WRC Tyres 2014 onwards

[Sulland]

Looks like we will have competition in the rally tyre department again.

Not quite sure when the Michelin vs Pirelli competition was on last time in rally, and FIA decided to make it a single tyre provider championship. But remember that Petter and Subaru sometimes won and sometimes lost with the Pirellis, depending on the conditions.

Not quite sure how FIA plans to play it this time around, if they plan on making Tyres free, or if 2 or 3 manufacturers will be allowed to provide rubber for the top class.

But what is certain is that we will again have an element that brings uncertainty into rally again.


What system do you prefer, one or multiple providers?

[Maui J.]

I prefer the multiple suppliers for the WRC approach as this potentially will bring more investment for teams, and is a great platform for new suppliers to test and promote their product. This is evident with DMack.

The single supplier approach had its drawback when the rules made all 4WD cars use their tyres. This was such a crazy rule for local entrants in their home WRC event. An example of this was Rally NZ a year or so ago when all the locals NZ Championship runners had to turn their backs on their sponsored/subsidised tyre suppliers (Dunlop, Yokohama, Falken, Hankook, Toyo, etc) and buy expensive official supplier tyres, I think it was Pirelli.
This was just another unnecessary expense to hinder private entrants

[tommeke_B]

Looks like we will have competition in the rally tyre department again.

Not quite sure when the Michelin vs Pirelli competition was on last time in rally, and FIA decided to make it a single tyre provider championship. But remember that Petter and Subaru sometimes won and sometimes lost with the Pirellis, depending on the conditions.

Not quite sure how FIA plans to play it this time around, if they plan on making Tyres free, or if 2 or 3 manufacturers will be allowed to provide rubber for the top class.

But what is certain is that we will again have an element that brings uncertainty into rally again.


What system do you prefer, one or multiple providers?

I prefer an open market, since last year already. It is open now, as long as you pay a lot of money for "rights to sell" to the FIA. For FIA the best option is the one that makes them most money...

[AndyRAC]

The top of any category should always be an open tyre formula. This is were the WRC is showing F1 the way. It adds a possible 'variable' to proceedings. In the past we've seen Pirelli excel in wet gravel events, but struggle on dry Tarmac.

[Co-driven]

Hankook will only supply tyres for the JWRC?

[tommeke_B]

Hankook will only supply tyres for the JWRC?

Yes, at least this year. Only supplying tyres for JWRC, and at same time only supplier for JWRC. Their tyre patterns are quite different from others (at least from what I've seen from photos from Greece).

[Sulland]

Is the plan that all 4 can supply alle classes apart from the juniors in 14, or is it not decided yet?

[tommeke_B]

Is the plan that all 4 can supply alle classes apart from the juniors in 14, or is it not decided yet?

I think it depends on who pays FIA for a "license" to sell their tyres. Details about how much it costs to be able to sell tyres in WRC are not known. You have this license and the logistics for tyre manufacturers to be there. If nobody is interested in your tyres you make a huge loss... And there are not too many active crews in WRC at this moment, thanks to previous decisions of FIA... For example if you have to transport your team, tyres and equipment for example to Mexico, to sell only 100 tyres, you are not going to make money...

[rallyfiend]

I think it depends on who pays FIA for a "license" to sell their tyres. Details about how much it costs to be able to sell tyres in WRC are not known. You have this license and the logistics for tyre manufacturers to be there. If nobody is interested in your tyres you make a huge loss... And there are not too many active crews in WRC at this moment, thanks to previous decisions of FIA... For example if you have to transport your team, tyres and equipment for example to Mexico, to sell only 100 tyres, you are not going to make money...

Of course, but tyre companies aren't involved in the WRC to make money from selling their tyres to competitors.

It's called 'marketing'.

Hankook is obviously planning to offer their tyres to upper class competitors next year. They don't have to be a homologated supplier to do JWRC (hence why they weren't registered for this year...).

[tommeke_B]

I think that nowadays, most big companies want every section of the company makes profit, and I can not believe that Michelin, Pirelli and DMACK are actually investing money with selling their tyres for rallying... The profit/tyre is huge (of course the development must be paid by this).