Will Thierry Neuville finally win his first World Rally Championship?

  • 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

DriverBetOnline ReviewBovadaMyBookie Review
Elfyn Evans+125+125+125
Thierry Neuville+130+130+130
Ott Tanak+300+300+300
Kalle Rovanpera+1200+1200+1200
Esapekka Lappi+2500+2500+2500
Sebastien Ogier+2500+2500+2500
Takamoto Katsuta+6600+6600+6600
Adrien Fourmaux+8000+8000+8000

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.

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.

Elfyn Evans2024 WRC champion
★★★★★
+125
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Ott Tanek2024 WRC champion
★★★★★
+300
Bet now

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.

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.

Thierry Neuville2024 WRC champion
★★★★★
+130
Bet now

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Steve Starr

Highly analytical and results-driven Sports Betting Expert with over 20 years of experience in sports analytics, betting strategy development, and risk management. Proven track record of leveraging statistical models and market analysis to achieve consistent profitability in sports betting. Adept at using data-driven insights to forecast outcomes, identi...

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