- Elfyn Evans (+125) is the slightest of favorites to win the 2024 World Rally Championship
- Thierry Neuville (+130) captured the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally back in January
- WRC Safari Rally Kenya will take place at Naivasha, Kenya from March 28-31
Through the season’s first two races, Thierry Neuville leads the championship standings with 48 points, just three ahead of Elfyn Evans. However, with 13 rounds left on the schedule, there’s plenty of runway for other drivers to get back into contention.
Who will claim the 2024 World Rally Championship? Before we examine the latest futures, check out all the Sports & Competitions to bet on in 2024 and see the latest Sports Betting Odds & Picks.
2024 World Rally Championship
New WRC points system
The WRC introduced an all-new points system for 2024 to make Sundays more interesting. In the past, points were awarded based on a driver’s overall rally performance. The first-place finisher was awarded 25 points, while the 10th-placed driver received only one. Additionally, the Wolf Power Stage offered a bonus, for a maximum score of 30 points. This led to drivers taking a cautious approach to save their tires for the Wolf Power Stage.
This year, however, points are awarded throughout the race, not just at the finish line.
It was an up and down weekend with lots of challenges including road conditions on Friday and tyre wear on Saturday.
But today was much better and to come away with 24 points is as much as we could have hoped for and a strong points haul #EE33 @TGR_WRC pic.twitter.com/jNbAR0lPNB
— Elfyn Evans (@ElfynEvans) February 18, 2024
Is it working?
The new point structure didn’t make much of an impact at the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally. Belgian Thierry Neuville (+130) picked up the victory and all 30 available points. However, things got weird at the WRC Rally Sweden. Esapekka Lappi (+2500) won the event, but scored five fewer points than Elfyn Evans (+125), who picked up 24 of 30 points thanks to the new point structure.
“I still don’t think it’s right. EP won and he has a load less points than I do,” said Evans.
Runners-up to Rally Favorites
Reigning two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera (+1200) decided to race part-time this year before returning in 2025. The Fin’s relaxed schedule makes him a terrible bet while opening things up for Hyundai’s Neuville (+130) and Toyota’s Evans (+125) to finally break through. Neuville is a five-time runner up while Evans has finished second in the standings on three occasions.
2019 world champion Ott Tanak (+300), a teammate of Neuville’s, secured fourth in Monte Carlo before an ugly 41st place finish in Sweden.
🚨 Thierry Neuville isn’t sure if he wants to continue in the #WRC after this year https://t.co/Z13LgSzuxr
— DirtFish (@DirtFishRally) March 14, 2024
Avoid Ogier
Sebastien Ogier (+2500) is an eight-time world champion, who is currently sitting in fourth place in the standings. The problem is the Frenchman competes as a co-driver with Vincent Landais. He finished second behind Neuville in Monte Carlo before sitting out Sweden last month and the upcoming Safari Rally Kenya.
Ogier will be back in action in Croatia next month, but his light schedule leaves him with no chance at a title.
Best Bet
When the dust finally settles, we’ll take Neuville (+130) to be crowned as World Rally champion after five career runner-up finishes.
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