WRC future

[Rally Power]

Estonian newspaper writing that there is some intrigue in Mexico regarding the new rules for 2022.

“I have a feeling that Malcolm (Malcolm Wilson, M-Sports Team Leader - Ed.) has got what he wanted and we are moving towards boring cars. We have just reached a very good level with the WRCs - they are really awesome to drive. Do we now give up our work and go back a step towards boredom? I find it very difficult to understand and there are some question marks about the future of the series, ”Neuville said.

"For me, WRC cars can't be like R5 machines because they're just boring to drive," says Evans. “Right now we have cars that are really awesome to drive. We shouldn't abandon such a good technology. It is possible to reduce costs within reason, because the rally championship must be attractive to factory teams. ”


i fully agree with both of them.

No doubt that ’22 (or ’23…) WRC cars will loose the current 'wow factor' but from what’s known they won’t be R5 cars, although they’ll be using R5 based engine and transmission.

Anyway, the situation seems pretty clear: with current WRC overall costs (expensive cars, expanded calendar, etc) there’s little way to attract new manus and MSport will pull out sooner or later. This leaves 2 options: keeping current cars while reducing the number of events and their extension (less rally days and kms) or to keep events current format and the series expansion (to new and faraway locations) while running cheaper and less spectacular cars. Apparently the FIA has decided by the second. I hope they're rigth.