The FIA have confirmed that the World Rally Championships will follow Formula One's lead and adopt the same scoring system.

The change, which sees more points awarded to the winner and two more drivers finishing with points, will come into effect immediately, with the season starting tomorrow.

Points will now be awarded up to a 10th-place finish with first place being worth 25 points, rather than the 10 it was worth last year.

The statement on the FIA website read: "Following a fax vote by the members of the World Motor Sport Council and the competitors in the FIA World Rally Championships, an amendment has been made to the points system to align with the FIA Formula One World Championship.

"This takes place with immediate effect.

"The scoring system will apply to the FIA World Rally Championship, the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship, the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship, the FIA Junior World Rally Championship and the FIA WRC Cup for Teams."

The new points system would not have changed the outcome of last year's championship but would have increased Sebastien Loeb's margin of victory over Mikko Hirvonen from one point to nine.

The sliding scale from first position to 10th is now 25 points, 18, 15, 12, 10, eight, six, four, two and one.