The FIA has announced the four Rally Star drivers who will contest next year’s Junior World Rally Championship as the next stage of the program.
Jose ‘Abito’ Caparo, Taylor Gill, Romet Jürgenson and Max Smart will each drive a Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo on all five rounds of the 2024 JWRC season.
The four were part of a six-strong group that took part in a ‘training season’ this year, taking in a mixed program of rallies in the Fiesta Rally3, which concluded with the Lausitz Rallye earlier this month.
Their selection for the next stage was not based purely on results. Instead, the Rally Star committee, chaired by Robert Reid, reviewed their performances based on extensive analysis and their potential to perform in the JWRC, with the goal of becoming 2025 JWRC champion.
The committee also considered feedback from Maciej Woda, boss of M-Sport Poland, which ran their Fiesta Rally3s as well as the cars in the JWRC itself, as well as other members of the operation team, including Rally Star project leader Jérôme Roussel.
Reid said: “It wasn’t easy organizing five Continental Finals and the Women’s Final on the back of the disruption caused by the global health crisis, but we achieved something incredible by showcasing rallying’s accessible nature to a new generation of potential competitors around the world.
“At the same time, I also want to acknowledge all the FIA Member Clubs and volunteer officials for their endless efforts, support and contribution.
“We talked a lot during the FIA Rally Star Continental Finals about potential rather than mere performance because we were never only looking to see the levels of drivers now, but whether they can go further in the sport, not just next year but well into the future.
“It’s easy to measure performance but it’s more difficult to measure potential and that’s what we have worked very hard to do. After all, we were looking for drivers who can be FIA Junior WRC champion in 2025 and who we feel then have the potential to go on and become a genuine rally star of the future.
“In Jose, Max, Romet and Taylor we firmly believe we have four drivers with the necessary potential and we wish them well in delivering on this. The FIA Junior WRC won’t be an easy ride by any means, but with the support and expertise of the M-Sport Poland team, the FIA Junior WRC structure and the FIA Road Sport Department, they have the platform to be the next champions.”
The two drivers not selected for the next stage of Rally Star were Abdullah Al-Tawqi and Annia Cillóniz.
Reid added: “Providing they keep working hard and progressing, Abdullah and Annia can also go far in rallying.
“However, the FIA Rally Star Committee agreed that the FIA Junior WRC in 2024 is just a step too far right now. We will remain in contact and I’m sure we’ll see them both in the service parks of the WRC in the future.”
