World Rally Championship You can bet on it with Betfair

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THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

This even started in 1973, from the start it was designed to provide the ultimate test not just of drivers, but also cars and mechanics.

Over the course of the season, which runs from January to November there are 16 events, Each team will compete on a variety of surfaces asphalt, gravel, mud, snow and ice if this wasn't enough they have to compete on mountain roads, forest tracks and public highways. The events usually span 3 days. Although the drivers only spend between four and five hours actually driving they will have much longer to travel between each stage.

Each event that makes up the World Rally Championship is unique and they all take place in different countries, however don't let that fool you there are only 3 categories to worry about Fast Gravel, Slow Gravel and Asphalt.

Already a picture is beginning to emerge of the different requirements of both driver and vehicle, and you will soon realise that this is a sport with course specialist who will win a particular event year-in year-out.

Most rallies will fall into the Fast Gravel group these are generally run in forest areas. There are advantages to being one of the first cars out as they sweep the top gravel away and leave a very slippy surface for the later cars. The main fast gravel rallies are in Mexico, New Zealand, Wales, Japan, Sardinia and Australia. the slow gravel rallies are usually run in Cyprus, Greece and Turkey where loose rocks and tricky surfaces make freak results more common.

Asphalt are usually fast events held on public roads in Germany, Corsica and Spain. Click to place a bet now

Finally drivers last a long time in this sport so if you spot a winner you can usually count on him for a number of years.

2006 Motor Rallying Calendar Jan 1- 15 Dakar Rally, 20 - 22 World Rally Championship round 1 Monte Carlo, February 3 - 5 WRC Round 2 Sweden, March 3-5 WRC round 3 Mexico, March 24-26, WRC round 4 Spain, April 7 to 9 Corsica, April 28 - 30 WRC round 6 Argentina, May 26 WRC round 7 Italy, June 2 - 4 WRC round 8 Greece, August 11 - 13 WRC round 9 Germany, August 18 - 20 WRC round 10 Finland, September 1 - 3 WRC round 11 Japan, September 22-24 WRC round 12 Cyprus, October 13 WRC round 13 Turkey, October 27 - 29 WRC round 14 Australia, November 10-12 WRC round 15 New Zealand,