The FIA technical director, Xavier Mestelan Pinon, says that it is not too late to attract more car brands in World Rally Championship by 2027 or 2028 and believes that the Federation is moving to the right direction in terms of the new regulations, but also is optimistic that they will keep the current manufacturers.
World Rally Championship is running with two manufacturers and one semi-manufacturer team since the start of 2020 while it is rumored that Hyundai may exit WRC at the end of 2025 and a private team may join the sport by bringing i20Ns. However, Lancia made a step by introducing the new Ypsilon HF Rally4 and Stellantis Group aims to revive the Italian myth in WRC in the future. On the other hand, Alpine and Opel wants to be involved in World Rally Championship if the cars go full electric, but the next generation of regulations are set to keep the Rally1 regulations and will be an evolution of the current ones. The next World Motor Council will be held on October 17, so probably FIA will announce the new regulations as well as the new WRC point system which will be applied from 2025.
"Time is running but again today, okay we are not in advance, but we are not too late also", Mestelan Pinon said.
"For me, there is much pressure to deliver a good regulation and something that will make sense for the future of the World Rally Championship.
"If you release something in a rush it could be not good in the end.
"We have already discussed this topic for one and half years I would say, but now we must take a good one decision.
"We are not too late and the most important thing for me is to attract newcomers even if the newcomer will take the decision for 2028 instead 2027, I don’t care.
"What is important is to give the right direction and right vision.
"I agree to not lose a manufacturer is a key point and we want to attract newcomers of course.
"But for me, the most important thing is to be brave and take a good decision regarding the direction rally needs to go in the future.
"If we are very clear in what we do and where we want to go with the promoter, and working together, this is the best way to keep our current manufacturers and attract newcomers.
"If we are only working to serve the current manufacturers or a potential future one then I’m not sure this is the best way to address the current situation.
"What we need, for me, is a clear vision of where we want to go, and of course, we need to take into consideration the position of our current manufacturers and the potential ones.
'But again at the end it is our duty as the FIA to take the good decision for the development of the World Rally Championship.
"Of course, we are discussing with the current three manufacturers and new ones but it is more or less impossible to have a common consensus.
"We need to take a decision and maybe some of them may not be very happy.
"But it is all about how the World Rally Championship grows and develops, this is what is most important to me".
Source: Motorsport.com
Photo Credits: Hyundai
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