Junior WRC champion Romet Jürgenson and title contender Taylor Gill will be joined by Max Smart next year in the FIA Rally Star program, as Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó leaves the process.
All four contested the 2024 Junior WRC season, selected from a final group of six drivers who were put through a ‘training season’ having each won their continental final of the FIA’s global talent search.
Jürgenson and Gill in particular proved a revelation as they each won an event, with Jürgenson claiming the title and the WRC2 prize drive that comes with it.
Smart however also managed a podium finish in Sardinia, which has helped him to remain part of the program and compete alongside Gill in the 2025 Junior WRC.
Jürgenson meanwhile will drive a Ford Fiesta Rally2 in WRC2 next season, but the FIA is supporting the Estonian to give him six events rather than the prize of four his JWRC title earned him.
Jürgenson (right) will graduate to WRC2 in 2025 with Gill and Smart staying in Junior WRC
FIA deputy president for sport Robert Reid said: “Since they were selected for the FIA Rally Star program, Max, Romet and Taylor have not only demonstrated their talent but also their determination and it’s only right they have been rewarded with further opportunities to learn and progress in 2025.
“At the same time, it’s a further demonstration of the success of FIA Rally Star that young hopefuls with limited experience who came through from grassroots level via selection events organised by FIA Member Clubs are preparing to embark on their second seasons in the FIA World Rally Championship. This will incentivise other aspiring WRC champions to start their motorsport adventures by joining their FIA Member Club and discovering the possibilities that exist.
“I’d also like to thank Abito and Esther [Gutiérrez, co-driver] for their contributions to FIA Rally Star and I look forward to seeing how the learnings and experience from this programme help them in their future motor sport journeys.”
FIA Rally Star project leader Jérôme Roussel added that the FIA will “select the WRC2 rounds that are most suitable” for Jürgenson’s development, and although saying Caparó has “potential, the talent and passion” for rallying “and I am sure he can achieve great success in the future”, he described retaining Smart as “a straightforward choice”.
