
| Rounds | Event | Country | Date | Surface | |
| 01 | Sata Rallye Açores | Açores (POR) | 23-25 February 2012 | Gravel | |
| 02 | Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés | Spain | 15-17 March 2012 | Asphalt | |
| 03 | Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally | UK/Ireland | 6-7 April 2012 | Asphalt | |
| 04 | Tour de Corse | France | 11-12 May 2012 | Asphalt | |
| 05 | Canon Mecsek Rallye | Hungary | 2-3 June 2012 | Asphalt | |
| 06 | GEKO Ypres Rally | Belgium | 21-23 June 2012 | Asphalt | |
| 07 | Rally San Marino | San Marino | 6-7 July 2012 | Gravel | |
| 08 | Sibiu Rally Romania | Romania | 20-22 July 2012 | Gravel | |
| 09 | Barum Czech Rally Zlín | Czech Republic | 31 Aug-2 Sep 2012 | Asphalt | |
| 10 | Prime Yalta Rally | Ukraine | 15-16 September 2012 | Asphalt | |
| 11 | Rally Sliven | Bulgaria | 29-30 September 2012 | Asphalt | |
| 12 | Rallye Sanremo | Italy | 12-13 October 2012 | Asphalt | |
| 13 | Cyprus Rally | Cyprus | 02-03 November 2012 | Asphalt / Gravel |
The Atlantic archipelago’s technical gravel stages run over spectacular landscapes and offer stunning views, while a changeable climate adds to the challenge. Highlights include a spectator superspecial in a disused quarry and a service park overlooking São Miguel’s harbour.
Based in Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria, the asphalt event is a mixture of undulating roads and narrow and fast sections. The surface is abrasive meaning grip levels are high but tyre wear can be at a premium.
An exciting new addition to the IRC schedule for 2012, the Circuit of Ireland is one of the world’s oldest rallies having run for the first time in 1931. It’s also one of the most popular with thousands of fans set to watch the crews on the challenging all-asphalt stages.
Traditionally known as the ‘Rally of 10,000 Corners’ due to its high frequency of turns, the Tour de Corse joined the IRC family for the first time in 2011 with an exciting route covering large parts of the picturesque Mediterranean island.
Having enjoyed IRC Supporter Event status in the past, Hungary’s Canon Mecsek Rallye became a fully-fledged round of the series for the first time in 2011. Based in the city of Pécs – the 2010 European Capital of Culture – the rally uses high-speed asphalt stages.
Using farmland asphalt roads around the historic market town of Ypres, the rally attracts tens of thousands of fans due to its accessible location in northwest Belgium. The narrow stages are lined by drainage ditches and are popularised by tight junctions to provide a huge test.
One of three all-gravel events on the 2012 IRC calendar, the rally will take place for the 40th time this season. The stages in the mountains in and around San Marino are made up of a mixture of fine and sandy gravel tracks and are notoriously challenging.
A former IRC Supporter Event, Romania’s Sibiu Rally forms part of the IRC’s gravel schedule. Established as one of the country’s major sporting events the rally features a handful of kilometres on asphalt.
Crowds of up to 200,000 are treated to a rallying spectacular on one of the most difficult events on the IRC calendar due to the proliferation of high-speed blasts through forests and woodland, sections of broken Tarmac and the bumpy nature of some of the roads.
The asphalt-based event uses stages in mountains overlooking the Black Sea city of Yalta in Ukraine’s Crimea region. While the compact rally was new to the IRC in 2011, it has been a long-term fixture in the country’s national rally championship.
Due to run for a 32nd time in 2012, Rally Sliven completes the list of IRC newcomers for next season and brings the total number of events in Eastern Europe to five. A mainstay of the Bulgarian championship, the rally is famed for its tricky and unique asphalt surface.
With the competitive action contained within a 24-hour window, a huge strain is placed on car and crew. The stages use narrow and undulating roads and feature fast and flowing sections, frequent changes of rhythm and blind and open corners with rapid climbs and descents.
The Cyprus Rally joined the IRC for the first time in 2010 and became an instant hit with drivers and fans alike. Rough and rocky gravel roads, smooth and broken asphalt, plus punishing ambient temperatures combine to make the event one of the toughest on the calendar.

MIKKELSEN Andreas
153 pt.
KOPECKÝ Jan
152 pt.
HANNINEN Juho
125 pt.
LOIX Freddy
123 pt.
NEUVILLE Thierry
115 pt.
RAOUX Jean-Michel
120 pt.
ALBERTINI Stefano
119 pt.
PUSKADI János
71 pt.
KANGUR Martin
53 pt.
GUGLIELMI Pierre-A.
40 pt.
