On Wednesday, the FIA is set to reveal a concept that will form the future direction of the WRC with the focus being on the top category. The Rally1 hybrid class, launched in 2022, has come under scrutiny having struggled to attract manufacturers, while entries have dropped below 10 cars this season.
This action from the FIA is the result of the formulation of a working group last December which has been tasked to “evaluate and recommend the future direction of rallying”.
The group is headed by FIA Deputy President Robert Reid, the 2001 World Rally Championship title-winning co-driver, and 1981 WRC co-driver champion David Richards, who is the chairman of Motorsport UK. It’s members also include FIA road sport director Andrew Wheatley and the FIA’s technical director Xavier Mestelan Pinon.
Top of the taskforce’s agenda has been addressing the WRC’s top class Rally1 from next year until the end of 2032, the conclusion of the next homologation cycle. All options are on the table, including a continuation of Rally1, a move to Rally2 and the creation of a Rally2 Plus formula based around a modified Rally2 car. It is even understood that changes could even been made for 2025, with two years remaining on the initial Rally1 homologation cycle, although this is thought to be unlikely.
Richards met with manufacturers, teams and the WRC promoter to discuss the future at Rally Sweden earlier this month. The FIA has also consulted fans on the future of the WRC via a fan survey, with the results of this study expected to be collated before the WMSC. A portion of the data collected is likely to inform some of the decision-making process.
While a definitive set of future regulations for the short term, and from 2027 onwards, won’t be presented until June this year, this week’s concept release is set to provide a clear picture for the future.
Grégoire Munster, Louis Louka, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1, Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Esapekka Lappi, Janne Ferm, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
“It [the concept] will be a series of objectives that will create a pathway to go forward,” Wheatley told Motorsport.com. “It won’t be a set of regulations, it is not possible to develop a set of regulations in that time. There will be a clear set of objectives.
“If you do something that everybody…
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