The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) feted its 2024 world champions at its traditional prize-giving ceremony on Friday, 13 December. The Rwandan capital of Kigali hosted the event for the first time in the presence of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Nasser Al Attiyah (Nasser Racing by Prodrive), who has remained undefeated since the launch of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in 2022, secured his third consecutive title at the end of a fiercely contested season, while his new co-driver, Édouard Boulanger, celebrated his maiden victory.
Toyota Gazoo Racing also made it three titles in a row in the manufacturers' championship, propelled by the outstanding performance of their Hilux cars and the skill of the drivers who steered them towards success.
In 2024, the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) strengthened its foundations and expanded its global reach. In comparison to 2023, the championship expanded to include an additional continent while maintaining its five-round calendar. Europe made its return to the series, with the inaugural BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal joining the Dakar, Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Desafío Ruta 40 YPF Infinia and Rallye du Maroc. A total of 110 entrants from 22 countries participated in at least one of the five rounds of the season as W2RC-registered FIA competitors. These competitors headlined a thrilling season in which the titles went down to the wire.
AL ATTIYAH HAS THE LAST LAUGH
As usual, the Dakar got the action going in 2024. Nasser Al Attiyah aimed to extend his streak of two victories and six podium finishes in the race, but his world title defence got off to a horrendous start. Mechanical after mechanical piled up until a broken engine knocked the Qatari out of the race after stage 8. His runner-up in 2023, Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Racing), crashed and had to withdraw too, clearing the way for Carlos Sainz (Team Audi Sport) to win the rally for the first time since the inception of the W2RC.
Still reeling from that disaster, Al Attiyah recruited a new navigator, Édouard Boulanger, and rolled up to the start line in Abu Dhabi eager to set the record straight. His triumph over Al Rajhi put him on the path towards redemption. A year earlier, he had lost big time in this round, bowing out as the Saudi romped to victory. The Al Attiyah juggernaut started to pick up steam, taking the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal ahead of the local hero João Ferreira (X-raid Mini JCW) and vaulting into the championship lead. Al Rajhi, fifth, was between a rock and a hard place going into the Desafío Ruta 40, where he absolutely needed to win to stay in contention for the title. The Saudi driver led the Argentinian race from flag to flag and held back the Qatari tide by just 40 seconds —one of the narrowest margins in W2RC history! Al Rajhi and Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing) were still in with a shout ahead of the Rallye du Maroc, where Al Attiyah had no room for error on his first outing in a Dacia. A podium finish would have done the trick, but the Qatari claimed his third W2RC title with a flourish, trouncing Guillaume de Mévius (X-raid Mini JCW) and Al Rajhi to win the finale. Three different cars in the top 3 —the 2025 season promises to be a nail-biter! Al Attiyah, who has eight world titles to his name, counting his five World Cup triumphs under the old FIA system, has reclaimed his status as the man to beat. His co-driver, Édouard Boulanger, got his first taste of glory after securing his maiden co-driver's world championship. Meanwhile, Toyota Gazoo Racing will start the next season as the reigning manufacturers' champion. Looking past the premier Ultimate class, Rokas Baciuška stands out with a hat-trick of victories, first in the SSV class in 2022 and 2023 and then in the Challenger class in 2024, which earned him a seat in Ultimate for next season. Another top performer was Yasir Seaidan, who seems determined to mimic his exploit after switching to Challenger for 2025 in the wake of his triumph in the SSV class this year.
Hundreds of guests converged on the Rwandan capital of Kigali, at the BK Arena, to hail the W2RC heroes at the 2024 FIA Awards and celebrate the 120th anniversary of the FIA in the presence of its President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Nasser Al Attiyah and Édouard Boulanger rubbed shoulders with legends of motor sports and the 2024 champions of the series at the top of the FIA hierarchy, including Max Verstappen (Formula 1), Thierry Neuville (WRC), Johan Kristoffersson (Rallycross), Ethan Jeff-Hall (Karting) and André Lotterer, Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor (EWC).
QUOTES
Nasser Al Attiyah, 2024 FIA W2RC drivers' champion: "The 2024 season was nothing short of extraordinary. Édouard and I joined forces and, even though we had never worked together before, we won on our first attempt. It was an ideal start. We went on to fight in thrilling battles and achieve incredible results. At the same time, we were developing the Dacia Sandrider with the squad. All the hard work on the finer points has paid dividends. When we landed in Morocco, our sights were set on the title, although we tried to stay grounded. But, deep down, everyone on the team was dreaming of this triumph. Everything fell into place. Sharing this first win with the team and the Sandrider was a tremendous honour. My goal for 2025 is clear: to be in the mix again with Édouard and the Dacia Sandriders. The competition will be fierce, but that's what makes our sport so exciting. We won't leave anything in the tank."
Édouard Boulanger, 2024 FIA W2RC co-drivers' champion: "It's been smooth sailing ever since I came on board with Nasser. We hit the ground running with victories in Abu Dhabi and Portugal, and then we put up a real fight against Yazeed in Argentina. Dacia worked hard to prepare for Morocco. It was a new project and the pressure was sky-high. It all paid off: we won the race and the title! It validated a productive collaboration and an incredible 2024 season. I am delighted. The 2025 season will be brutal. There are loads of talented crews and everyone will be in it to win it. It's going to tough but awesome. As the reigning world champions, we won't settle for anything else than vying for victory, especially with a driver like Nasser, who can shine on all sorts of terrains!"
Jean-Marc Fortin, Team Manager at Toyota Gazoo Racing, 2024 FIA W2RC manufacturers' champion: "Earning the title of best manufacturer is always a source of pride and a key milestone for the brand. We struggled at the Dakar, but we bounced back and our drivers managed to grab points when it really mattered. It was a well-rounded victory built on our skilled crews and reliable cars. We are now looking forward to the start of the 2025 season, with a bunch of new manufacturers stepping into the fray and raising the bar even further. Buckle up! The W2RC is poised to discover South Africa, which lies at the heart of our priorities. It's a country that lives and breathes rally raids. The competitors are in for a surprise when they see the diverse terrain and formidable challenges."
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President: “The 2024 World Rally-Raid Championship has delivered plenty of action across its five events, each distinct in nature but all equally gruelling. Cross-country rallying is an extremely demanding discipline, where every participant deserves the utmost respect. It is not just about defeating the opposition, it is also about overcoming challenging terrain, enduring fatigue from long hours in the car, and facing numerous other obstacles. For all these reasons, I cannot speak highly enough of this year’s champions, whose achievements are outstanding. Toyota Gazoo Racing has claimed the Manufacturers’ Championship for a third consecutive year, winning every title since the inception of the championship in 2022. Similarly, Nasser Al-Attiyah secured his third straight Drivers’ crown, a remarkable feat made even more impressive due to the fact he started the year with a new navigator, Frenchman Edouard Boulanger, who claims his maiden title, and switched cars midway through the season. Congratulations are also due to the other title winners: Rokas Baciuska, the 2022 and 2023 T4 champion who triumphed this time in the Challenger class, and Yasir Seidan, who claimed the SSV title.”
David Castera, W2RC Promoter: "Everyone knew just what Nasser Al Attiyah was capable of as a driver, and this year he reminded us of the depth and breadth of his talent. He bounced back from a difficult situation and prevailed despite having to get to grips with a new car at the end of the season. He would have never made it without Édouard Boulanger, a top-notch navigator. Congratulations to the champions and to their rivals, who are already gearing up for a rematch in 2025. The next season promises to be amazing. A new race will be added to the calendar in South Africa, while Ford and Dacia are also throwing their hats into the ring alongside Toyota Gazoo Racing and X-raid Mini JCW —proof, if any were needed, of the growing success of the W2RC and its expansion over the years."
FIA STATS: A triple treble
The W2RC brought the FIA and FIM world rally-raid championships under the same banner in 2022. Nasser Al Attiyah has since claimed all three titles in his category, an exploit replicated by Toyota Gazoo Racing in the manufacturers' competition. Another W2RC, Rokas Baciuška, has also sat on the throne three times. He remains unbeaten in every class that he has entered (SSV in 2022 and 2023 and Challenger this season). At least one of these victorious streaks will come to an end in 2025, as the Lithuanian is moving up to Ultimate to take the fight to the Qatari world number one.
2024 FIA W2RC CHAMPIONS:
- FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, Drivers: Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT — Nasser Racing by Prodrive)
- FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, Co-drivers: Édouard Boulanger (FRA — Nasser Racing by Prodrive) • FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, Manufacturers: Toyota Gazoo Racing
- FIA Challenger Rally-Raid Championship, Drivers: Rokas Baciuška (LTU — Can-Am Factory Team)
- FIA Challenger Rally-Raid Championship, Co-drivers: Valentina Pertegarini (ARG — BBR)
- FIA SSV Rally-Raid Championship, Drivers: Yasir Seaidan (KSA — MMP)
- FIA SSV Rally-Raid Championship, Co-drivers: Fernando Acosta (ARG — BE Racing)
