This list includes manufacturers and teams that entered the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers in the seasons where it was necessary to register or nominate teams, and/or where it was possible to have non-manufacturer teams. A true list of all marques entered over the entire WRC history could potentially number into the hundreds, indeed the FIA historic database of homologated cars includes thousands of models from hundreds of manufacturers up to 2006, many of which would have been eligible for inclusion.[1] Cars from 34 different manufacturers entered the first WRC event alone, the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally.[2]
In this list the manufacturer is presented in the first column, this is the entity that would be responsible for car homologations (and approving any third party to act as competitor in its name). In the second column is the names of teams, which may not necessarily be a company, and may have sponsors included. The 2023 WRC sporting regulation defines a team as "made up of the competitor, the crew and support personnel."
History
From the inception of the WRC in 1973 to 1992 the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers functioned more like a championship for makes or marques. 'Official' teams were not necessary as independent entries would score without direct involvement of the manufacturer. Championship points were scored by the best finishing car of each manufacturer within the top 10 overall classified finishers.[3] The 1986 season was an exceptional year in this time period as the requirement for manufacturers to directly register teams eligible for the championship was used for one year only, before being reintroduced permanently in 1993.[4]
Therefore, any manufacturer with cars homologated in the following groups could be considered a 'WRC manufacturer' subject to their car being entered into a WRC rally by any party at any time. This would also include cars entered into support championships such as the Production World Rally Championship and 2-Litre Cup; and of such formulae as kit-cars, Super 2000, etc:
1993–2009 World Rally Championships for Manufacturers
From the 1993 season until 2006 inclusive, the manufacturers championship could be entered by manufacturers, teams designated by a manufacturer, or by other teams willing to contest every round using cars of the same make. All were considered as 'manufacturers' by the FIA and two cars had to be entered in all cases.[5] From 1999 the two cars entered by manufacturers or teams new to the championship had to be World Rally Cars.[6] Only Mitsubishi continued past 1997 with Group A cars, contesting in World Rally Cars only from 2002.
In 2006, manufacturers could be of two categories: Manufacturer 1 or Manufacturer 2. The first required commitment to all rounds using the most recently homologated World Rally Car and parts. The latter required commitment to a minimum number of rounds, had restrictions on who could drive and could not use cars or parts homologated that year. In 2007 these two categories were renamed Manufacturer and Manufacturer Team.[7]
2010–2016 World Rally Championships for Manufacturers
From 2010, Manufacturer Team became WRC Team with similar terms although running only one car was permitted.[8] From 2012, WRC Teams could only score if a corresponding Manufacturer was also running the same car homologation, however this doesn't appear to have been enforced in the case of Mini and Lotos Team WRC in 2013.