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The 2005 World Rally Championship was the 33rd season in the FIA World Rally Championship. The season began on January 21 with the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo and ended on November 13 with the Telstra Rally Australia.
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In the drivers' world championship, Citroën Total's Sébastien Loeb successfully defended his title, finishing a record 56 points ahead of Subaru's Petter Solberg and Peugeot's Marcus Grönholm. Loeb also set several other records during the season. He won ten world rallies, beating the previous record of six held by him (2004) and Didier Auriol (1992). He also took six consecutive wins, beating Timo Salonen's 20-year-old record of four. Peugeot's Markko Märtin retired after his co-driver Michael Park was fatally injured in their crash at the Wales Rally GB.
Citroën took the manufacturers' title for the third year in a row, well ahead of Subaru and Ford. PSA Peugeot Citroën still went ahead with their plan to withdraw both Citroën and Peugeot from the series after the season. More blows to manufacturer involvement in the series followed when Mitsubishi and Škoda announced the withdrawal of their factory teams. However, the 2006 season would see Citroën and Škoda continue as the semi-works teams Kronos Citroën and Red Bull Škoda Team, respectively.
The video game WRC: Rally Evolved was based on this season.
Regulation changes
Drivers' and co-drivers' helmets are now required to be equipped with a HANS device.
Michael Park
On 18 September 2005 Markko Märtin's co-driver Michael "Beef" Park lost his life in a tragic accident. One of the top co-drivers of his generation, Park died as a result of injuries sustained in an accident on the final leg of Wales Rally Great Britain when his Peugeot 307 WRC left the road and struck a tree, heavily damaging the right side of the car. Märtin was unhurt, but Park was killed instantly. Märtin laterly stopped rallying on top level since.
Notes
- ^ Sébastien Loeb secured the drivers' championship title in Japan.
- ^ Citroën secured the manufacturers' championship in Spain.