2015 WRC Homologation

[navtheace]

I think it is very poor by Autosport/Motorsport News to say such a thing about the rules. They should say it as it is, yes some components have to be production parts from any manufacturer. But what they said is clearly wrong.

[OldF]

”Regulations state that the car must be built by using production parts with nothing bespoke or tailor-made allowed.”

“The use of production parts doesn’t preclude the use of specialist suppliers such as Sadev for the transmission or AP-Racing for the brakes. But, the parts purchased have to be off-the-shelf – or, in some cases, designed for M-Sport but then put on the shelf and made available for anybody else to buy”.

Bespoke / tailor made or not?

Imo parts that can’t be off-the-shelf are wishbones, sub frames, electric looms etc.

I don’t think there are any control parts in the body shell but instead control materials (roll cage) and control dimensions to convert the body shell for 4WD. The allowed modification to the body shell can be found in the rallycross technical regulations (page 6).

I read an article some time ago (couldn’t find it anymore) that a new turbo can be homologated if it come from a car produced in min. 2500 units.

[whosyo]

I don't get it.
I think if the specialist suppliers are allowed to make R5 parts, teams are going to buy their expensive parts anyway.

[OldF]

Even more expensive it would be if the manufacturer or the manufacturer’s team would develop parts like gearboxes and brakes by themselves. It would be like inventing the wheel again. Better with a specialized supplier which have experience about these special parts and can also sell the same parts to other racing vehicles (larger production volume = lower unit price).

The parts from the specialist suppliers must also be approved by FIA (price).

[Eli]

so any news from rules and regulations for the next couple of years???

[navtheace]

Guess we will have to wait for the FIA to announce a plan of the phasing out of the current WRC/RRC categories next year and R5 to become the top category for 2016?

Maybe the R5 category will be moved to a 34mm restrictor from the current 32mm in order to keep the speeds exactly the same as what the WRC's have now.

[Mirek]

It's not that easy. The R5 engines and all parts are closer to production units and with reasonably bigger torque and power with 2 mm larger restrictor (approximately 13% of power more) it could bring serious reliability issues. Another factor is rews. Current R5 are designed for maximum 7500 RPM and I believe Fiesta has it's peak power around 6000 RPM. With same turbo and that larger restrictor the peak power must move a lot higher, I can imagine it can be even 2000 RPM or something. Rews are very serious thing for reliability.

I don't say it's not possible, I just want to say that it would probably lead to a large redesign of many parts (and also growth of price).

[OldF]

I copied MJW’s comment from the Hyundai thread and continuing here because imo MJW’s comment is also a general comment about the homologations in future.

New basis for homologation too in 2015, the new WRC cars will not be homologated as S2000 type. Maybe some form of R5 or R5plus for the top class. From the gossip I am hearing there are a lot of manufacturers evaluating if not developing R5 rally cars. So in a way 2015 is press the re-start button on WRC technically speaking.

Jarmo Mahonen said that FIA is committed to the current WRC cars until the end of 2016 and Malcom Wilson told that the price of the R5 is frozen until the end of 2015. Two end dates, 2015 and 2016. Maybe the price freeze for R5 cars don’t have anything to do with homologations and 2,5 years with the same price despite the inflation is maybe enough.

World Rally Championship - News - Wilson: New R5 a big step forward

“The FIA has frozen the price until the end of 2015, so customers know exactly what the costs are going to be.”

Google-kääntäjä

The manufacturers decided among themselves that no new WRC homologations will be done next year but they can use 4 jokers to develop parts except the engine.

We are committed to continue with the current WRC cars until the end of 2016. About R5 Mahonen said it’s meant to be a replacement for group N cars. “I don’t know anything about the future cars but personally I would like to see more powerful cars.”

[navtheace]

The FIA could easily control the costs of the R5 car. By taking the rules further with production brake calipers (any car manufacturer and homologated of car production of 2500 models at least etc).

There are many other components they could apply this to, like the turbo. As they already have the rule in place for the intercooler and radiator.

Then start to trim things further by production only bodywork, driven wheels as the road car.

So cars like the MINI Countryman can turn up as 4WD and the likes of Hyundai and VW will have to think about making 4WD road cars of their i20 and Polo.

The solution is bringing the rally car closer to the road car, aka GpA style. Allowing parts like brake calipers, sensors, turbo, radiator, intercooler etc from any production road car is a good move.

I guess Porsche brake calipers would be the brake weapon of choice if the rule is applied to the brakes?

[NxOxT]

The FIA could easily control the costs of the R5 car. By taking the rules further with production brake calipers (any car manufacturer and homologated of car production of 2500 models at least etc).

There are many other components they could apply this to, like the turbo. As they already have the rule in place for the intercooler and radiator.

Then start to trim things further by production only bodywork, driven wheels as the road car.

So cars like the MINI Countryman can turn up as 4WD and the likes of Hyundai and VW will have to think about making 4WD road cars of their i20 and Polo.

The solution is bringing the rally car closer to the road car, aka GpA style. Allowing parts like brake calipers, sensors, turbo, radiator, intercooler etc from any production road car is a good move.

I guess Porsche brake calipers would be the brake weapon of choice if the rule is applied to the brakes?

are you not bored yet to repeat the same idiotic, to say the least, ideas over and over and over again ???? Motorsport attract the crows just because they use unique vehicles... if you do not like it go watch autocross full of 50 year old failures...