Shell Helix Motor Oils | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Pasi Hagström | Tero Gardemeister | 10 |
| Tein Sport | Toyota | Celica GT-Four (ST205) | M | Yoshio Fujimoto | Arne Hertz | 11, 13 |
| Jonathan Toroitich | Toyota | Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185) | F | Jonathan Toroitich | Ibrahim Choge | 3 |
| Olivier Burri | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Olivier Burri | Christophe Hofmann | 1 |
| F.Dor Rally Team | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Frédéric Dor | Kevin Gormley | 3, 9 |
| F.Dor Rally Team | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Frédéric Dor | Didier Breton | 4, 8, 10 |
| F.Dor Rally Team | Subaru | Impreza S5 WRC '97 | P | Frédéric Dor | Didier Breton | 12 |
| Subaru Allstars | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Rui Madeira | Nuno Rodrigues da Silva | 4–5 |
| Subaru Allstars | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Yukihiko Sakurai | Ronan Morgan | 4, 8, 14 |
| Impreza Recaro Fujitsubo | Subaru | Impreza 555 | D | Masao Kamioka | Kevin Gormley | 4, 8, 14 |
| A.R.T Engineering | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Angelo Medeghini | Barbara Medeghini | 5, 10 |
| A.R.T Engineering | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Andrea Navarra | Renzo Casazza | 8 |
| A.R.T Engineering | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Andrea Navarra | Alessandro Alessandrini | 12, 14 |
| A.R.T Engineering | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Massimo Ercolani | Antonio Borri | 12 |
| Armodios Vovos | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Armodios Vovos | Ioánnis Alvanos | 8 |
| Joe McAndrew | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Joe McAndrew | Bob Haldane | 9 |
| Procar Rally Team | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Andrea Dallavilla | Danilo Fappani | 12 |
| Procar Rally Team | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Diego Oldrati | Paolo Lizzi | 12 |
| Renato Travaglia | Subaru | Impreza 555 | ? | Renato Travaglia | Flavio Zanella | 12 |
| Mobil 1 Stomil Olsztyn | Subaru | Impreza 555 | M | Krzysztof Hołowczyc | Maciej Wisławski | 14 |
| Subaru Rally Team Australia | Subaru | Impreza WRX STi RA | P | Greg Graham | Glenn Macneall | 9 |
| Subaru Rally Team Australia | Subaru | Impreza 555 | P | Peter 'Possum' Bourne | Craig Vincent | 13 |
| Mitsubishi Ralliart Germany | Mitsubishi | Lancer Evo III | P | Uwe Nittel | Christina Thörner | 8 |
| Ralliart New Zealand | Mitsubishi | Lancer Evo IV | F | Geoff Argyle | Raymond Bennett | 9 |

### FIA 2-Litre World Rally Cup Major Entries

| Team | Manufacturer | Car | Tyre | Drivers | Co-drivers | Rounds |
| Škoda Motorsport | Škoda | Felicia Kit Car | M | Emil Triner | Julius Gál | 1 |
| Škoda Motorsport | Škoda | Felicia Kit Car | M | Emil Triner | Karel Jirátko | 2, 4–5, 7–8 |
| Škoda Motorsport | Škoda | Felicia Kit Car | M | Emil Triner | Miloš Hůlka | 10 |
| Škoda Motorsport | Škoda | Octavia Kit Car | M | Emil Triner | Miloš Hůlka | 12–13 |
| Škoda Motorsport | Škoda | Felicia Kit Car | M | Pavel Sibera | Petr Gross | 1–2, 4–5, 7–8, 13 |
| Škoda Motorsport | Škoda | Octavia Kit Car | M | Pavel Sibera | Petr Gross | 10, 12 |
| Škoda Motorsport | Škoda | Felicia Kit Car | M | Jindřich Štolfa | Miroslav Fanta | 10, 12 |
| Škoda Motorsport | Škoda | Felicia Kit Car | M | Fabio Danti | Marcello Olivari | 12 |
| East Belgian Racing Team | Škoda | Felicia Kit Car | M | Bernard Munster | Jean-François Elst | 14 |
| SEAT Sport | SEAT | Ibiza Kit Car | M | Harri Rovanperä | Voitto Silander | 1, 4–5, 7 |
| SEAT Sport | SEAT | Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | M | Harri Rovanperä | Voitto Silander | 9–14 |
| SEAT Sport | SEAT | Ibiza Kit Car | M | Oriol Gómez | Marc Martí | 1, 5, 7, 14 |
| SEAT Sport | SEAT | Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | M | Oriol Gómez | Marc Martí | 8–13 |
| SEAT Sport | SEAT | Ibiza Kit Car | M | Erwin Weber | Manfred Hiemer | 4 |
| SEAT Sport | SEAT | Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | M | Erwin Weber | Manfred Hiemer | 8, 11 |
| SEAT Sport | SEAT | Ibiza Kit Car | M | Bruno Thiry | Stéphane Prévot | 5 |
| SEAT Sport | SEAT | Ibiza Kit Car | M | Renaud Verreydt | Dominique Dricot | 12 |
| SEAT Sport | SEAT | Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | M | Gwyndaf Evans | Howard Davies | 14 |
| David Higgins | SEAT | Ibiza Kit Car | M | David Higgins | Rory Kennedy | 14 |
| Technocar | SEAT | Ibiza GTi 16V | ? | "Stratissino" | Giorgos Petropoulos | 8 |
| Andorra Auto Club | SEAT | Ibiza GTi 16V | M | Ferran Font | Eduard Andueza | 4, 8 |
| Andorra Auto Club | SEAT | Ibiza GTi 16V | M | Ferran Font | Joan Sureda | 11 |
| Vítor Pascoal | SEAT | Ibiza GTi 16V | ? | Vítor Pascoal | Duarte Costa | 4 |
| Volkswagen Motorsport Sweden | Volkswagen | Golf III GTi 16V | ? | Jörgen Jonasson | Nicklas Jonasson | 2 |
| Volkswagen Motorsport Sweden | Volkswagen | Golf III GTi 16V | ? | Harry Joki | Ingemar Karlsson | 2 |
| Blue Rose Team | Volkswagen | Golf III Kit Car | ? | Tapio Laukkanen | Risto Mannisenmäki | 2, 10 |
| S.B.G. Sport | Volkswagen | Golf III Kit Car | P | Alister McRae | David Senior | 2, 4, 13–14 |
| Opel Team Sweden | Opel | Astra GSi 16V | M | Per Svan | Johan Olsson | 2, 10, 14 |
| Hawk Racing Club Srl | Opel | Astra GSi 16V | ? | Sandro Sottile | Piero Barbieri | 12 |
| Scuderia Dei Fiori | Opel | Corsa B GSi | ? | Andrea Maselli | Nicola Arena | 12 |
| Renault Team Sweden | Renault | Mégane Maxi | P | Jonas Kruse | Anders Olsson | 2 |
| Renault Team Sweden | Renault | Mégane Maxi | P | Jonas Kruse | Håkan Ekholm | 10 |
| Renault Gest Galp | Renault | Mégane Maxi | M | José Carlos Macedo | Miguel Borges | 4 |
| Renault Gest Galp | Renault | Mégane Maxi | M | Pedro Azeredo | Fernando Prata | 4 |
| Remus Racing | Renault | Mégane Maxi | P | Raphael Sperrer | Per Carlsson | 4–5, 10, 12 |
| Renault Sport España | Renault | Mégane Maxi | M | Miguel Martínez-Conde | Felipe Alonso Fernández | 5 |
| Société Diac | Renault | Mégane Maxi | M | Philippe Bugalski | Jean-Paul Chiaroni | 6 |
| Société Diac | Renault | Mégane Maxi | M | Serge Jordan | Jack Boyère | 6 |
| "Leonidas" | Renault | Mégane Maxi | M | "Leonidas" | Maria Pavli-Korre | 8 |
| Italian Promotor Sport | Renault | Mégane Maxi | M | Corrado Fontana | Daniele Pelliccioni | 12 |
| Italian Promotor Sport | Renault | Mégane Maxi | M | Paolo Andreucci | Simona Fedeli | 12 |
| Renault Dealer Rallying UK | Renault | Mégane Maxi | M | Robbie Head | Bryan Thomas | 14 |
| Renault Dealer Rallying UK | Renault | Mégane Maxi | M | Martin Rowe | Nicky Beech | 14 |
| Mikael Bonnevier | Renault | Clio Williams | ? | Mikael Bonnevier | Peter Johansson | 2 |
| "Dim" | Renault | Clio Williams | ? | "Dim" | Konstantinos Stefanis | 8 |
| Oscar Chiaramello | Renault | 18 GTX | ? | Oscar Chiaramello | Fernando Chiaramello | 7 |
| Ricardo Costanzo | Renault | 18 GTX | ? | Ricardo Costanzo | Jose Claudio Ocampo | 7 |
| Promoracing Finland | Nissan | Sunny GTi | ? | Toni Gardemeister | Paavo Lukander | 2, 10 |
| Nissan Motorsports Europe | Nissan | Micra Kit Car | Y | Mark Higgins | Phil Mills | 10 |
| Nissan Motorsports Europe | Nissan | Micra Kit Car | Y | Masahiro Takasaki | Hiroaki Hamada | 9–13 |
| Nissan Motorsports Europe | Nissan | Micra Kit Car | Y | Geoff Jones | Rhydian Welson | 5–6 |
| Nissan Motorsports Europe | Nissan | Almera Kit Car | Y | Mark Higgins | Phil Mills | 14 |
| Silverstone Rally Tyre Team | Proton | Satria Kit Car | S | Russell Palmer | Brian Harwood | 3 |
| Azar Anwar | Daewoo | Cielo | ? | Azar Anwar | Arshad Khan | 3 |
| Rory Green | Hyundai | Elantra | ? | Rory Green | Orson Taylor | 3 |
| Jimmy Wahome | Hyundai | Elantra | ? | Jimmy Wahome | Tom Muriuki | 3 |
| Hyundai Rally Sport | Hyundai | Coupé | ? | Robert Nicoli | Jim Carlton | 9, 13 |
| Hyundai Rally Sport | Hyundai | Coupé | ? | Wayne Bell | Iain Stewart | 9, 11, 13 |
| Dean Herridge | Hyundai | Coupé | M | Dean Herridge | Lyndall Drake | 13 |
| Jimmy McRae | Hyundai | Accent X3 | M | Jimmy McRae | Rob Arthur | 14 |
| Peugeot Esso Competição | Peugeot | 306 Maxi | M | Adruzilo Lopes | Luís Lisboa | 4 |
| Peugeot Sport | Peugeot | 306 Maxi | M | Gilles Panizzi | Herve Panizzi | 5–6 |
| Peugeot Sport | Peugeot | 306 Maxi | M | François Delecour | Daniel Grataloup | 5–6 |
| Peugeot Sport España | Peugeot | 306 Maxi | M | Jaime Azcona | Julius Billmaier | 5 |
| "Fabrou" | Peugeot | 106 XSi | ? | "Fabrou" | Marc Boyer | 4 |
| Ford España | Ford | Escort Maxi Kit Car | M | Daniel Alonso Villarón | Salvador Belzunces | 5 |
| Citroën Hispania | Citroën | ZX Kit Car | M | Jesús Puras | Marc Martí | 5 |
| Citroën Sport | Citroën | Saxo Kit Car | M | Patrick Magaud | Michel Périn | 6 |
| Kostas Argiriou | Toyota | Starlet EP91 | ? | Kostas Argiriou | Tzannis Vlahos | 8 |
| Silverstone Suzuki Sport | Suzuki | Baleno Wagon Kit Car | S | Nobuhiro Tajima | Ross Runnalls | 9 |
| Silverstone Suzuki Sport | Suzuki | Baleno Wagon Kit Car | S | Nobuhiro Tajima | Glenn Macneall | 11 |
| Silverstone Suzuki Sport | Suzuki | Baleno Wagon Kit Car | S | Nobuhiro Tajima | Claire Parker | 13 |
| Timor Motorsport | Timor | S 515i | ? | Andy Yachmoon | Ichwan Habib Nasution | 11 |
| Timor Motorsport | Timor | S 515i | ? | Faried Thalib | Bambang Gunawan | 11 |
| Honda UK Rally Team | Honda | Civic | D | Neil Wearden | Trevor Agnew | 12, 14 |
| Daihatsu Australia | Daihatsu | Charade GTi | ? | Ross Mackenzie | Tony Brandon | 13 |
| Daihatsu Australia | Daihatsu | Charade GTi | ? | Rick Bates | Jenny Brittan | 13 |
| Kia Motorsport Korea | Kia | Sephia | ? | Park Jeong-Ryong | Damien Long | 13 |

## Results and standings
### Rally results

| Rd. | Rally | Overall Winners | Group N Cup Winners | 2.0 L WC winners | Report |
| 1 | Monte Carlo | No. 4 555 Subaru WRT | No. 23 Mitsubishi Ralliart Germany | No. 20 Škoda Motorsport | Report |
| 1 | Monte Carlo | Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '97 | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III | Škoda Felicia Kit Car | Report |
| 1 | Monte Carlo | Piero Liatti Fabrizia Pons | Gustavo Trelles Jorge Del Buono | Emil Triner Julius Gál | Report |
| 2 | Sweden | No. 4 555 Subaru WRT | No. 16 Mitsubishi Ralliart Sweden | No. 28 Volkswagen Motorsport Sweden | Report |
| 2 | Sweden | Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '97 | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III | Volkswagen Golf III GTi 16V | Report |
| 2 | Sweden | Kenneth Eriksson Staffan Parmander | Kenneth Bäcklund Tord Andersson | Jörgen Jonasson Nicklas Jonasson | Report |
| 3 | Kenya | No. 3 555 Subaru WRT | No. 26 Johnny Hellier | No. 41 Silverstone Rally Tyre Team | Report |
| 3 | Kenya | Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '97 | Subaru Impreza WRX | Proton Satria | Report |
| 3 | Kenya | Colin McRae Nicky Grist | Johnny Hellier Stefano Rocca | Michael Guest David Green | Report |
| 4 | Portugal | No. 1 Mitsubishi Ralliart | No. 24 Mitsubishi Ralliart Germany | No. 12 S.B.G. Sport | Report |
| 4 | Portugal | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III | Volkswagen Golf III Kit Car | Report |
| 4 | Portugal | Tommi Mäkinen Seppo Harjanne | Gustavo Trelles Jorge Del Buono | Alister McRae David Senior | Report |
| 5 | Spain | No. 1 Mitsubishi Ralliart | No. 24 Mitsubishi Ralliart Germany | No. 11 Peugeot Sport | Report |
| 5 | Spain | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III | Peugeot 306 Maxi | Report |
| 5 | Spain | Tommi Mäkinen Seppo Harjanne | Gustavo Trelles Jorge Del Buono | Gilles Panizzi Hervé Panizzi | Report |
| 6 | France | No. 3 555 Subaru WRT | No. 17 Jean-Marie Santoni | No. 7 Peugeot Sport | Report |
| 6 | France | Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '97 | Ford Escort RS Cosworth | Peugeot 306 Maxi | Report |
| 6 | France | Colin McRae Nicky Grist | Jean-Marie Santoni Jean-Marc Casamatta | Gilles Panizzi Hervé Panizzi | Report |
| 7 | Argentina | No. 1 Mitsubishi Ralliart | No. 24 Mitsubishi Ralliart Germany | No. 11 Seat Sport | Report |
| 7 | Argentina | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III | Seat Ibiza Kit Car | Report |
| 7 | Argentina | Tommi Mäkinen Seppo Harjanne | Gustavo Trelles Jorge Del Buono | Harri Rovanperä Voitto Silander | Report |
| 8 | Greece | No. 5 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | No. 15 Mitsubishi Ralliart Germany | No. 22 Seat Sport | Report |
| 8 | Greece | Ford Escort WRC | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III | Seat Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | Report |
| 8 | Greece | Carlos Sainz Luis Moya | Gustavo Trelles Jorge Del Buono | Oriol Gómez Marc Martí | Report |
| 9 | New Zealand | No. 4 555 Subaru WRT | No. 7 Mitsubishi Ralliart Germany | No. 11 Seat Sport | Report |
| 9 | New Zealand | Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '97 | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III | Seat Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | Report |
| 9 | New Zealand | Kenneth Eriksson Staffan Parmander | Gustavo Trelles Jorge Del Buono | Oriol Gómez Marc Martí | Report |
| 10 | Finland | No. 1 Mitsubishi Ralliart | No. 17 Mitsubishi Ralliart Finland | No. 21 Seat Sport | Report |
| 10 | Finland | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV | Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evo IV | Seat Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | Report |
| 10 | Finland | Tommi Mäkinen Seppo Harjanne | Jouko Puhakka Keijo Eerola | Harri Rovanperä Voitto Silander | Report |
| 11 | Indonesia | No. 5 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | No. 19 Petronas EON Racing Team | No. 11 Seat Sport | Report |
| 11 | Indonesia | Ford Escort WRC | Proton Wira 4WD | Seat Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | Report |
| 11 | Indonesia | Carlos Sainz Luis Moya | Karamjit Singh Allen Oh | Harri Rovanperä Voitto Silander | Report |
| 12 | Italy | No. 3 555 Subaru WRT | No. 47 Ralliart Italia | No. 25 Seat Sport | Report |
| 12 | Italy | Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '97 | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V | Seat Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | Report |
| 12 | Italy | Colin McRae Nicky Grist | Mario Stagni Enrico Brazzoli | Harri Rovanperä Voitto Silander | Report |
| 13 | Australia | No. 3 555 Subaru WRT | No. 25 Tein Sport Junior Team | No. 16 Seat Sport | Report |
| 13 | Australia | Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '97 | Subaru Impreza WRX | Seat Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | Report |
| 13 | Australia | Colin McRae Nicky Grist | Shigeyuki Konishi Tony Sircombe | Harri Rovanperä Voitto Silander | Report |
| 14 | Britain | No. 3 555 Subaru WRT | No. 29 Mitsubishi Ralliart Germany | No. 27 Seat Sport | Report |
| 14 | Britain | Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '97 | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III | Seat Ibiza Kit Car Evo2 | Report |
| 14 | Britain | Colin McRae Nicky Grist | Luis Climent Álex Romaní | Harri Rovanperä Voitto Silander | Report |
| Source: ||||||

### Drivers' championship

| Pos. | Driver | MON | SWE | KEN | POR | ESP | FRA | ARG | GRE | NZL | FIN | INA | ITA | AUS | GBR | Pts |
| 1 | Tommi Mäkinen | 3 | 3 | Ret | 1 | 1 | Ret | 1 | 3 | Ret | 1 | Ret | 3 | 2 | 6 | 63 |
| 2 | Colin McRae | Ret | 4 | 1 | Ret | 4 | 1 | 2 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 1 | 1 | 1 | 62 |
| 3 | Carlos Sainz | 2 | 2 | Ret | Ret | 10 | 2 | Ret | 1 | 2 | Ret | 1 | 4 | Ret | 3 | 51 |
| 4 | Juha Kankkunen | | | | | | | Ret | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | Ret | 2 | 29 |
| 5 | Kenneth Eriksson | | 1 | Ret | Ret | | | 3 | Ret | 1 | Ret | 3 | | Ret | Ret | 28 |
| 6 | Piero Liatti | 1 | | | | 2 | 5 | | | | | | 2 | | 7 | 24 |
| 7 | Richard Burns | | | 2 | Ret | | | Ret | 4 | 4 | | 4 | | 4 | 4 | 21 |
| 8 | Armin Schwarz | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | Ret | 9 | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| 9 | Freddy Loix | 16 | | | 2 | | | | Ret | | 37 | | 5 | 7 | | 8 |
| 10 | Gilles Panizzi | | | | | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 11 | Didier Auriol | Ret | | | | | | 5 | | | 8 | Ret | 8 | 3 | Ret | 6 |
| 12 | Marcus Grönholm | | 8 | | Ret | | | 4 | | | Ret | | | | 5 | 5 |
| 13 | Ian Duncan | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 14 | Jarmo Kytölehto | | Ret | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | 4 |
| 15 | Thomas Rådström | | 5 | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | 4 |
| 16 | Possum Bourne | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | 5 | | 4 |
| 17 | Grégoire De Mévius | | | | 4 | | | | 7 | | | | Ret | | Ret | 3 |
| 18 | François Delecour | | | | | DSQ | 4 | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 19 | Sebastian Lindholm | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | 3 |
| 20 | Uwe Nittel | 5 | Ret | | | 8 | 8 | | 6 | | 7 | | Ret | | | 3 |
| 21 | Jonathan Toroitich | | | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 22 | Jean-Pierre Richelmi | | | | 5 | | | | Ret | | | | | | | 2 |
| 23 | Angelo Medeghini | | | | | 5 | | | | | Ret | | | | 10 | 2 |
| 24 | Tomas Jansson | | 7 | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | 2 |
| 25 | Yoshio Fujimoto | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | Ret | | 2 |
| 26 | Henrik Lundgaard | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 27 | Frédéric Dor | | | 6 | 17 | | | | 11 | 23 | 29 | | 15 | | | 1 |
| 28 | Masao Kamioka | | | | 6 | | | | Ret | | | | | | 14 | 1 |
| 29 | Rui Madeira | | | | 15 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 30 | Philippe Bugalski | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 31 | Gustavo Trelles | 9 | 16 | | 7 | 13 | | 6 | 13 | 7 | 17 | | Ret | | | 1 |
| 32 | Neal Bates | | | | | | | | | 6 | | Ret | | 8 | | 1 |
| 33 | Pasi Hagström | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | 1 |
| 34 | Karamjit Singh | | | | | | | | | 11 | | 6 | | Ret | 17 | 1 |
| 35 | Ed Ordynski | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | 1 |
| Pos. | Driver | MON | SWE | KEN | POR | ESP | FRA | ARG | GRE | NZL | FIN | INA | ITA | AUS | GBR | Pts |
| Sources: |||||||||||||||||
Key :
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Did not finish (Ret) |
| Black | Excluded (EX) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Withdrew entry from the event (WD) |

### Manufacturers' championship

| Pos. | Manufacturer | No. | MON | SWE | KEN | POR | ESP | FRA | ARG | GRE | NZL | FIN | INA | ITA | AUS | GBR | Points |
| 1 | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | 3 | Ret | 4 | 1 | Ret | 4 | 1 | 2 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 1 | 1 | 1 | 114 |
| 1 | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | 4 | 1 | 1 | Ret | Ret | 2 | 5 | 3 | Ret | 1 | Ret | 3 | 2 | Ret | Ret | 114 |
| 2 | Ford Motor Co | 5 | 2 | 2 | Ret | Ret | 10 | 2 | Ret | 1 | 2 | Ret | 1 | 4 | Ret | 3 | 91 |
| 2 | Ford Motor Co | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | Ret | 9 | Ret | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | Ret | 2 | 91 |
| 3 | Team Mitsubishi Ralliart | 1 | 3 | 3 | Ret | 1 | 1 | Ret | 1 | 3 | Ret | 1 | Ret | 3 | 2 | 6 | 86 |
| 3 | Team Mitsubishi Ralliart | 2 | 5 | Ret | 2 | Ret | 8 | 8 | Ret | 4 | 4 | 7 | 4 | Ret | 4 | 4 | 86 |
| Pos. | Manufacturer | No. | MON | SWE | KEN | POR | ESP | FRA | ARG | GRE | NZL | FIN | INA | ITA | AUS | GBR | Points |
| Sources: ||||||||||||||||||
Key :
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Did not finish (Ret) |
| Black | Excluded (EX) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Withdrew entry from the event (WD) |

### Group N Cup

| Pos. | Driver | MON | SWE | KEN | POR | ESP | FRA | ARG | GRE | NZL | FIN | INA | ITA | AUS | GBR | Pts |
| 1 | Gustavo Trelles | 1 | 4 | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | | Ret | | | 84 |
| 2 | Luís Climent | | | | 3 | Ret | Ret | | 2 | | 7 | | | Ret | 1 | 26 |
| 2 | Manfred Stohl | 3 | 6 | | 2 | 5 | | 3 | | | 6 | | 4 | | | 26 |
| 4 | Shigeyuki Konishi | | | | | | | | | Ret | | 2 | | 1 | | 21 |
| 4 | Karamjit Singh | | | | | | | | | 3 | | 1 | | Ret | 4 | 21 |
| 6 | Kenneth Bäcklund | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 |
| 6 | Johnny Hellier | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 |
| 6 | Jean-Marie Santoni | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 13 |
| 6 | Jouko Puhakka | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 13 |
| 6 | Mario Stagni | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 13 |
| 6 | Reece Jones | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | Ret | 3 | 13 |
| 12 | Hideaki Miyoshi | | | | | | | | | Ret | | 3 | | 3 | | 10 |
| 13 | Armin Kremer | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 13 | Stig-Olov Walfridsson | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 13 | Sobiesław Zasada | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 13 | Antonello Fidanza | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 13 | Jacques Andreani | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 13 | Roberto Sanchez | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 13 | Olli Harkki | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | Ret | 8 |
| 13 | Luca Baldini | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | 8 |
| 13 | Yoshihiro Kataoka | | | | | | | | | Ret | | Ret | | 2 | | 8 |
| 13 | Jeremy Easson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 8 |
| 14 | Juha Kangas | | 3 | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | 7 |
| 23 | Anwar Azar | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 23 | David Nafría | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 23 | Achim Mörtl | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 23 | Pavlos Moschoutis | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | 5 |
| 23 | Marko Ipatti | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | 5 |
| 23 | Boris Popovič | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | 5 |
| Pos. | Driver | MON | SWE | KEN | POR | ESP | FRA | ARG | GRE | NZL | FIN | INA | ITA | AUS | GBR | Pts |
Key :
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Did not finish (Ret) |
| Black | Excluded (EX) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Withdrew entry from the event (WD) |