FIA made some major decisions at the World Motor Council today which are related to the future of Rally1 cars and WRC2 class as well as a cost reduction.
More specifically, the hybrid units will be removed from the Rally1 cars at the end of this year with the view of reducing the cost and the performance, but World Rally Championship will continue running with the Rally1 machineries in 2025 and 2026 with the performance compensated by a reduction in overall weight, and a reduction in the air restrictor and aerodynamics. From 2026, revised Rally1 technical regulations for the WRC’s top-level category will be introduced based on the current Rally1 concept. These regulations will run alongside the current Rally1 regulations for the 2026 season. These new rules will use a common safety cell to reduce costs and complexity, and allow manufacturers and tuners to develop cars with their own bodywork based on production models including B-class, C-Class, compact SUV or a Concept Car designed to tight technical criteria such as centre of gravity and aerodynamics in order to equalize performance. The total output will be decreased from 492 hp to 330 hp with the engine performance controlled by a reference torque curve for all cars. Engine and transmission will be cost-capped and technology limited to Rally2 equivalence. Aerodynamic efficiency will be limited along with a top speed restriction to reduce development and cost. Moreover, the cost per car will be capped at €400,000 while a WRC manufacturer can make their cars availabe for sale directly from the finish parc ferme of a WRC event. At the earliest opportunity, an electric category will be introduced into the WRC with the FIA technical department charged with establishing suitable technical regulations that could utilise the new Rally1 safety cell and achieve parity of performance with Rally1 cars running on sustainable fuel. Rally2 cars will continue running in World Rally Championship, but Rally2 cars competing on WRC events from 2025 and beyond will have an option to run with a WRC kit consisting of a larger restrictor, a larger exhaust, an optional paddle shift gearbox and a rear wing with the objective of reducing the performance gap between Rally1 and Rally2 cars. Finally, as part of cost-cutting measures, the target number of personnel of a three-car team will be capped in the future while FIA presented a vision for future Hydrogen fuel technologies in motorsport including WRC series.
Photo Credits: M-Sport
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