# 1973 World Rally Championship

The 1973 World Rally Championship was the inaugural season for the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC) format. It consisted of 13 events, each held in a different country of the world. Many of the events would be staples of the series through to today, including Monte Carlo, Sweden, Tour de Corse, and the RAC Rally, while others would soon be replaced in the schedule. As with following seasons, gravel events formed the majority of the schedule. Two pure tarmac and one snow and ice rally were also included, as well as three events held on a mixture of soft and hard surface roads.
The first award of the Championship for Manufacturers was firmly won by Alpine-Renault, which had already gained fame competing for the earlier International Championship for Manufacturers. Fiat successfully placed second ahead of challenger Ford, but could not seriously challenge the winning Alpine. However, this would also prove to be the last award for the Alpine, as it gave way in subsequent years to Italian firms Lancia and Fiat. A French manufacturer would not regain the Championship again until Peugeot successfully captured the 1985 World Rally Championship for Manufacturers.
From 1973 to 1978, the WRC only awarded a season championship for the winning manufacturer. Scoring was given for the highest placing entry for each manufacturer. Thus if a particular manufacturer was to place 2nd, 4th, and 10th, they would receive points for 2nd place only. However, the manufacturer would still gain an advantage in scoring from its other entries, as the points for the 4th and 10th place entries would be denied to other manufacturers.

## Calendar

For the first ever World Rally Championship, there were thirteen rallies.
| Round | Rally name | Surface | Dates |
| 1 | Rallye Monte-Carlo | Mixed (Tarmac - Snow) | 19–26 January |
| 2 | Swedish Rally | Snow | 15–18 February |
| 3 | Rallye de Portugal | Mixed (Tarmac - Gravel) | 13–18 March |
| 4 | Safari Rally | Gravel | 19–23 April |
| 5 | Rallye du Maroc | Gravel | 8–13 May |
| 6 | Acropolis Rally | Gravel | 23–28 May |
| 7 | Rajd Polski | Gravel | 12–15 July |
| 8 | 1000 Lakes Rally | Gravel | 3–5 August |
| 9 | Österreichische Alpenfahrt | Gravel | 12–14 September |
| 10 | Rallye Sanremo | Mixed (Tarmac - Gravel) | 10–13 October |
| 11 | Press-on-Regardless Rally | Gravel | 31 October–4 November |
| 12 | RAC Rally | Gravel | 17–21 November |
| 13 | Tour de Corse | Tarmac | 1–2 December |
| Sources: ||||

## Events

| Colour | Rally Surface |
| Gold | Gravel |
| Silver | Tarmac |
| Blue | Snow/Ice |
| Bronze | Mixed Surface |
| Round | Rally name | Podium finishers | Podium finishers | Podium finishers | Podium finishers | Statistics | Statistics | Statistics | Statistics |
| Round | Rally name | Rank | Driver | Car | Time | Stages | Length | Starters | Finishers |
| 1 | Rallye Monte-Carlo (19–26 January) — Results and report | 1 | Jean-Claude Andruet | Alpine Renault A110 1800 | 5:42:04 | 18 | 456,50 km | 278 | 51 |
| 1 | Rallye Monte-Carlo (19–26 January) — Results and report | 2 | Ove Andersson | Alpine Renault A110 1800 | 5:42:30 | 18 | 456,50 km | 278 | 51 |
| 1 | Rallye Monte-Carlo (19–26 January) — Results and report | 3 | Jean-Pierre Nicolas | Alpine Renault A110 1800 | 5:43:39 | 18 | 456,50 km | 278 | 51 |
| 2 | Swedish Rally (15–18 February) — Results and report | 1 | Stig Blomqvist | Saab 96 V4 | 9:18:31 | 36 | 760,00 km | 73 | 42 |
| 2 | Swedish Rally (15–18 February) — Results and report | 2 | Per Eklund | Saab 96 V4 | 9:20:53 | 36 | 760,00 km | 73 | 42 |
| 2 | Swedish Rally (15–18 February) — Results and report | 3 | Jean-Luc Thérier | Alpine Renault A110 1800 | 9:34:12 | 36 | 760,00 km | 73 | 42 |
| 3 | Rallye de Portugal (13–18 March) — Results and report | 1 | Jean-Luc Thérier | Alpine Renault A110 1800 | 5:42:16 | 32 | 397,50 km | 79 | 23 |
| 3 | Rallye de Portugal (13–18 March) — Results and report | 2 | Jean-Pierre Nicolas | Alpine Renault A110 1800 | 5:48:57 | 32 | 397,50 km | 79 | 23 |
| 3 | Rallye de Portugal (13–18 March) — Results and report | 3 | Francisco Romãozinho | Citroën DS21 | 6:07:48 | 32 | 397,50 km | 79 | 23 |
| 4 | Safari Rally (19–23 April) — Results and report | 1 | Shekhar Mehta | Datsun 240Z | + 6:46 pen | 56 | 5300.00 km | 89 | 18 |
| 4 | Safari Rally (19–23 April) — Results and report | 2 | Harry Källström | Datsun 1800 SSS | + 6:46 pen | 56 | 5300.00 km | 89 | 18 |
| 4 | Safari Rally (19–23 April) — Results and report | 3 | Ove Andersson | Peugeot 504 | + 8:47 pen | 56 | 5300.00 km | 89 | 18 |
| 5 | Rallye du Maroc (8–13 May) — Results and report | 1 | Bernard Darniche | Alpine Renault A110 | 15:01:22 | 11 | 1258.00 km | 66 | 12 |
| 5 | Rallye du Maroc (8–13 May) — Results and report | 2 | Bob Neyret | Citroën DS23 | 15:20:04 | 11 | 1258.00 km | 66 | 12 |
| 5 | Rallye du Maroc (8–13 May) — Results and report | 3 | Richard Bochnicek | Citroën DS23 | 15:34:37 | 11 | 1258.00 km | 66 | 12 |
| 6 | Acropolis Rally (23–28 May) — Results and report | 1 | Jean-Luc Thérier | Alpine Renault A110 | 7:37:58 | 47 | 556.35 km | 83 | 11 |
| 6 | Acropolis Rally (23–28 May) — Results and report | 2 | Rauno Aaltonen | Fiat Abarth 124 | 7:44:59 | 47 | 556.35 km | 83 | 11 |
| 6 | Acropolis Rally (23–28 May) — Results and report | 3 | Jean-Pierre Nicolas | Alpine Renault A110 | 7:45:56 | 47 | 556.35 km | 83 | 11 |
| 7 | Rajd Polski (12–15 July) — Results and report | 1 | Achim Warmbold | Fiat Abarth 124 Rallye | 8:28:14 | 55 | 742.30 km | 62 | 3 |
| 7 | Rajd Polski (12–15 July) — Results and report | 2 | Egon Culmbacher | Wartburg 353 | 11:15:16 | 55 | 742.30 km | 62 | 3 |
| 7 | Rajd Polski (12–15 July) — Results and report | 3 | Maciej Stawowiak | Polski Fiat 125p | 12:08:31 | 55 | 742.30 km | 62 | 3 |
| 8 | 1000 Lakes Rally (3–5 August) — Results and report | 1 | Timo Mäkinen | Ford Escort RS1600 | 4:53:50 | 43 | 517.20 km | 109 | 55 |
| 8 | 1000 Lakes Rally (3–5 August) — Results and report | 2 | Markku Alén | Volvo 142 | 4:55:59 | 43 | 517.20 km | 109 | 55 |
| 8 | 1000 Lakes Rally (3–5 August) — Results and report | 3 | Leo Kinnunen | Porsche 911 | 4:57:12 | 43 | 517.20 km | 109 | 55 |
| 9 | Österreichische Alpenfahrt (12–14 September) — Results and report | 1 | Achim Warmbold | BMW 2002Tii | 3:58:55 | 30 | 324.50 km | 74 | 25 |
| 9 | Österreichische Alpenfahrt (12–14 September) — Results and report | 2 | Bernard Darniche | Alpine Renault A110 | 4:00:10 | 30 | 324.50 km | 74 | 25 |
| 9 | Österreichische Alpenfahrt (12–14 September) — Results and report | 3 | Per Eklund | Saab 96 V4 | 4:00:11 | 30 | 324.50 km | 74 | 25 |
| 10 | Rallye Sanremo (10–13 October) — Results and report | 1 | Jean-Luc Thérier | Alpine Renault A110 | 8:01:32 | 37 | 369.30 km | 107 | 54 |
| 10 | Rallye Sanremo (10–13 October) — Results and report | 2 | Maurizio Verini | Fiat Abarth 124 | 8:07:34 | 37 | 369.30 km | 107 | 54 |
| 10 | Rallye Sanremo (10–13 October) — Results and report | 3 | Jean-Pierre Nicolas | Alpine Renault A110 | 8:21:37 | 37 | 369.30 km | 107 | 54 |
| 11 | Press-on-Regardless Rally (31 October–4 November) — Results and report | 1 | Walter Boyce | Toyota Corolla | 6:58:28 | 85 | 552.61 km | 58 | 23 |
| 11 | Press-on-Regardless Rally (31 October–4 November) — Results and report | 2 | Jim Walker | Volvo 142S | 7:22:43 | 85 | 552.61 km | 58 | 23 |
| 11 | Press-on-Regardless Rally (31 October–4 November) — Results and report | 3 | John Smiskol | Datsun 240Z | 7:33:36 | 85 | 552.61 km | 58 | 23 |
| 12 | RAC Rally (17–21 November) — Results and report | 1 | Timo Mäkinen | Ford Escort RS1600 | 6:47:08 | 80 | 540.02 km | 198 | 91 |
| 12 | RAC Rally (17–21 November) — Results and report | 2 | Roger Clark | Ford Escort RS1600 | 6:52:23 | 80 | 540.02 km | 198 | 91 |
| 12 | RAC Rally (17–21 November) — Results and report | 3 | Markku Alén | Ford Escort RS1600 | 6:55:26 | 80 | 540.02 km | 198 | 91 |
| 13 | Tour de Corse (1–2 December) — Results and report | 1 | Jean-Pierre Nicolas | Alpine Renault A110 | 5:06:31 | 21 | 511.70 km | 50 | 22 |
| 13 | Tour de Corse (1–2 December) — Results and report | 2 | Jean-François Piot | Alpine Renault A110 | 5:14:37 | 21 | 511.70 km | 50 | 22 |
| 13 | Tour de Corse (1–2 December) — Results and report | 3 | Jean-Luc Thérier | Alpine Renault A110 | 5:18:46 | 21 | 511.70 km | 50 | 22 |
| Sources: ||||||||||

## Championship

Points were awarded to the best placed vehicle of each manufacturer.
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
| Points | 20 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |

### Manufacturers' championship

| Pos. | Manufacturer | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | MAR | GRC | POL | FIN | AUT | ITA | USA | GBR | FRA | Points |
| 1 | Apple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (1) | 1 | 147 |
| 2 | Fiat | 7 | 5 | 4 | (8) | 6 | 2 | 1 | (8) | 6 | 2 | | (10) | | 84 |
| 3 | Ford | 4 | | 9 | 14 | | 7 | Ret | 1 | | | 4 | 1 | 4 | 76 |
| 4 | Volvo | | 9 | | | 9 | | | 2 | | | 2 | 4 | | 44 |
| 5 | Saab | 37 | 1 | | | | | | 4 | 3 | | | Ret | | 42 |
| 6 | Datsun | 9 | 19 | 11 | 1 | 11 | | | Ret | | | 3 | 14 | 22 | 34 |
| 7 | Citroën | | | 3 | | 2 | 6 | | | Ret | | | | | 33 |
| 8 | BMW | 17 | 7 | 13 | | | Ret | Ret | 17 | 1 | 51 | | 7 | | 28 |
| 9 | Porsche | 46 | | 5 | Ret | | | Ret | 3 | 7 | | | 22 | 8 | 27 |
| 10 | Toyota | | 23 | Ret | | | 9 | Ret | | 8 | | 1 | 12 | | 25 |
| 11 | Opel | 12 | 10 | 7 | | DSQ | 11 | | 5 | 13 | 9 | Ret | 6 | 7 | 25 |
| 12 | Polski Fiat | 35 | | | | | | 3 | | | | 6 | | | 18 |
| 13 | Lancia | 8 | 4 | | | | | | | | 7 | | Ret | | 17 |
| 14 | Wartburg | 38 | | | | | | 2 | 39 | | | | | | 15 |
| 15 | Volkswagen | | 6 | 19 | | 12 | 5 | | | 10 | | | | | 15 |
| 16 | Peugeot | Ret | | | 3 | 10 | | | 22 | | | | | | 13 |
| 17 | Mitsubishi | | | | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 18 | Škoda | | 8 | | | | | | 15 | | | | | | 3 |
| 19 | Alfa Romeo | 19 | 17 | | Ret | | | | 13 | | | | | 9 | 2 |
| 20 | Audi | 51 | | | | | 10 | | | | | | | 10 | 2 |
| Pos. | Manufacturer | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | MAR | GRC | POL | FIN | AUT | ITA | USA | GBR | FRA | Points |
| Sources: ||||||||||||||||
* Positions in parentheses did not count to championship totals