2024-02-29 08:27:02
For several months, the FIA has been thinking regarding how to relaunch the World Rally Championship, which suffers from a lack of manufacturers and attractiveness. During the World Motor Sport Council on Wednesday, the first measures were announced. The most important concerns the abandonment of the hybrid, which appeared in 2022 on Rally1, represented this season by Toyota, Hyundai and Ford M-Sport.
“The current Rally1 category will continue to be the flagship car of the WRC in both 2025 and 2026, but with modifications to reduce costs and performance,” it is written in the FIA press release. The hybrid unit will be removed, but the drop in performance will be compensated by a reduction in overall weight, a reduction in the air intake flange and aerodynamics. »
While they currently cost a million euros, these measures should make it possible to considerably reduce the price of a Rally1, bringing it to around 400,000 euros. Enough to attract new manufacturers?
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A new technical regulation will be published in June, it will concern 2025 and subsequent years. Concerning the Rally2, those who participate in the WRC rounds will be able to benefit from a WRC kit in order to bring their performance closer to that of a Rally1.
Beyond the technical side, the FIA has also announced measures on the promotion of the Championship or the organization of rallies. The organizers should enjoy greater freedom in developing the route, particularly on the day of departure and the number of stages and kilometers, but each round must conclude with a Power Stage on Sunday followingnoon. This should open the door to shorter sprint rallies and will be accompanied by the possibility of using mobile assistance using small vehicles carrying a limited number of parts.
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