WRC future

[AnttiL]

https://yle.fi/urheilu/3-11077330

Very interesting interview with Timo Rautiainen about the future of WRC. Cannot translate everything but here's some key points

- they consider setting up a series for private WRC teams, who wouldn't have to do all the rounds
- the 2022 rules are likely not to be ready by the end of this month. Teams have agreed with the big guidelines though.
- electric power will be used on city liaison sections, not on special stages
- hybrid power line offers from manufacturers have come in, but they are not comparable with each other, so they need to be adjusted
- if too many WRC teams drop, WRC2 will be made the main series. Rautiainen does not see this likely to happen.
- Rautiainen agrees that costs should be brought down, and no more rallies should be added to calendar
- Many car makers have shown interest in joining the series.

[EstWRC]

https://yle.fi/urheilu/3-11077330

Very interesting interview with Timo Rautiainen about the future of WRC. Cannot translate everything but here's some key points

- they consider setting up a series for private WRC teams, who wouldn't have to do all the rounds
- the 2022 rules are likely not to be ready by the end of this month. Teams have agreed with the big guidelines though.
- electric power will be used on city liaison sections, not on special stages
- hybrid power line offers from manufacturers have come in, but they are not comparable with each other, so they need to be adjusted
- if too many WRC teams drop, WRC2 will be made the main series. Rautiainen does not see this likely to happen.
- Rautiainen agrees that costs should be brought down, and no more rallies should be added to calendar
- Many car makers have shown interest in joining the series.

this is what i wanted to hear , good !

[AnttiL]

One more thing: the candidate events run in Japan have sparked interest in other car makers than Toyota.

[T16]

One more thing: the candidate events run in Japan have sparked interest in other car makers than Toyota.

Which ones?

[rp]

Which ones?

At least Subaru...

[AnttiL]

Which ones?

Obviously, things like this are kept as a secret from FIA's side.

[deephouse]

I hope some of them or at least one would be serious about that. Like in other series 9 of them were deadly serious and next day none of them were. I don't believe anything for real until the day come when they will be actually at the start of the line.

[AnttiL]

https://yle.fi/urheilu/3-11077680

Another article from the same author, talking about how Citroen's departure should be viewed as a wake-up-call to abandon the current WRC cars and go for simpler and cheaper rally cars which look more like production models.

[AndyRAC]

I agree it's a 'wake up' call - I sometimes think people in the WRC are oblivious to whats going on in the wider motorsport/ outside world. Everything is fine when it actually isn't.

However, they absolutely have to get the next car regs right; whether that is hybrid, electric, Fred Flintstone pedal power, etc who knows.
What can the WRC offer Manufacturers that other series can't? It's not an easy decision.....

[Rally Power]

Costs escalate should be restrained without changing current cars specs as the series needs their ‘wow factor’. Further restrictions to testing days and jokers use and a calendar revision limiting far away events could be easily implemented. Besides, hearing that the FIA will let manus to get their own hybrid systems is quite worrying; a common low budget system, as initially announced, was a much more sensible option.

Btw, if another Japanese manu enters the series maybe the Koreans will also throw Kia into the battle, to make it more leveled…anyway, even if it sounds almost impossible, I’m still hoping the WRC will get a European manu in 2022. Fingers crossed!