Rally Sweden returned to the championship after a one-year absence. Because of a lack of snow, the organisers moved the rally headquarters for the first time in WRC history.[19] It relocated from Torsby, Värmland northwards to Umeå in Västerbotten County.[20] The rally was initially scheduled to cover 303.74 km (188.7 mi) in nineteen special stages, but it was reduced to seventeen in a total of 264.81 km (164.5 mi) due to reindeer movements.[21]
Rally New Zealand returns to the championship for the first time since 2012.[23] The country had also secured a spot in the calendar in 2020, but their bid to return to championship was taken down due to the cancellation of the event in response to the COVID-19 situation.[24]
For the third year in a row, Rally Japan takes the final spot in the original calendar. The previous two years saw the rally called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25]
Rally Mexico has contracts to hold the WRC event in 2022 and 2023, however the rally was not included on the 2022 calendar.[26] A national event was held in the bid of a 2023 return.[27]
The following titles will be contested within WRC3 in 2022:[1]
Open Championship for Drivers
Open Championship for Co-Drivers
Championship for Teams
Junior Championship for Drivers
Junior Championship for Co-Drivers
In a change from the 2021 season, a teams championship will be contested but drivers will not be obliged to run in one. Points from the highest scoring 4 rounds of 5 entered will be considered for the championship.
The WRC3 Junior championship will be organised by M-Sport Ltd as an arrive-and-drive style competition as previously presented in Junior World Rally Championship. Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars will be provided on 5 prescribed rounds for drivers born on or after 1st January 1993. Unlike the rules used in WRC2 Junior, drivers of Junior age who do not register and compete in this fashion will not be eligible for the WRC3 Junior championships.[1]
Crews are only allowed to enter a maximum of 5 events with the 4 best results scoring points in the championship. [1]
Juniors
Points are awarded to the top ten classified finishers. An additional point is given for every stage win. The best four results out of five count towards the final drivers’ and co-drivers’ standings. However, all points gained from stage wins are retained. Double points are awarded at the season's finale to those with at least 3 previous 2022 JWRC round starts. [1]
^Evans, David (29 November 2019). "WRC's 2020 Rally Chile cancelled due to political and social unrest". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 31 December 2019. Rally Chile's Felipe Horta said: 'The decision was to wait a year to take the world championship. We have talked with the FIA and the WRC [Promoter] in Germany, where they have fortunately understood very favourably what is happening and are allowing us to cancel the 2020 date and resume the contract we have established for three years.'