This category has been a stepping stone in the careers of WRC champions Sebastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier; plus leading drivers Dani Sordo, Elfyn Evans, Craig Breen and Thierry Neuville.

Sébastien Loeb was the series' champion, driving a Super 1600 Citroën Saxo.

[10] The series became the Junior World Rally Championship the following year, with an upper age limit of 29 introduced in 2003.

Following the introduction of the Rally Pyramid in 2019, the latest evolution Ford Fiesta Rally4 was introduced for the second round of the 2020 season.

Competitors drive identical Ford Fiesta Rally4 cars using Pirelli tyres.

[19] The point-scoring system based on classification is the same as in the WRC, WRC2 and WRC3 championships, with points allocated to the top ten classified finishers as follows: The last rally in the season awards double classification points to competitors who have started at least 3 previous rounds.

Power Stage points are not awarded in Junior WRC as in the other WRC championships, however JWRC competitors can score one championship bonus point for each stage win during the season.