Lehdistötiedote

World Rally Series: Season 67 Preview

19.08.2026 - The World Rally Series heads into Season 67 with Richard Dastardly once again as the man everyone wants to beat. But this season carries an additional layer of history, with the reigning champion now just two titles away from matching the all-time record of eight championships.
Richard Dastardly: Chasing History

Richard Dastardly's recent record needs little introduction.

After finishing third in Season 59 and second in Season 60, the Canadian took control of the WRS in Season 61 and has not surrendered the championship since. Six consecutive titles later, he enters Season 67 looking for number seven.

His last campaign was another demonstration of why he has become the benchmark. Dastardly scored 284 points and eight victories, finishing in the top five at all 13 rallies. Those numbers underline the consistency behind his dominance: even when he does not win, Dastardly almost always comes away with a major points haul.

Now, however, the stakes are higher.

For years, Visvaldis Ceļš has represented the ultimate standard of WRS dominance. The retired Latvian legend won eight consecutive championships from Season 46 through Season 53, establishing a record that has survived several generations of drivers.

Dastardly is now closing in.

A seventh consecutive title in Season 67 would put the Canadian just one championship away from matching Ceļš's record of eight, turning what once seemed like an untouchable benchmark into a very real possibility.

But reaching that record will not be straightforward. Sergej Fahrlich returns to Toyota looking to revive his title challenge, while Artis Fiksais continues his rise and a group of experienced rivals will be eager to take advantage of any weakness.
Sergej Fahrlich: Back to Toyota

Sergej Fahrlich enters this season hoping that a return to Toyota can reignite his long-running challenge for the World Rally Series title.

The German's consistency has been remarkable. Since Season 59, he has finished every WRS season on the podium, taking five runner-up finishes and three third places across eight consecutive seasons. Yet despite repeatedly coming close, the championship title has always remained just out of reach.

Fahrlich began his WRS career with Mini and has switched between the two manufacturers throughout his career. His Mini spells covered Seasons 57–61 and 65–66, with Toyota becoming his home in between. His first stint with Mini produced several strong campaigns, but his latest return proved less successful.

His latest season was particularly frustrating. Fahrlich still finished second, but his points total fell from 226 to 190, while his podiums dropped from 11 to just six. He did manage three victories, but Richard Dastardly's dominance meant that Fahrlich was never a serious threat to the Canadian's title.

Now, with Toyota once again beneath him, Fahrlich will hope to rediscover the form that has made him one of Dastardly's most persistent challengers.
Artis Fiksais: The Rising Latvian

If last season proved anything, it is that Artis Fiksais is no longer simply a driver to watch for the future. He has arrived.

The 31-year-old Latvian made a major step forward last season, jumping from fifth in Seasons 63, 64 and 65 to third in Season 66. It was a clear sign that Fiksais is steadily closing the gap to the established front-runners.

He is also entering an important stage of his career. Unlike some of the more experienced drivers around him, Fiksais still has time on his side to continue developing before age begins to take its toll. Season 67 could therefore be the moment when his potential starts turning into regular victories.

His Mini Cooper WRC could play an important role in that progression. The Mini has shown particular strength on asphalt, making Fiksais a driver to watch whenever the championship reaches tarmac. If he can make the most of that advantage while maintaining his consistency, he could climb even higher in the standings.

With Richard Dastardly still the benchmark and Sergej Fahrlich returning to Toyota, Fiksais may not yet be the obvious favourite for the championship. But after reaching the podium last season, the Latvian is no longer simply part of the chasing pack — he is becoming one of the drivers capable of disrupting the established order.
Marcin Giza: A Jekyll and Hyde Story

Marcin Giza's recent career has been something of a Jekyll and Hyde story.

After finishing fourth in the WRS in Seasons 61, 62 and 63, Giza stepped down to WRS 2 in Season 64. The move proved to be exactly what he needed. He dominated the lower category, winning all 13 rallies, and seemingly rebuilt the confidence that had been missing at the top level.

That confidence carried directly into Season 65, when Giza returned to the main WRS championship and produced his best result yet, finishing third with six podiums.

But last season told a different story. Giza slipped back to fifth, scoring 151 points and taking just four podium finishes. After the progress of the previous season, it was undoubtedly a disappointing campaign.

Now comes the question of which Giza will turn up in Season 67. The driver who rebuilt himself through WRS 2 and returned stronger than ever — or the one who struggled to maintain that momentum last season?
Colin Crash: The Champion Who Refuses to Fade

Colin Crash will start this season as one of the most experienced names in the WRS and a driver whose career is far from ordinary.

A five-time WRS champion, Crash has already established himself as one of the greats of his generation. But at this stage of his career, the question is no longer how many championships he can win. It is how long he can continue to defy Father Time.

His recent seasons have shown a driver who may no longer dominate the championship as he once did, but remains remarkably difficult to count out. Season 66 was a particularly good example. Crash finished fourth with 159 points and four podiums, once again showing that he still has the pace to compete at the sharp end of the field.

That makes Season 67 another interesting chapter in Crash's career. With Richard Dastardly chasing yet another title and a new generation of challengers pushing forward, the five-time champion finds himself in a different role — no longer the obvious favourite, but still a driver nobody can afford to underestimate.
Cody Bates: The Dark Horse

Cody Bates enters Season 67 as one of the most intriguing dark horses in the WRS field.

His breakthrough came in Season 64, when Bates finished runner-up with three victories and 11 podiums. It was a season that showed he has the raw ability to fight for the championship — and perhaps even win it.

Since then, however, his trajectory has gone the wrong way. Bates slipped to fourth in Season 65 and then sixth in Season 66. Last season's two victories showed that the pace is still there, but with only three podiums, he lacked the consistency that had made him a title contender two seasons earlier.

That makes Bates particularly difficult to predict heading into Season 67. The talent to win the championship is clearly there — the question is whether he can fully commit himself to the challenge. If Bates can find that focus and rediscover his Season 64 form, he could quickly move from an outsider back into the title conversation.
Mini vs Toyota: A Rivalry Continues

The history between the two manufacturers adds another layer to this season. Mini's last WRS championship came in Season 54 with Jan Zhuk. Since then, Toyota has won every championship, establishing a period of dominance that Mini has yet to break.

Toyota's line-up for this season is formidable. Six-time consecutive champion Richard Dastardly remains at the heart of its dominance, while Sergej Fahrlich returns to the manufacturer after two seasons with Mini. With the reigning champion and one of his most consistent challengers both driving Toyotas, the manufacturer will once again start the season with a clear advantage.

Mini, however, has two drivers with something to prove. Artis Fiksais arrives after his breakthrough third-place finish, while Cody Bates will be looking to rediscover the form that carried him to second in Season 64.

The Mini Cooper WRC could also prove particularly valuable on asphalt, where it has established itself as the best car. That could give both Mini drivers an important opportunity to challenge Toyota on the tarmac rallies.