WRC future

[AnttiL]

And remember that the manufacturers are deciding the rules together with FIA, it's not just FIA telling the teams what to do.

I'm sure that if all the manufacturers would have wanted R5 to be the main class in 2022, FIA would have agreed.

[Rally Power]

The manufacturers themselves are part of the political motivation. It's them calling for hybridization and electrification for years. The point is that without the change even the current manus would likely loose reason to stay and the new ones would definitely not come (nobody jumps on the running train which moreover doesn't carry what you want).

That’s exactly what I’ve said; these rules aren’t made to attract more manus but to keep the current ones. That seems a recipe to disaster, especially when a R5+ Mild Hybrid solution was pretty easy to adopt.

Btw, for sure spaceframe chassis are used in many motorsport series, actually since almost ever, but the only time the WRC use them it was a heck of a mess.

[Mirek]

That’s exactly what I’ve said; these rules aren’t made to attract more manus but to keep the current ones. That seems a recipe to disaster, especially when a R5+ Mild Hybrid solution was pretty easy to adopt.

No, the R5+hybrid is a solution for current manufacturers (and not for the new ones) and something manufacturers clearly don't want. R5 rules have been great but they are not rules for the future because they are absolutely bound to the stock production which in the future will continue distancing itself from anything useful for racing activities.

tw, for sure spaceframe chassis are used in many motorsport series, actually since almost ever, but the only time the WRC use them it was a heck of a mess.

For reasons completely unrelated to the spaceframe.

[Rally Power]

I'm sure that if all the manufacturers would have wanted R5 to be the main class in 2022, FIA would have agreed.

How can you be sure of that? From what it was known, these rules making was full of ups and downs and it’s pretty clear that they’re a compromise, not what each manu would really wanted (apparently, Toyota asked for a hi-tech in-house developed Hydrib system, MSport was interested on a R5 based solution and Hyundai almost jumped off for the cars costs). Btw, besides the current 3, do you know if the FIA consulted any other manu, especially those with previous WRC experience?

We should look on WEC new rules; initially, the FIA and the series promoter only managed to attract 2 top manus into the new and expensive Hypercar class, condemning the series to another tedious era. Fortunately, other manus and events organizers pushed for being allowed another top category, the affordable LMDh protos, which will fight for the overall wins thanks to a BoP system. Who knows, maybe on a near future the FIA will consent a BoP leveled R5+ category alongside Rally1 cars, enlarging WRC top field. Fingers crossed!

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Wasnt it the spaceframe chassis that made the super-specialised, mid-engined, Gr.B cars possible ? Plus create their inherent danger with lighweight panels stuck on ?

[Mirek]

Wasnt it the spaceframe chassis that made the super-specialised, mid-engined, Gr.B cars possible ? Plus create their inherent danger with lighweight panels stuck on ?

No. The reason why they were crazy and dangerous was that there were basically no limits in the rules. Spaceframe itself is safer than bodyshell and much easier to design to be safe.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

So the current cars based on a bodyshell are dangerous but the rules make them safer ?

[Mirek]

So the current cars based on a bodyshell are dangerous but the rules make them safer ?

The current cars are not dangerous but spaceframe cars can be easier made safer because unlike in production-based bodyshells everything can be designed and optimized for its role from the get-go. In the current scenario a lot is given by the stock production and most of that is not very useful for race department and what is worst a lot of that can not be changed.

[Sulland]

Next generation top class rally car should get a safety cell ala F1. We saw last weekend what passive security measures does, and it saves people's life.

[Sulland]

And remember that the manufacturers are deciding the rules together with FIA, it's not just FIA telling the teams what to do.

I'm sure that if all the manufacturers would have wanted R5 to be the main class in 2022, FIA would have agreed.

And there is where the cat is barried, some things manufacturers should not be a part of deciding.
At some big crossroads FIA need to cut though the noice and decide, to make series bigger in numbers, and by that more exiting for us, who indirectly pay the bills.
It is only a few in the crowd that will notice if in 2021 R5 became top-dog.