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With Europe, Africa, North and South America and Oceania ticked off, all that remained for the WRC was a trip to Asia. That was realised in 1996 when the championship headed for Indonesia.

It had long been accepted that - with the exception of one or two Swedes - only Finns could win in Finland.

Hannu Mikkola - the 1983 WRC champion - could drive anything. Absolutely anything.

Three drivers remain in contention for the WRC2 title ahead of this week’s FORUM8 Rally Japan (10 - 13 November).

There was nothing to separate Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans on Thursday morning’s shakedown as FORUM8 Rally Japan’s FIA World Rally Championship comeback roared into action.

A new challenge awaits as the FIA World Rally Championship returns to Japan this week. Before that, though, let’s cast our minds back to the last visit in 2010 when the event was gravel-based.

On paper, the Mercedes 450 SLC was perhaps the most unlikely of rally cars.

Next week’s FORUM8 Rally Japan (10 - 13 November) is going to be a very special fixture for WRC manufacturers’ champions Toyota Gazoo Racing.

At last, the FIA announced the creation of a Driver Championship for the WRC to run for the first time in 1979.

The Polish Rally was very tough in the early days, but for all the wrong reasons.