WRC future

[Fast Eddie WRC]

More than 10 years on and its still in the future...

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/m...hybrid-wrc-car

https://www.racecar-engineering.com/...d-car-for-wrc/

[Rally Power]

I shall stop here because this is really making me upset. There must be something I am missing since the solution is so obvious. Can it be that FIA (Matton) is to proud to admit he was wrong to change his mind (and this is not his fault, the world has changed dramatically in the past 12 months) ? Can it be that there are some $$$ involved that I am are not aware of, that WRC is just a cash cow for those in power who want to travel in style around the globe and live the F1 "jet set" life (which WRC cannot afford) ? Can it be that some key players are playing it solo for their own interest (read Makinen who is the ony one with no money issues and wants to remain atop with only sparring partners such as MSport) ?

We tend to forget that these rules were made by the FIA on a permanent dialogue with all the manus; according to what was told at the beginning, Toyota pushed for even more costly in-house developed systems but they end agreeing with common hybrids units use, and so the other 2; that’s why the FIA launched a public tender for an external supplier at the end of 2019. It’s also known that during the lockdown Adamo was praising the FIA for the new rules.

So, what went wrong afterwards? It’s hard to tell but it seems clear that the current mess could be avoided if the FIA got manus formal commitment before launching the tender, not after it, as they’re now trying to do; this way, any manu can pull-out the series at the end of ’21 without being fined...


PDF link to Hybrid systems tender:
https://legal.fia.com/web/appeloffre.nsf/F1AA7144B5082934C12584D500563B6B/$FILE/ITT%20WRC%20Hybrid%20System%202022-2024_Final%2019.12.2019.pdf?openelement
Adamo on the rules making:
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/wrc-2...has-ever-seen/

[Mirek]

Why do you say the extra parts (weight) don't make sense ? We tend to forget the essence rallying : Laison (=going from one place to the next) is also part of the rally - even if today it is totally uneventful. Otherwise, this is world RX ...

Because by adding 200 kg to a WRC car (just an example but the batteries and other extra stuff are heavy) you make it probably hardly any faster than an R5 car while being multiple-times more expensive. Does it make any sense to you?

Could make sence to me, because same for all...

Think about it again, please.

[djip]

[QUOTE=Mirek;1253984]Because by adding 200 kg to a WRC car (just an example but the batteries and other extra stuff are heavy) you make it probably hardly any faster than an R5 car while being multiple-times more expensive. Does it make any sense to you?


I get your point but "running ahead" as we say in french is not a solution either : In essence, you add a heavy (and costly) hybrid system that degrades car performances, so what is the solution : make the car even more complicated / expensive to keep the gap with the lower formula. Isn't there something twisted here ?

[Mirek]

No. The only thing you need is to use such additional hybrid system for enhancing the vehicle performance instead of carrying it around for use on liaisons only. IMO it's actually pretty simple and logical thing.

[djip]

No. The only thing you need is to use such additional hybrid system for enhancing the vehicle performance instead of carrying it around for use on liaisons only. IMO it's actually pretty simple and logical thing.

Because you are looking at it from the performance (e.g. sport) standpoint, which makes a lot of sense. But if you look at it from the marketing (e.g. business value) side of things, it is a different story. Ideally you are correct and everyone wants high performance cars. But this whole thread is about how to ensure manufactuers stay involved in the sport, not breaking speed records...

[Mirek]

They will not stay if WRC cars will not be a lot faster than R5. That is completely wrong thinking. The top class must be very clearly the top class otherwise there will be no interest in it both from the spectators and the teams. Nobody will follow WRC if the cars won't crush the supporting categories any day. And the marketing value will be zero.

[Sulland]

Good discussions!

what is the realistic season we will see the new Rally1?
Will FIA be able to get the final rules out in time to see them in 22, or will it be 2023?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

This says otherwise: https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...for-wrc-rally1

Dirtfish and this also says Rally2 hybrid from 2023.

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...nology-by-2023

[doubled1978]

They will not stay if WRC cars will not be a lot faster than R5. That is completely wrong thinking. The top class must be very clearly the top class otherwise there will be no interest in it both from the spectators and the teams. Nobody will follow WRC if the cars won't crush the supporting categories any day. And the marketing value will be zero.

I think you are right if the manufacturers are spending millions on a Rally-1 car, they will expect the regulations to ensure those are the fastest cars and not have the Peugeot/Citroen F2 car scenario.
But I believe that if Rally-2/R5 took over as the premier class, the justification for a brand entering the WRC would change completely, as it wouldn’t solely be based on a massive marketing budget to develop and compete with, but also a commercial one as they would only have to develop one car to compete with, and sell to others and offset the costs through customer racing.
Like I have mentioned before, GT3 is a prime example of this. People have used VW Group as an example of wanting electrification for marketing purposes, yet the VW Group have 4 brands competing in GT3 with de-facto factory teams hidden under the customer racing umbrella.