In WRC, drivers must adapt to ever-changing surfaces, master the art of pace notes, and handle the unpredictability of the elements. On the circuit, precision, consistency, and wheel-to-wheel racing are the name of the game. Despite these contrasts, plenty of WRC stars have spent time on race tracks – some starting out in karting or single-seaters before making the switch, others testing their skills on circuits later in their careers.
 
From Formula 1 champions trying their hand at rallying to WRC greats taking on Le Mans, here’s a look at some of the most notable drivers who have experience on both the track and the stages.

Rallying and circuit are both about speed, but the skillsets they demand couldn’t be more different.

Kimi Räikkönen

Few names resonate across multiple motorsport disciplines quite like Kimi Räikkönen. The 2007 Formula 1 World Champion took on WRC full-time in 2010 and 2011 with Citroën’s Junior Team, proving that his ‘Iceman’ approach worked just as well on gravel as it did on asphalt. While he never quite reached the podium, Räikkönen’s best result – a fifth-place finish at Rally Turkey in 2010 – highlighted his adaptability. His stint in rallying added to his legend before he returned to F1.

Robert Kubica

A rising star in Formula 1 before his career was interrupted by an injury sustained while competing on a national rally in 2011, Robert Kubica’s determination saw him make a remarkable comeback – this time in the WRC. The Polish driver clinched the WRC2 title in 2013, taking wins in a Citroën DS3 RRC. He later competed in a privately run Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car in 2014 and 2015, demonstrating his raw pace with multiple stage wins despite a tendency to push the limits a little too far.

Sébastien Ogier

A rally driver taking on the Circuit de la Sarthe? That’s exactly what Sébastien Ogier did when he raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022. Driving for Richard Mille Racing in the LMP2 category, the eight-time WRC champion impressed on his endurance racing debut, adapting quickly to the demands of Le Mans-style competition. It wasn’t his first time trying his hand at circuit racing either – Ogier also tested Formula 1 machinery with Red Bull Racing in 2017.

Sébastien Loeb

Loeb is best known as the most successful driver in WRC history, but circuit racing has always been a side passion. He finished second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006, raced in the World Touring Car Championship, and even tested a Formula 1 car with Red Bull Racing. Despite his extensive track experience, rallying was always his true calling – as proven by his nine world titles.

Colin McRae

Fearless behind the wheel no matter the discipline, Colin McRae wasn’t one to turn down a challenge. While best known for his achievements in WRC, the 1995 world champion also dabbled in circuit racing. In 2004, he took on the Le Mans 24 Hours, piloting a Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello in the GTS category. Despite his limited experience on the track, McRae and his team finished third in class – proving that his talent wasn’t confined to rally stages. He also made a handful of other circuit racing appearances, including in the Porsche Supercup and a short-lived test in NASCAR. But for McRae, rallying was always home.

Takamoto Katsuta

Before becoming a regular WRC points-scorer with Toyota GAZOO Racing, Takamoto Katsuta was making a name for himself in single-seaters. The Japanese driver raced in Formula 3 before Toyota’s development programme shifted his focus to rallying. It proved to be the right call – Katsuta is now a WRC podium finisher and a key part of Toyota’s rallying ambitions.

Henri Toivonen

The late Henri Toivonen is one of rallying’s most iconic figures, but before making his mark in WRC, he was a rising talent on the circuits. He competed in Formula Vee and won rounds of the European Championship before switching his focus to rallying. The Finn’s fearless approach made him a legend of the Group B era before his tragic passing in 1986.

Gus Greensmith

Gus Greensmith’s career started with kerbs and apexes rather than gravel and jumps. In 2012, he raced in the CIK-FIA U18 World Karting Championship, sharing the grid with future F1 stars like Charles Leclerc. However, his focus soon shifted to rallying, making his debut in the British Junior 1000 series the following year.

Espakka Lappi & Teemu Suninen

Before they competed in WRC, Esapekka Lappi and Teemu Suninen’s paths crossed in karting. Both Finns began their motorsport journeys racing karts, with Lappi briefly serving as a mechanic for Suninen early in their careers.
Suninen achieved reasonable success in karting and then ventured into rallycross in 2012 before fully committing to rallying the following year. Lappi, on the other hand, transitioned directly from karting to rallying, where he clinched the WRC2 title in 2016 and later became a WRC event winner.

Heikki Kovalainen

Best known for his time in Formula 1 – where he won the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix with McLaren – Heikki Kovalainen made the surprise switch to rallying after his racing career wound down. The Finn took on Japan’s domestic rally scene, claiming the 2022 Japanese Rally Championship title in a Škoda Fabia R5. He also made his WRC debut at FORUM8 Rally Japan that same year, finishing an impressive 10th overall.
 
Source: WRC