The new FIA WRC-car concept 2017

**Rally Power** · 24th July 2014, 15:57

Originally Posted by Mirek

D segment is complete craziness. All those cars are around 4,8 meters long. C segment... why not.

Up to D-Segment doesn't mean large cars will be mandatory, simply that there will be a wider choice of models available.

Controlled fuel flow will certainly bring hybrid systems to the WRC, reflecting the global automotive move towards environmental friendly technologies.

**Rally Power** · 24th July 2014, 16:07

Originally Posted by AndyRAC

You would hope we would see some variety; so a mix of car sizes, engines, etc

However, it's not just the cars that need sorting; sort the events out, and drop the 'shoot out' garbage......

Totally agree. The championship structure needs to be reformed respecting the sport traditional values. Less events but more wider and challenging rallys in order to bring back the endurance spirit that made rallying a respectable sport!

**Mirek** · 24th July 2014, 16:15

Originally Posted by Rally Power

Up to D-Segment doesn't mean large cars will be mandatory, simply that there will be a wider choice of models available.

Maybe You didn't get what I meant. Nobody sane would choose D-segment car if he can choose smaller one. So if it's C or D than everybody will go for C. Simple as that.

Originally Posted by Rally Power

Controlled fuel flow will certainly bring hybrid systems to the WRC, reflecting the global automotive move towards environmental friendly technologies.

As I stated in some previous threads the hybrids are not safe for WRC. On circuits there are no spectators touching the cars and marshals know that they must not touch the cars when warning light is on. It's risky to bring hybrids to a competition where bunch of drunk people can push half-destroyed car out of a water splash.

Also the hybrids are extremely complex and costly therefore unsuitable for privateers. Only if FIA and RBMH want WRC to be only for manufacturers...

**Rally Power** · 24th July 2014, 17:49

Originally Posted by Mirek

As I stated in some previous threads the hybrids are not safe for WRC. On circuits there are no spectators touching the cars and marshals know that they must not touch the cars when warning light is on. It's risky to bring hybrids to a competition where bunch of drunk people can push half-destroyed car out of a water splash.

Also the hybrids are extremely complex and costly therefore unsuitable for privateers. Only if FIA and RBMH want WRC to be only for manufacturers...

You can write it down: hybrid systems will be used in WRC from 2017!

Security and cost problems about these system will be minimized, because this is not a technical question but a political issue, and FIA is showing (wisely IMO) that environmental concern it's a priority in today and future motorsport.

**RICARDO75** · 24th July 2014, 17:56

I worked at Opel and had training on the Opel Ampera. Mirek is right in saying that they are dangerous. Even a mechanic runs many dangers to work on this type of cars

MJW · 25th July 2014, 14:23

My guess is that segment C cars wil be the most common (maybe that Merc A Class photoshop / mock up that's been on the internet for months) I also think that FIA and manufacturers will push for Hybrid, Citroen did an excercise with a Hybrid C4 some years ago where they would use battery poer for road sections and ICE for stage mode. IF this happens, and I am not convinced, you can guarantee that these cars will be extremely expensive and 'works only' privateers will have to chosse theR5 route. - Thats if WRC survives to 2017.

**Mirek** · 25th July 2014, 14:50

Originally Posted by Rally Power

You can write it down: hybrid systems will be used in WRC from 2017!

I'm afraid You are right.

Originally Posted by Rally Power

Security and cost problems about these system will be minimized, because this is not a technical question but a political issue, and FIA is showing (wisely IMO) that environmental concern it's a priority in today and future motorsport.

It IS a technical issue. How can You guarantee that the high voltage won't harm anybody when the car may be touched by any spectator or children while being seriously damaged, wet etc.?

And it also IS an issue of cost. It's not only politics. Even if the cars are given for free it is extremely difficult (and therefore costly) to maintain them.

**Co-driven** · 25th July 2014, 14:57

As Mirek said, the use of hybrid technology on rallies can be really dangerous.
If you can, take a look at Racecar Engineering's last issue, on the Nissan Zeod on Le Mans article.

They had a huge investment in teaching everyone involved in the project how to deal with it.

**OldF** · 25th July 2014, 22:21

I also consider hybrid cars dangerous for rallying. What I found was that Toyota Prius use 650 V AC for the motor and the batteries has 201,6 V DC. DC voltage is even worse than AC because DC goes all the time in same direction and it is more difficult to get loose from tensional part. AC voltage change direction all the time and is zero several time in a second depending on the frequency.

If a car has rolled and the wiring or some other tensional part touch the body-shell but the car landed on the wheels, everything is still OK (no sparks). But if somebody touch the body-shell that is tensional and the human body is well grounded = goodbye

. If a human body is well grounded depend much on the conditions (dry / wet / clothes / shoes). The current doesn’t have to be high before it cause severe damages to the human body, so be careful when using electrical equipment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_shock

**janvanvurpa** · 26th July 2014, 09:39

Originally Posted by OldF

I also consider hybrid cars dangerous for rallying. What I found was that Toyota Prius use 650 V AC for the motor and the batteries has 201,6 V DC. DC voltage is even worse than AC because DC goes all the time in same direction and it is more difficult to get loose from tensional part. AC voltage change direction all the time and is zero several time in a second depending on the frequency.

If a car has rolled and the wiring or some other tensional part touch the body-shell but the car landed on the wheels, everything is still OK (no sparks). But if somebody touch the body-shell that is tensional and the human body is well grounded = goodbye

. If a human body is well grounded depend much on the conditions (dry / wet / clothes / shoes). The current doesn’t have to be high before it cause severe damages to the human body, so be careful when using electrical equipment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_shock

And that's just getting roasted from electricity... I have often wondered what happens when the battery case shatters and soaks everybody with acid like this:

It's one thing if crew melts. They're highly paid to drive and they know the risks but if we melt 5-8 speccies and a few officials so there's just pools of bloody paska with some flat brim Red Bull hats floating in it people will get upset possibly..

And what about the enviroment---every crash becomes a toxic waste dump...
A dead zone for ever...

Such potential danger... Not worth the risk..