# 2022 WRC3 Championship

The 2022 FIA WRC3 Championship was the ninth season of WRC3, a rallying championship organised and governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile as the third-highest tier of international rallying, running in support of the 2022 World Rally Championship. It was open to privateers and teams using cars complying with Group Rally3 regulations.
For the first time, WRC3 was split into Open and Junior championships with driver and co-driver titles awarded within each. The WRC3 Open Championship began in January 2022 with the Rallye Monte-Carlo and concluded in November 2022 with Rally Japan. The WRC3 Junior Championship started in February with Rally Sweden and the five-round championship concluded in September with Acropolis Rally. This was the FIA's new presentation of the previously existing Junior WRC Championship, which reverted back to an FIA title in 2023.
In the open championships, Lauri Joona won the drivers' title. In the junior championships, Robert Virves won the drivers' title.

## Calendar

The 2022 season was contested over thirteen rounds across Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Asia.
| Round | Start date | Finish date | Rally | Rally headquarters | Surface | Stages | Distance |
| 1 | 20 January | 23 January | Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Mixed | 17 | 296.03 km |
| 2 | 24 February | 27 February | Rally Sweden | Umeå, Västerbotten County | Snow | 17 | 264.81 km |
| 3 | 21 April | 24 April | Croatia Rally | Zagreb | Tarmac | 20 | 291.84 km |
| 4 | 19 May | 22 May | Rally de Portugal | Matosinhos, Porto | Gravel | 21 | 338.34 km |
| 5 | 2 June | 5 June | Rally Italia Sardegna | Alghero, Sardinia | Gravel | 21 | 307.91 km |
| 6 | 23 June | 26 June | Safari Rally Kenya | Nairobi | Gravel | 19 | 363.44 km |
| 7 | 14 July | 17 July | Rally Estonia | Tartu, Tartu County | Gravel | 24 | 314.26 km |
| 8 | 4 August | 7 August | Rally Finland | Jyväskylä, Central Finland | Gravel | 22 | 322.61 km |
| 9 | 18 August | 21 August | Ypres Rally Belgium | Ypres, West Flanders | Tarmac | 20 | 281.58 km |
| 10 | 8 September | 11 September | Acropolis Rally Greece | Lamia, Central Greece | Gravel | 16 | 303.30 km |
| 11 | 29 September | 2 October | Rally New Zealand | Auckland, North Island | Gravel | 17 | 279.80 km |
| 12 | 20 October | 23 October | RACC Rally Catalunya de España | Salou, Catalonia | Tarmac | 19 | 293.77 km |
| 13 | 10 November | 13 November | Rally Japan | Toyota, Chūbu region | Tarmac | 19 | 283.27 km |
| Sources: |||||||||

### Location changes

The headquarters of the Monte Carlo Rally moved from Gap, Hautes-Alpes to Monaco alone. The rally was previously headquartered solely in Monaco in 2006. Rally Sweden returned to the championship after a one-year absence. Because of a lack of snow, the organisers moved the rally headquarters for the first time in WRC history. It relocated from Torsby, Värmland northwards to Umeå in Västerbotten County. The rally was initially scheduled to cover 303.74 km (188.7 mi) in nineteen special stages, but it was reduced to seventeen in a total of 264.81 km (164.5 mi) due to reindeer movements. Rally Italia Sardegna relocated its rally base back to Alghero following a one-off headquarter in Olbia for the 2021 event.

### Calendar changes

Rally New Zealand returned to the championship for the first time since 2012. The rally had also secured a spot in the calendar in 2020, but the event was not held in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rally Japan took the final spot in the calendar. It was scheduled as the final round in 2020 and 2021, before being called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rally Mexico had contracts to hold the WRC event in 2022 and 2023, but the rally was not included on the calendar. A national event was held in the bid of a 2023 return. Rally Chile found itself in a similar situation to Mexico as their contract with WRC Promoter GmbH lasted till 2022. Chile had previously hosted the event in 2019. Rally GB was bidding for a 2022 return as the event was planned to hold in Northern Ireland, but the proposal was ultimately failed.

### WRC3 Junior calendar

| Round | Dates | Rally |
| 1 | 24–27 February | Rally Sweden |
| 2 | 21–24 April | Croatia Rally |
| 3 | 19–22 May | Rally de Portugal |
| 4 | 14–17 July | Rally Estonia |
| 5 | 8–11 September | Acropolis Rally |

## Entries
### WRC3 Open

The following crews officially entered into the 2022 WRC3 Open Championship:
| Car | Entrant | Driver name | Co-driver name | Rounds |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Hamza Anwar | Hamza Anwar | Adnan Din | 6 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Enrico Brazzoli | Enrico Brazzoli | Manuel Fenoli | 1, 3, 5, 9 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Jan Černý | Jan Černý | Petr Černohorský | 1, 12 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Jan Černý | Jan Černý | Petr Jindra | 3 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Jan Černý | Jan Černý | Tomáš Střeska | 5 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Jan Černý | Jan Černý | Jan Tománek | 8 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Jan Černý | Jan Černý | Tom Woodburn | 9 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Diego Dominguez Jr | Diego Dominguez Jr | Rogelio Peñate | 5–6, 10, 12 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Tommi Heino | Tommi Heino | Patric Öhman | 8 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Toni Herranen | Toni Herranen | Sebastian Virtanen | 8 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Panagiotis Ismailos | Panagiotis Ismailos | Allan Harryman | 10 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Lauri Joona | Lauri Joona | Mikael Korhonen | 2, 4, 7, 12 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Lauri Joona | Lauri Joona | Tuukka Shemeikka | 8 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Epameinondas Karanikolas | Epameinondas Karanikolas | Georgios Kakavas | 10 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | McRae Kimathi | McRae Kimathi | Mwangi Kioni | 2–3, 6–7 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | McRae Kimathi | McRae Kimathi | Stuart Loudon | 4 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Roope Korhonen | Roope Korhonen | Anssi Viinikka | 7 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Zoltán László | Zoltán László | Tamás Begala | 1 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Zoltán László | Zoltán László | Tamás Kürti | 5, 9, 12 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | M-Sport Racing Kft | Zoltán László | Tamás Kürti | 3 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy | William Creighton | Liam Regan | 2–4, 7, 10 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Sami Pajari | Sami Pajari | Enni Mälkönen | 1–4, 7 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Ivica Siladić | Ivica Siladić | Jasna Durak | 3 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Henri Timonen | Henri Timonen | Jussi Kärpijoki | 8 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Jeremy Wahome | Jeremy Wahome | Victor Okundi | 6 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Maxine Wahome | Maxine Wahome | Murage Waigwa | 6 |
| Sources: |||||

### WRC3 Junior

The following crews officially entered into the 2022 WRC3 Junior Championship:
| Car | Entrant | Driver name | Co-driver name | Rounds |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Jon Armstrong | Jon Armstrong | Brian Hoy | 1–5 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi | Anthony Gorguilo | 1–3 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Lauri Joona | Lauri Joona | Mikael Korhonen | 1–5 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | McRae Kimathi | McRae Kimathi | Mwangi Kioni | 1–2, 4–5 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | McRae Kimathi | McRae Kimathi | Stuart Loudon | 3 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy | William Creighton | Liam Regan | 1–5 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Sami Pajari | Sami Pajari | Enni Mälkönen | 1–5 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Panagiotis Roustemis | Panagiotis Roustemis | Christos Bakloris | 1 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Starter Energy Racing | Robert Virves | Aleks Lesk | 1–3 |
| Ford Fiesta Rally3 | Starter Energy Racing | Robert Virves | Julia Thulin | 4–5 |
| Sources: |||||

## Regulation changes
### Sporting Regulations

The following titles will be contested within WRC3 in 2022:
* Open Championship for Drivers
* Open Championship for Co-Drivers
* Championship for Teams
* Junior Championship for Drivers
* Junior Championship for Co-Drivers
In a change from the 2021 season, a teams championship will be contested but drivers will not be obliged to run in one. Points from the highest scoring 4 rounds of 5 entered will be considered for the championship.
The WRC3 Junior championship will be organised by M-Sport Ltd as an arrive-and-drive style competition as previously presented in Junior WRC Championship. Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars will be provided on 5 prescribed rounds for drivers born on or after 1 January 1993. Unlike the rules used in WRC2 Junior, drivers of Junior age who do not register and compete in this fashion will not be eligible for the WRC3 Junior championships.

## Results and standings
### Season summary
#### WRC3 Open

| Round | Event | Winning driver | Winning co-driver | Winning entrant | Winning time | Report |
| 1 | Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo | Sami Pajari | Enni Mälkönen | Sami Pajari | 3:24:39.2 | Report |
| 2 | Rally Sweden | Lauri Joona | Mikael Korhonen | Lauri Joona | 2:24:33.8 | Report |
| 3 | Croatia Rally | Zoltán László | Tamás Kürti | Zoltán László | 3:32:47.0 | Report |
| 4 | Rally de Portugal | Sami Pajari | Enni Mälkönen | Sami Pajari | 4:13:33.2 | Report |
| 5 | Rally Italia Sardegna | Jan Černý | Tomáš Střeska | Jan Černý | 3:44:23.5 | Report |
| 6 | Safari Rally Kenya | Maxine Wahome | Murage Waigwa | Maxine Wahome | 5:20:21.6 | Report |
| 7 | Rally Estonia | Sami Pajari | Enni Mälkönen | Sami Pajari | 3:13:58.6 | Report |
| 8 | Rally Finland | Lauri Joona | Tuukka Shemeikka | Lauri Joona | 2:42:52.5 | Report |
| 9 | Ypres Rally Belgium | Jan Černý | Tom Woodburn | Jan Černý | 2:53:14.2 | Report |
| 10 | Acropolis Rally Greece | Diego Dominguez Jr | Rogelio Peñate | Diego Dominguez Jr | 4:02:20.1 | Report |
| 11 | Rally New Zealand | No WRC3 entries | No WRC3 entries | No WRC3 entries | No WRC3 entries | Report |
| 12 | RACC Rally Catalunya de España | Lauri Joona | Mikael Korhonen | Lauri Joona | 3:04:36.1 | Report |
| 13 | Rally Japan | No WRC3 entries | No WRC3 entries | No WRC3 entries | No WRC3 entries | Report |

#### WRC3 Junior

| Round | Event | Winning driver | Winning co-driver | Winning entrant | Winning time | Report |
| 1 | Rally Sweden | Jon Armstrong | Brian Hoy | Jon Armstrong | 2:24:31.1 | Report |
| 2 | Croatia Rally | Lauri Joona | Mikael Korhonen | Lauri Joona | 3:07:24.9 | Report |
| 3 | Rally de Portugal | Sami Pajari | Enni Mälkönen | Sami Pajari | 4:13:33.2 | Report |
| 4 | Rally Estonia | Sami Pajari | Enni Mälkönen | Sami Pajari | 3:13:58.6 | Report |
| 5 | Acropolis Rally Greece | Robert Virves | Julia Thulin | Starter Energy Racing | 3:55:38.4 | Report |

### Scoring system

| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
| Points | 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |

#### Open

Crews were only allowed to enter a maximum of 5 events with the 4 best results scoring points in the championship.

#### Junior

Points were awarded to the top ten classified finishers. An additional point was given for every stage win. The best four results out of five counted towards the final drivers’ and co-drivers’ standings. However, all points gained from stage wins were retained. Double points were awarded at the season's finale to those with at least 3 previous 2022 JWRC round starts.

### FIA WRC3 Open Championship for Drivers

| Pos. | Driver | MON | SWE | CRO | POR | ITA | KEN | EST | FIN | BEL | GRC | NZL | ESP | JPN | Total points | Best 4 |
| 1 | Lauri Joona | | 1 | | 2 | | | 2 | 1 | | | | 1 | | 111 | 93 |
| 2 | Sami Pajari | 1 | 4 | Ret | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | | 87 | 87 |
| 3 | Jan Černý | 2 | | WD | | 1 | | | 2 | 1 | | | 2 | | 104 | 86 |
| 4 | Zoltán László | Ret | | 1 | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | 4 | | 73 | 73 |
| 5 | William Creighton | | 2 | 4 | Ret | | | 3 | | | 2 | | | | 63 | 63 |
| 6 | McRae Kimathi | | 3 | Ret | 3 | | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | 57 | 57 |
| 7 | Enrico Brazzoli | 3 | | 2 | | Ret | | | | 3 | | | | | 48 | 48 |
| 8 | Diego Dominguez Jr | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 3 | | 40 | 40 |
| 9 | Maxine Wahome | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 25 | 25 |
| 10 | Jeremy Wahome | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | 18 | 18 |
| 11 | Ivica Siladić | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | 15 |
| 12 | Henri Timonen | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | 15 | 15 |
| 13 | Epameinondas Karanikolas | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | 15 | 15 |
| 14 | Toni Herranen | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | 12 | 12 |
| 15 | Panagiotis Ismailos | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | 12 | 12 |
| 16 | Roope Korhonen | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | 10 | 10 |
| Pos. | Driver | MON | SWE | CRO | POR | ITA | KEN | EST | FIN | BEL | GRC | NZL | ESP | JPN | Total points | Best 4 |
| Source: |||||||||||||||||
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) |

### FIA WRC3 Open Championship for Co-Drivers

| Pos. | Driver | MON | SWE | CRO | POR | ITA | KEN | EST | FIN | BEL | GRC | NZL | ESP | JPN | Total points | Best 4 |
| 1 | Enni Mälkönen | 1 | 4 | Ret | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | | 87 | 87 |
| 2 | Mikael Korhonen | | 1 | | 2 | | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | 76 | 76 |
| 3 | Tamás Kürti | | | 1 | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | 4 | | 73 | 73 |
| 4 | Liam Regan | | 2 | 4 | Ret | | | 3 | | | 2 | | | | 63 | 63 |
| 5 | Manuel Fenoli | 3 | | 2 | | Ret | | | | 3 | | | | | 48 | 48 |
| 6 | Mwangi Kioni | | 3 | Ret | | | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | 42 | 42 |
| 7 | Rogelio Peñate | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 3 | | 40 | 40 |
| 8 | Petr Černohorský | 2 | | WD | | | | | | | | | 2 | | 36 | 36 |
| 9 | Tomáš Střeska | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 25 | 25 |
| 10 | Murage Waigwa | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 25 | 25 |
| 11 | Tuukka Shemeikka | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 25 | 25 |
| 12 | Tom Woodburn | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 25 | 25 |
| 13 | Victor Okundi | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | 18 | 18 |
| 14 | Jan Tománek | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 18 | 18 |
| 15 | Jasna Durak | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | 15 |
| 16 | Stuart Loudon | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 15 | 15 |
| 17 | Jussi Kärpijoki | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | 15 | 15 |
| 18 | Georgios Kakavas | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | 15 | 15 |
| 19 | Sebastian Virtanen | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | 12 | 12 |
| 20 | Allan Harryman | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | 12 | 12 |
| 21 | Anssi Viinikka | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | 10 | 10 |
| Pos. | Driver | MON | SWE | CRO | POR | ITA | KEN | EST | FIN | BEL | GRC | NZL | ESP | JPN | Total points | Best 4 |
| Source: |||||||||||||||||
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) |

### FIA WRC3 Junior Championship for Drivers

| Pos. | Driver | SWE | CRO | POR | EST | GRC | Total Points | Best 4 |
| 1 | Robert Virves | 6 | 2$^3$ | 3$^5$ | 2$^{17}$ | 1$^4$ | 138 | 130 |
| 2 | Jon Armstrong | 1$^5$ | 4$^5$ | 4$^8$ | 3$^3$ | 2$^6$ | 127 | 115 |
| 3 | Sami Pajari | 5$^7$ | Ret$^8$ | 1$^6$ | 1$^4$ | 5$^6$ | 111 | 111 |
| 4 | Lauri Joona | 2$^3$ | 1$^1$ | 2$^1$ | 4$^1$ | 6 | 95 | 83 |
| 5 | William Creighton | 3$^1$ | 5$^1$ | Ret$^1$ | 5 | 3 | 68 | 68 |
| 6 | McRae Kimathi | 4 | Ret | 5 | 6 | 4 | 54 | 54 |
| 7 | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi | | 3 | WD | | | 15 | 15 |
| Pos. | Driver | SWE | CRO | POR | EST | GRC | Total points | Best 4 |
| Source: |||||||||
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) |

### FIA WRC3 Junior Championship for Co-Drivers

| Pos. | Driver | SWE | CRO | POR | EST | GRC | Total points | Best 4 |
| 1 | Brian Hoy | 1$^5$ | 4$^5$ | 4$^8$ | 3$^3$ | 2$^6$ | 127 | 115 |
| 2 | Enni Mälkönen | 5$^7$ | Ret$^8$ | 1$^6$ | 1$^4$ | 5$^6$ | 111 | 111 |
| 3 | Mikael Korhonen | 2$^3$ | 1$^1$ | 2$^1$ | 4$^1$ | 6 | 95 | 83 |
| 4 | Liam Regan | 3$^1$ | 5$^1$ | Ret$^1$ | 5 | 3 | 68 | 68 |
| 5 | Julia Thulin | | | | 2$^{17}$ | 1$^4$ | 64 | 64 |
| 6 | Aleks Lesk | 6 | 2$^3$ | 3$^5$ | | | 49 | 49 |
| 7 | Mwangi Kioni | 4 | Ret | | 6 | 4 | 44 | 44 |
| 8 | Anthony Gorguilo | | 3 | WD | | | 15 | 15 |
| 9 | Stuart Loudon | | | 5 | | | 10 | 10 |
| Pos. | Driver | SWE | CRO | POR | EST | GRC | Total points | Best 4 |
| Source: |||||||||
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) |