[WRC] News & Rumours 2021

[Francis44]

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...gulation-talks

What would you have done at this point in 2018 when the manufacturers said "give us an alternate energy source or we quit"? Should Todt have said "we're going with R5", against the manufacturer requests?

For me the current solution was perfect in the sense that it would have kept the action as much as it is now (with the current powerful engines) but allowed the teams to tell their manufacturer executives "we have hybrid cars". Also, full EV rally cars might sound possible this year with STARD and Paddon's team doing demo runs, but in 2018 it wasn't even discussed, most rally fans just laughed or dismissed the idea.

And if Im not mistaken, Hyundai clearly stated full electrics were not in their interest, and it makes sense since it is obvious they are more interested in promoting hydrogen solutions rather than the current BEV technologies.

[mknight]

Another year(22') with same cars to keep Hyundai and maybe figure out some proper new car rules?

Would (old/same cars) get boring for fans and drivers/manus?

At least a problem for Toyota who is still running on the old faced Yaris. But I guess one extra development year would soon be needed.

Also would mean MSport being irrelevant for one more year.

At this point with MSport and Toyota commited and building and contracts signed for the electric part it is imo extremely unlikely that they will change based on Hyundai "mood".

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/1...gulation-talks

What would you have done at this point in 2018 when the manufacturers said "give us an alternate energy source or we quit"? Should Todt have said "we're going with R5", against the manufacturer requests?

For me the current solution was perfect in the sense that it would have kept the action as much as it is now (with the current powerful engines) but allowed the teams to tell their manufacturer executives "we have hybrid cars". Also, full EV rally cars might sound possible this year with STARD and Paddon's team doing demo runs, but in 2018 it wasn't even discussed, most rally fans just laughed or dismissed the idea.

The slow progress from pure petrol car already directly or indirectly caused Citroen to quit and Skoda not to join (2-3 years ago they were serious about it).

I agree that in 2018 it looked as perfect solution. Problem is that due to a lot of various reasons the push from pure petrol engines accelerated across the car industry.

[mknight]

And if Im not mistaken, Hyundai clearly stated full electrics were not in their interest, and it makes sense since it is obvious they are more interested in promoting hydrogen solutions rather than the current BEV technologies.

They pretty much changed their mind on that in last year/months, starting own EV brand - Ioniq.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

GR4 YARIS
Jari-Matti Latvala, new team principal, confirmed that the GR4 Yaris will be the base model of all Toyota cars starting in 2022:

“The new four-wheel drive Yaris GR4 will become the next generation WRC car. We also have the ability to produce the car in other categories. This is something Toyota is currently considering, but no final decision has been made. It would be quick and easy to transform the GR Yaris into a Rally2 and Rally3 class car ".

Having ascertained that in 2022 the hybrid Rally1 will be a GR4 Yaris, Latvala spoke of the lower class cars, focusing attention on the Rally3 category:

“The way I see it, the new Rally3 appears to be a more interesting category than Rally2 and could build on the success of Group N close to production models. Something could move in 2023”.

[Rallyper]

I like Rally3.

[AnttiL]

It's easy to see that TGR would have a better market in building a Rally3 car where they only compete with M-Sport, as opposed to Rally2 with many long-developed cars and it's difficult to be matching or beating them.

[PLuto]

It's easy to see that TGR would have a better market in building a Rally3 car where they only compete with M-Sport, as opposed to Rally2 with many long-developed cars and it's difficult to be matching or beating them.

It will not be "only compete with M-Sport", there will be more brands, believe me.

[Mirek]

It looks like Rally3 is once again something which has a very good potential. Let's see how it evolves.

[AnttiL]

It will not be "only compete with M-Sport", there will be more brands, believe me.

Yeah but right now only M-Sport. That's why TGR should be quick with their actions, but all their resources are taken with the new Rally1 car.

[Tauri_J]

Tänak and Neuville to participate in Rally Otepää at 13th of february.