(25.07.2019) The FIA World Cups for Cross Country events cover some of the most diverse and challenging terrain the world has to offer. In a move to improve the structure of the discipline and encourage competitors to participate in more events, the World Cup has been divided into two categories from this season, better reflecting the specific nature of the individual events.

The longer FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies now form a separate series to the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Bajas, which take in shorter, but no less arduous two-day events.

FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies

There are two types of events: Cross Country Rally, which covers a total distance of between 1000-5000 kilometres with at least 1000 kilometres of competitive action, and a Marathon Rally where the total distance must be more than 5000 kilometres with no less than 3000 kilometres of special stages. Marathon Rallies may also cross multiple countries. The calendar for the 2019 season includes four events - Qatar Rally, Abu Dhabi Dessert Challenge, Kazakhstan Rally and Moroccan Rally. It is Baja Poland 2016 winner Nasser al-Attiyah who leads current standings of the series after three out of four rounds. There are two Polish drivers in the top ten. Both Aron Domzala and Jakub Przygonski have scored 16 points and hold 8th position on the leaderboard.

FIA World Cup for Baja Rallies

These events must run over one or two days, three if a super special stage is organised, and cover 400-600 competitive kilometres.

The calendar for the 2019 season includes eight rounds, which are Baja Russia, Dubai International Baja, Italian Baja, Baja Espana Aragon, Hungarian Baja, ORLEN Baja Poland, Jordan Baha and Baja de Portalegre 500. Vladimir Vasilyev leads the cup standings after three rounds. Russian driver, who won FIA World Cup in 2014 season, has 22 points more than second-placed Martin Prokop, while third place is taken by (ex aequo) Jakub Przygonski and Tapio Lauronen. Both Pole and Finn scored 30 points, 24 less than Vasilyev. It is worth noting that Przygonski won the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies in previous season. ORLEN Team driver is the second Pole who achieved this, after Krzysztof Holowczyc was unbeaten in 2013 season.

Similar to the cross country rallies, crews are fighting for overall World Cup for Cross Country Bajas honours with separate Trophies awarded in the T2 and T3 categories for production vehicles and improved lightweight cars respectively.