WRC fuel consuption

[WRC17]

How many miles do WRC cars do per gallon in stage mode?

[ESTR]

Some time ago I was at GTI Treffen in Austria. Well there was Skoda's tent and their R5 machines (combi version too). And I read at the specs list that Fabia have around 60.. Wow incredible... There was also replica of Polo WRC but no specs.

[tommeke_B]

I don't know about the most recent cars. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been told a Fiesta WRC 2013 spec was around 65l/100km, so converted that's 4,35mpg. S2000 cars at the day had similar consumption, earlier (2L) WRC cars far more.

[Mirek]

Yes, I don't know how the 2017 WRC cars but before it was around 60-70l/100 km, old WRC cars 15-20 years a go even more than 100l/100 km. R5 today have also around 60l/100km I think (br21 knows better for sure).

Anyway in the turbo cars large part of the consumption is taken by ALS. That's why I think that the most meaningful way how to integrate some often discussed hybrid systems into rally is to implement semi-electric turbochargers without classic ALS. It would be relatively easy to implement (I think) and it would bring fuel consumption to much lower values without changing the appearance of the cars, i.e. it would look good for marketing reasons but for petrolheads not much would be changed in terms of sound and spectacle (sound slightly). It would be theoretically good also for reliability.

[AnttiL]

old WRC cars 15-20 years a go even more than 100l/100 km.

I remember hearing in 1996 a Toyota Celica ST205 would take exactly one litre per kilometre on a stage.

[Mirek]

I remember hearing in 1996 a Toyota Celica ST205 would take exactly one litre per kilometre on a stage.

I heard about early Octavia WRC that it took around 110l/100km.

[WRC17]

I heard about early Octavia WRC that it took around 110l/100km.

iS that with ALS on full, how much would the performance be reduced but MPG increased if ALS was turned down or off?

[mknight]

Anyway in the turbo cars large part of the consumption is taken by ALS. That's why I think that the most meaningful way how to integrate some often discussed hybrid systems into rally is to implement semi-electric turbochargers without classic ALS. It would be relatively easy to implement (I think) and it would bring fuel consumption to much lower values without changing the appearance of the cars, i.e. it would look good for marketing reasons but for petrolheads not much would be changed in terms of sound and spectacle (sound slightly). It would be theoretically good also for reliability.

Totally agree (as I also did in the past). Should be possible to spec. it in the rules.
Also, it might even be possible not to have it running all the time when off-throttle. A suitably large electric motor could be able to spin up the turbo really quick as a reaction to throttle input, minimizing any delay.

[NickRally]

Yes, I don't know how the 2017 WRC cars but before it was around 60-70l/100 km, old WRC cars 15-20 years a go even more than 100l/100 km. R5 today have also around 60l/100km I think (br21 knows better for sure).

Anyway in the turbo cars large part of the consumption is taken by ALS. That's why I think that the most meaningful way how to integrate some often discussed hybrid systems into rally is to implement semi-electric turbochargers without classic ALS. It would be relatively easy to implement (I think) and it would bring fuel consumption to much lower values without changing the appearance of the cars, i.e. it would look good for marketing reasons but for petrolheads not much would be changed in terms of sound and spectacle (sound slightly). It would be theoretically good also for reliability.

Mirek, one more big supporter of this concept here. You raised very valid points, only one that is touch open to dispute is “It would be relatively easy to implement (I think)” – the engine manufacturers/tuners got slightly bad taste of this system due to the struggles of some of the F1 engine manufacturers, though if you don’t try to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of the system, things should be a lot more manageable. I also suspect drivers would love it.

[br21]

Current WRC cars I don't know, I think slightly more than R5s (as restrictor bigger so more air so more fuel needed also). R5 cars use around 55-60l per 100km in stage mode. All depends on driver (pushing harder or less), conditions (very slippery or sandy needs more), level of ALS.
Last 2l WRC cars used around 80l typically.
Old turbo gpA cars used 100l, sometimes even more. Mostly due to less advanced ECUs, ALS strategies, etc. Newer cars also use direct injection systems, which allow much detailed fuel distribution.
Consumption depends also on fuel type, E85 for example gives around 30% more consumption than normal fuel.