FIA Rally Star Romet Jürgenson becomes FIA Junior WRC Champion
• Romet Jürgenson and co-driver Siim Oja secure championship glory in Greece
• Taylor Gill and Daniel Brkic fourth in final standings after day-two heartbreak
• Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó scores season-best fourth following hugely demanding event
• Max Smart secures top 10 finish after multiple delays on tough gravel stages
FIA Rally Star Romet Jürgenson is the winner of the FIA Junior WRC Championship for 2024 after he rounded out a superb debut season at world level by clinching the coveted young driver title and the accompanying WRC2 prize drive for 2025.
With Siim Oja co-driving, Jürgenson completed EKO Acropolis Rally in second place in the Rally3-based Junior WRC category to become Junior WRC champion by 28 points. Oja is the champion co-driver for 2024 having also excelled throughout the year.
Jürgenson joined the FIA Rally Star talent detection programme when he won the FIA Rally Star European Final in January 2022, having qualified for the shootout in Germany through the WRC9 digital challenges on the back of his performances in eSports.
His Continental Final victory earned him a place in the FIA Rally Star Training Season for 2023. After completing the year as one of the four best-performing drivers, Jürgenson entered Junior WRC for 2024 with the full support of the FIA and its partners, plus the FIA Rally Star team of experts.
Second in class on Rally Sweden in February, Jürgenson took the Junior WRC laurels on Croatia Rally to claim a lead who wouldn’t relinquish in the championship chase. Despite 11 drivers starting the EKO Acropolis Rally finale in contention for the crown, Jürgenson prevailed. And he could have completed the season with a second victory but for tyre damage on SS11 dropping him to second place.
Australia’s Taylor Gill, the Junior WRC winner on Secto Rally Finland last month, dropped out of contention for the title after he and co-driver Daniel Brkic were forced to spend some 18 minutes making running repairs to their Fiesta Rally3 after a suspension arm had been damaged by hitting a rock. They battled back to finish eighth.
Co-driven by Esther Gutiérrez, Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó scored a season-best fourth after the Peruvian’s conservative approach paid dividends on the rock-strewn stages.
South African Max Smart, with Cameron Fair co-driving, was less fortunate, however, after five on-stage wheel changes during the course of the event left him seventh at the finish of only his ninth ever rally.
FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid, FIA Vice President for Sport Europe Anna Nordkvist, WRC Commission Chair Pernilla Solberg and FIA Road Sport Director Andrew Wheatley were in attendance during EKO Acropolis Rally to provide their support to the FIA Rally Star drivers, as they have done throughout the process.
The FIA Rally Star team entered Junior WRC with the aim of one of its drivers securing the title in year two of its participation. By winning one year ahead of schedule, Romet Jürgenson has not only underlined his ability and potential for the future, but also highlighted the success of FIA Rally Star’s mission to unearth talented youngsters via grassroots selection events organised by ASNs globally and give them the guidance and support to achieve life-changing results.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Romet Jürgenson and his co-driver Siim Oja for their outstanding victory in claiming the FIA Junior WRC title at the EKO Acropolis Rally. This triumph is a testament not only to their skill and determination but also to the strength and success of the FIA Rally Star programme, which aims to discover and nurture young talent in motor sport.
“The FIA is deeply committed to creating pathways for emerging drivers and this result highlights the importance of supporting these initiatives. Romet’s journey from the FIA Rally Star programme to becoming a Junior WRC champion serves as an inspiring example of how dedication, opportunity, and the right support can lead to great success. We look forward to seeing even more promising drivers rise through the ranks, and I am confident that this achievement will inspire the next generation of rally talent.”
FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid said: “Having formed part of jury that picked Romet as the winner of FIA Rally Star European Final, it was with a sense of pride that I watched him and Siim become FIA Junior WRC champions for 2024. It was especially significant because Romet made his way at the start through the eSports selections with no driving experience in a rally car. I was also privileged to have followed his progress and development over the past 18 months with his level of commitment and determination really impressive. The Junior WRC programme as a whole is instrumental in creating a talent pathway from grassroots to the highest level of the discipline. Everyone involved should be very proud of all that has been achieved so far. For now, I wish Romet and Siim the best of luck as they embark on their next challenge in FIA WRC2 in 2025.”
FIA Rally Star Project Leader Jérôme Roussel said: “We came to the Acropolis Rally with the aim of getting the Junior WRC title with one of our drivers and we did it, which is a fantastic result for the entire FIA Rally Star team. We knew it would be a difficult rally and it was – actually one of the most demanding Acropolis in many years. But what has been achieved is proof that there are possibilities if you are in your bedroom dreaming of becoming a rally driver. You have to work hard, have the talent and catch the opportunities and that’s what we’ve proved is possible with FIA Rally Star.
“Delivering the Junior WRC title one year ahead of schedule is a massive achievement and we can all be very proud of this: the juries who selected the drivers, the co-drivers, the team around them, all the people around supporting us, M-Sport Poland, Pirelli… The reliability rating this season was really excellent.
“Romet had a very smart approach in Greece. He knew what he had to do. Siim and he managed to find a pace which was fast enough without being too demanding for the car and the tyres. They finished P2 but could have won without the puncture. Even when that happened, they didn’t get excited, they stopped to change and carried on. Congratulations to Norbert Maior for the event victory as well because he was proving a lot – winning the Junior ERC title last year and now winning the last round of Junior WRC, demonstrating the pathway really does exist.
“Taylor also had the right approach, but he was a bit less successful. The turning point was when the suspension arm was cracked after a big shock with a rock. But he and Dan didn’t give up and really showed what a great crew they are with their mechanical skills. I have no doubt they will achieve great things in the future.
“Max will have to analyse why he had so many punctures. But when the car was running on four wheels he was really promising with some very good times. He’s progressed through the season and Greece was part of this progression. He was the one with the smallest experience on four wheels but he reached a level that’s very promising for the future.
“Abito must be congratulated also because he managed to finish P4, his best result of the season and the podium was not far away. His objective was to avoid any puncture and any mistake and I think he was the only one to not have a single puncture and the car was in a perfect condition at the end of the rally. He was really hungry to achieve this performance and kept a serious approach.
“We have taken a lot of satisfaction from this season. An FIA Rally Star driver was on the podium at every rally, we won the title in our first season, which was incredible given the level of competition we faced – a record 19 entries at the start of the season. This gave us a lot of pride and we have even more motivation to reach new milestones next year. Romet and Siim will be in WRC2 with the Ford Fiesta Rally2 and we will announce soon the names of the two drivers who will continue their journey in Junior WRC with FIA Rally Star.”
FIA EKO Acropolis Rally driver-by-driver round-up (listed in seeded order)
#58 Romet Jürgenson (24, Estonia)/Co-driver: Siim Oja (EST)
In an impressive and carefully planned display of risk versus reward, Jürgenson was leading when he was forced to change a damaged tyre on SS11. The delay dropped him to second but the result was more than enough to be crowned the 2024 FIA Junior WRC champion.
Romet Jürgenson: “It was a tough challenge, with every obstacle thrown in our way at some point, punctures, bedrocks in the lines, heat, dust, everything but we conquered it and we got to the finish line with the championship crown so it’s great. I’m most proud of the fact so many legends have won this category, Sébastien Ogier, Craig Breen, Sébastien Loeb, so many others. To be in between them is so good and I’m just a bit lost for words. As an Estonian I like to keep my feet on the ground so I will treat WRC2 as a learning year. At some point, I will have to show my speed, but to do anything big next year will be difficult. All four FIA Rally Star drivers have been really good this season. Taylor and I have a little more experience but Jose and Max have showed they deserved to be here, they just had some unfortunate events. The work we did before each event with the FIA Rally Star team and the lengths we go to really made the difference but also my personal sponsors who allowed me to do other races between my Junior WRC starts, that really helped me. Ott Tänak is one of my idols, I was spectating in Spain when he became world champion in 2019. I was the fan with the flag waving and now he’s here congratulating me. It’s mad but I wouldn’t be here without the FIA Rally Star programme so thank you to everyone.”
#59 Taylor Gill (20, Australia)/Co-driver: Daniel Brkic (AUS)
While a wheel change on Friday afternoon proved frustrating, it was nothing compared to the delay Gill suffered on SS11 as he and co-driver Daniel Brkic rushed to replace a damaged rear suspension arm. It took 18 minutes before they were able to continue, dropping out of title contention as a result. But they didn’t give up and reached the finish in eighth place.
Taylor Gill: “It’s pretty mixed feelings to be honest. It started relatively okay, keeping out of trouble. Unfortunately, a puncture on Friday afternoon put a dampener on the day but it really unfolded on Saturday when we picked up some suspension damage. But that’s part of the game on this rally and although it’s not so nice it didn’t go our way, I’m super-happy for Romet and Siim because they deserved it as well. In general, it’s not been a bad year. We were the only crew to finish all the stages and gain the maximum amount of experience, which ultimately is what we needed this year. I felt the speed was quite okay with some room for improvement. But what we’ve achieved this year just shows that the FIA Rally Star programme works. It would mean a lot to pile on everything we learned this year and go again in Junior WRC next year.”
#66 Max Smart (21, South Africa)/Co-driver: Cameron Fair (GBR)
Stopping to change five damaged tyres and picking up another deflation ruled out any chance of a second podium of 2024. But seventh place ensured more vital experience was gained for the FIA Rally Star African Final winner.
Max Smart: “It was tough rally, we had to change five punctures on stage and one we had to drive through so that was the main issue we had this weekend and that’s definitely something we have to fix on the driving. To pick up six punctures is definitely not bad luck and something we can do better on. The pace in the car was good and for my ninth ever rally things were starting to feel more familiar and that was great and I enjoyed driving for sure. I can’t believe I was spectating here in 2022 after winning the African Final and setting the third fastest time on the Power Stage two years later. We’ve had a podium this year, we’ve rallied on ice, Tarmac, all these tough and challenging gravel events. I’ve been learning every step of the way and always getting better. So it’s just a huge thank you to the FIA Rally Star project for believing in my raw talent and bringing me up. I’m proud of the progress made and I know there’s more to come. It would mean everything to me if I could carry on next year. I want to win, I know I can do it. It’s going to take a lot of hard work but that is my dream.”
#68 Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó (27, Peru) Co-driver: Esther Gutiérrez (ESP)
Caparo saved his best to last with a career-best fourth place after he and co-driver Esther Gutiérrez opted for an ultra-conservative approach, which kept them away from the pitfalls that delayed many of their rivals.
Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó: “The feeling is the prize we were searching for from the first rally. We managed to stay out of the way of any mistakes on the first two days, getting no punctures and that paid back. We were not fighting for positions, but we were waiting for the moment and this is the best result and I’m so happy. From the beginning we were discussing with Esther to avoid every problem, every mistake and taking care of the car was the aim. For sure this year was very difficult for me. But I was aiming to be faster even with no experience. I know what I’m not going to do again if I get the chance but it’s not up to me.”
What’s next?
With Romet Jürgenson graduating to FIA WRC2 in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 run by M-Sport next season, two of the remaining three FIA Rally Star drivers will be selected to continue in the FIA Junior WRC Championship in 2025 with the line-up due to be confirmed in the coming weeks.