The 2019 Wales Rally GB (also known as Wales Rally GB 2019) was a motor racing event for rally cars held over four days between 3 and 6 October 2019. It marked the seventy-fifth running of Wales Rally GB and was the twelfth round of the 2019 World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2 and the newly created WRC-2 Pro class. It was also the final round of the Junior World Rally Championship. The 2019 event was based in Llandudno in Conwy, and was contested over twenty-two special stages with a total a competitive distance of .
Reigning World Drivers' and World Co-Drivers Champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were the defending rally winners. M-Sport Ford WRT, the team they drove for in 2018, were the defending manufacturers' winners. The Finnish crew of Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen were the defending rally winners in the World Rally Championship-2 category, but they did not defend their titles as they were scheduled to be promoted to the newly created WRC-2 Pro class.
Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja won their first Wales Rally GB victory, extending their championship lead to a massive twenty-eight points. Their team, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, were the manufacturers' winners. The Škoda Motorsport crew of Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen secured the first WRC-2 Pro title by winning the category, finishing first in the combined WRC-2 category. 2003 World Rally Champions Petter Solberg and Phil Mills bid farewell to WRC by winning the WRC-2 class. The Rally Team Spain crew of Jan Solans and Mauro Barreiro won the final round of the J-WRC championship and became the champions of 2019 Junior World Rally Championship.
Background Championship standings prior to the event Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja led both the drivers' and co-drivers' championships with a seventeen-point lead ahead of defending world champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia. Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul were third, a further thirteen points behind. In the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT held a nineteen-point lead over Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT.
In the World Rally Championship-2 Pro standings, Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen led by fifty-six points in the drivers' and co-drivers' standings respectively. Gus Greensmith and Elliott Edmondson tied with Mads Østberg and Torstein Eriksen in second. In the manufacturers' championship, Škoda Motorsport led M-Sport Ford WRT by thirty-seven points, with Citroën Total over a hundred points behind in third.
In the World Rally Championship-2 standings, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak tied with Nikolay Gryazin and Yaroslav Fedorov in first, with Benito Guerra and Jaime Zapata were third, only four points separating the top three.
In the Junior-World Rally Championship standings, Tom Kristensson and Henrik Appelskog led Jan Solans and Mauro Barreiro by just a point in the drivers' and co-drivers' standings respectively, with Dennis Rådström and Johan Johansson thirty-three points further behind in third in their own standings. In the Nations' standings, Sweden were first, thirteen points cleared of Spain, with Germany forty points further behind in third.
Entry list The following crews entered into the rally. The event opened to crews competing in the World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2, WRC-2 Pro and privateer entries not registered to score points in any championship. A total of fifty-nine entries were received, with eleven crews entered with World Rally Cars and twenty-one entered the World Rally Championship-2. Five crews were nominated to score points in the Pro class. A further eleven entries were received for the Junior World Rally Championship.
No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Tyre World Rally Car entries 1 Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia Citroën Total WRT Citroën C3 WRC 3 Teemu Suninen Jarmo Lehtinen M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 4 Esapekka Lappi Janne Ferm Citroën Total WRT Citroën C3 WRC 5 Kris Meeke Sebastian Marshall Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 7 Pontus Tidemand Ola Fløene M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 8 Ott Tänak Martin Järveoja Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 10 Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 11 Thierry Neuville Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 33 Elfyn Evans Scott Martin M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 42 Craig Breen Paul Nagle Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 89 Andreas Mikkelsen Anders Jæger-Amland Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC World Rally Championship-2 Pro entries 21 Kalle Rovanperä Jonne Halttunen Škoda Motorsport Škoda Fabia R5 Evo 22 Mads Østberg Torstein Eriksen Citroën Total Citroën C3 R5 23 Gus Greensmith Elliott Edmondson M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta R5 Mk. II 24 Jan Kopecký Jan Hloušek Škoda Motorsport Škoda Fabia R5 Evo 25 Hayden Paddon John Kennard M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta R5 Mk. II World Rally Championship-2 entries 41 Benito Guerra Daniel Cué Benito Guerra Škoda Fabia R5 Evo 43 Pierre-Louis Loubet Vincent Landais Pierre-Louis Loubet Škoda Fabia R5 Evo 44 Ole Christian Veiby Jonas Andersson Ole Christian Veiby Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 45 Kajetan Kajetanowicz Maciej Szczepaniak Kajetan Kajetanowicz Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 46 Alberto Heller José Díaz Alberto Heller Ford Fiesta R5 Mk. II 47 Fabio Andolfi Simone Scattolin Fabio Andolfi Škoda Fabia R5 49 Marco Bulacia Wilkinson Fabian Cretu Marco Bulacia Wilkinson Škoda Fabia R5 50 Paulo Nobre Gabriel Morales Paulo Nobre Škoda Fabia R5 51 Rhys Yates James Morgan Rhys Yates Hyundai i20 R5 53 Adrien Fourmaux Renaud Jamoul Adrien Fourmaux Ford Fiesta R5 54 Oliver Solberg Aaron Johnston Oliver Solberg Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 55 Petter Solberg Phil Mills Petter Solberg Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 56 Guillaume De Mevius Martijn Wydaeghe Guillaume De Mevius Citroën C3 R5 57 Gaurav Gill Glenn Macneall Gaurav Gill Ford Fiesta R5 Mk. II Junior World Rally Championship entries 71 Tom Kristensson Henrik Appelskog Tom Kristensson Ford Fiesta R2 72 Jan Solans Mauro Barreiro Rally Team Spain Ford Fiesta R2 73 Dennis Rådström Johan Johansson Dennis Rådström Ford Fiesta R2 74 Roland Poom Ken Järveoja Roland Poom Ford Fiesta R2 75 Tom Williams Phil Hall Tom Williams Ford Fiesta R2 76 Enrico Oldrati Elia De Guio Enrico Oldrati Ford Fiesta R2 77 Sean Johnston Alex Kihurani Sean Johnston Ford Fiesta R2 78 Fabrizio Zaldivar Fernando Mussano Fabrizio Zaldivar Ford Fiesta R2 79 Nico Knacker Michael Wenzel ADAC Weser-Ems Ford Fiesta R2 80 Ryan Booth Rhianon Smyth-Gelsomino Ryan Booth Ford Fiesta R2 81 Keanna Erickson-Chang Niall Burns Keanna Erickson-Chang Ford Fiesta R2 Other Major Entries 91 Nikolay Gryazin Yaroslav Fedorov Nikolay Gryazin Škoda Fabia R5 92 Takamoto Katsuta Daniel Barritt Takamoto Katsuta Ford Fiesta R5 Mk. II 94 Tom Cave Dale Furniss Tom Cave Hyundai i20 R5 105 Louise Cook Stefan Davis Louise Cook Ford Fiesta R2 Source:
Route The heart of Llandudno on the coast of north Wales served as the rally base for Wales Rally GB this year, with a purpose-built special stage at the Oulton Park circuit as the opening stage of the rally on Thursday evening.
Itinerary All dates and times are BST (UTC+1). Date Time No. Stage name Distance 3 October 9:00 — Gwydir [Shakedown] 4.68 km Leg 1 — 121.83 km 3 October 19:08 SS1 Oulton Park 3.58 km 4 October 7:17 SS2 Elsi 1 11.65 km 7:45 SS3 Penmachno 1 16.95 km 9:57 SS4 Dyfnant 1 19.36 km 10:55 SS5 Aberhirnant 1 10.26 km 14:39 SS6 Elsi 2 11.65 km 15:07 SS7 Penmachno 2 16.95 km 15:57 SS8 Slate Mountain 1.60 km 18:11 SS9 Dyfnant 2 19.36 km 19:09 SS10 Aberhirnant 2 10.26 km Leg 2 — 152.50 km 5 October 8:08 SS11 Dyfi 1 25.86 km 10:08 SS12 Myherin 1 23.54 km 11:02 SS13 Sweet Lamb Hafren 1 25.65 km 14:08 SS14 Myherin 2 23.54 km 15:02 SS15 Sweet Lamb Hafren 2 25.65 km 16:22 SS16 Dyfi 2 25.86 km 19:11 SS17 Colwyn Bay 2.40 km Leg 3 — 38.42 km 6 October 7:34 SS18 Alwen 1 10.41 km 8:08 SS19 Brenig 1 6.43 km 9:26 SS20 Great Orme 4.74 km 11:06 SS21 Alwen 2 10.41 km 12:08 SS22 Brenig 2 [Power Stage] 6.43 km Source:
Report World Rally Cars The M-Sport Ford WRT crew of Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin returned to the championship after Evans injured his back during Rally Estonia. Ott Tänak started his rally with a near-10-second time loss because of an engine issue in the slippery opening stage, but he grabbed a narrow lead from teammate Kris Meeke going into Saturday after a day's effort. Esapekka Lappi retired from Friday after went off the road, while Jari-Matti Latvala retired from the rally after a heavy crash. Craig Breen rolled his i20 on Saturday morning, but it only cost cosmetic damage. Tänak won in style eventually.
Classification Position Driver Entrant Car Time Points Event Class Event Stage 1 1 8 Ott Tänak Martin Järveoja Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 3:00:58.0 0.0 25 5 2 2 11 Thierry Neuville Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3:01:08.9 +10.9 18 1 3 3 1 Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia Citroën Total WRT Citroën C3 WRC 3:01:21.8 +23.8 15 4 4 4 5 Kris Meeke Sebastian Marshall Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC 3:01:33.6 +35.6 12 0 5 5 7 Elfyn Evans Scott Martin M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 3:01:46.6 +48.6 10 2 6 6 89 Andreas Mikkelsen Anders Jæger-Amland Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3:01:56.2 +58.2 8 0 7 7 7 Pontus Tidemand Ola Fløene M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC 3:06:21.8 +5:23.8 6 0 8 8 42 Craig Breen Paul Nagle Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3:10:23.0 +9:25.0 4 0 27 9 4 Esapekka Lappi Janne Ferm Citroën Total WRT Citroën C3 WRC 3:36:51.7 +35:53.7 0 3 Retired SS18 3 Teemu Suninen Jarmo Lehtinen M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta WRC Mechanical 0 0 Retired SS7 10 Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC Crash 0 0
Special stages Date No. Stage name Distance Winners Car Time Class leaders 3 October — Gwydir [Shakedown] 4.68 km Meeke / Marshall Toyota Yaris WRC 2:54.1 SS1 Oulton Park 3.58 km Meeke / Marshall Toyota Yaris WRC 2:47.4 Meeke / Marshall 4 October SS2 Elsi 1 11.65 km Evans / Martin Ford Fiesta WRC 8:36.9 SS3 Penmachno 1 16.95 km Tänak / Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 9:43.0 SS4 Dyfnant 1 19.36 km Tänak / Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 11:06.9 SS5 Aberhirnant 1 10.26 km Latvala / AnttilaEvans / Martin Toyota Yaris WRCFord Fiesta WRC 5:37.4 SS6 Elsi 2 11.65 km Ogier / Ingrassia Citroën C3 WRC 8:32.4 SS7 Penmachno 2 16.95 km Ogier / Ingrassia Citroën C3 WRC 9:44.3 SS8 Slate Mountain 1.60 km Neuville / Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 1:09.7 SS9 Dyfnant 2 19.36 km Tänak / Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 11:06.1 SS10 Aberhirnant 2 10.26 km Tänak / Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 5:39.8 Tänak / Järveoja 5 October SS11 Dyfi 1 25.86 km Evans / Martin Ford Fiesta WRC 14:46.8 SS12 Myherin 1 23.54 km Evans / Martin Ford Fiesta WRC 12:50.6 SS13 Sweet Lamb Hafren 1 25.65 km Evans / Martin Ford Fiesta WRC 14:47.7 SS14 Myherin 2 23.54 km Neuville / Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 12:56.2 SS15 Sweet Lamb Hafren 2 25.65 km Mikkelsen / Jæger-Amland Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 14:59.7 SS16 Dyfi 2 25.86 km Neuville / Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 15:04.0 SS17 Colwyn Bay 2.40 km Tänak / Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC1:51.6 6 October SS18 Alwen 1 10.41 km Tänak / Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 5:26.3 SS19 Brenig 1 6.43 km Evans / Martin Ford Fiesta WRC 3:56.6 SS20 Great Orme 4.74 km Stage cancelled SS21 Alwen 2 10.41 km Evans / Martin Ford Fiesta WRC 5:29.3 Tänak / Järveoja SS22 Brenig 2 [Power Stage] 6.43 km Tänak / Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 3:58.6
Championship standings