WRC main class in 2025

[Bigalstosh99]

It's either Full EV or Rally2.

could be both . . . doesn't have to be one or the other.

[Norm75]

Well, I don’t like it but the sport is going to have to move with the times and go ev if no other viable option appears soon. Manufacturers have to start making vehicles that at least look cool rather than the copy and paste vehicles they are making at the moment. As I’ve said, the new Renault 5 looks promising, but the current manufacturers electric vehicles are too big, Hyundais ioniq 5 looks ok but it’s massive.

One thing that might pique a little more interest in the sport is to bring in a female driver or two, a Michelle Mouton for the next generation.
This may take some balls from a manufacturer, but I believe it would help the sport. M-Sport actually have got their eye on Lia Block. That would be a great fit IMO, as it fills the brief for a female driver, but also brings the association with Ken, and I’ve said before even though he wasn’t the greatest wrc driver the amount of exposure Ken used to generate for manufacturers with his gymkhana videos was possibly bigger than any they get from the wrc, where the drivers are invisible to the general public that have no interest in rally.

[djip]

It's either Full EV or Rally2.
Rally2 is easiest short term but will likely turn this into "clubsport" as manus will stop directly running teams. Issue with long term perspective ( over 3-5 years).

Manus are already running works Rally2 teams (save for Toyota by the lack of a car - but i suspect they will once the car is ready). So I don't see why this would become "clubsport". I see a lot of value of having "club teams" compete on equal footing qsith manuus. some may be surprised and any mistake would be paid immediately (by tumbling down the classification, not ensuring a 5-6th place finish whatsoever)

Running Rallye 2 for 2-3 years would buy time to see where the industry is going and if progress are made to enable "proper" rallying with EV or H2 cars.

[Norm75]

Manus are already running works Rally2 teams (save for Toyota by the lack of a car - but i suspect they will once the car is ready). So I don't see why this would become "clubsport". I see a lot of value of having "club teams" compete on equal footing qsith manuus. some may be surprised and any mistake would be paid immediately (by tumbling down the classification, not ensuring a 5-6th place finish whatsoever)

Running Rallye 2 for 2-3 years would buy time to see where the industry is going and if progress are made to enable "proper" rallying with EV or H2 cars.

Hyundai do. Skoda don’t, that is Toksport et al, Ford don’t it is m-sport, Volkswagen never ran rally 2 polo program, Citroen c3 is ph sport is it not? So until Toyota have their Yaris rally2 car and announce an official team it is only the one manu that actually runs a rally2 team.

[dimviii]

Hyundai do. Skoda don’t, that is Toksport et al, Ford don’t it is m-sport, Volkswagen never ran rally 2 polo program, Citroen c3 is ph sport is it not? So until Toyota have their Yaris rally2 car and announce an official team it is only the one manu that actually runs a rally2 team.

thats right,but its easy to change.

[macebig]

A "works" squad is irrelevant,in the bigger picture. Historically, rallying has never been about works squads with unlimited budgets. It started with privateers running nearly stock cars, went to specialists like Prodrive, Ralliart, TTE, MLP, R.E.D. and various other preparators improving showroom cars and only lately we have full manufacturer squads. Rally 2s can bring those specialists back, especially if the manufacturer homologation rule is lifted. Right now, it's the choice that makes the most sense for the next 3-5 years.

[steve.mandzij]

It's either Full EV or Rally2.

FullEV has largest possible manu support, but of those currently in it likely is only for Hyundai and maybe Ford. Most risky for many reasons.

Rally2 is easiest short term but will likely turn this into "clubsport" as manus will stop directly running teams. Issue with long term perspective ( over 3-5 years).

There has to be room for compromise with expanded hybrids or range-extended EVs, because full EV with today's tech means the sport as we know it is going to change drastically from one day to the other — and everyone in WRC knows that this is not feasible yet

[AndyRAC]

A "works" squad is irrelevant,in the bigger picture. Historically, rallying has never been about works squads with unlimited budgets. It started with privateers running nearly stock cars, went to specialists like Prodrive, Ralliart, TTE, MLP, R.E.D. and various other preparators improving showroom cars and only lately we have full manufacturer squads. Rally 2s can bring those specialists back, especially if the manufacturer homologation rule is lifted. Right now, it's the choice that makes the most sense for the next 3-5 years.

Similar to GT3 racing, where most top teams are customer teams and supported by the manufacturer......

[J4MIE]

I remember when Ogier spent a year in a Fabia S2000 - it was absolutely brilliant to watch a top driver get everything out of it and more.
Rally2 cars aren't boring for anyone to watch if they are the best in the world, and that is a significant level above most really good national competitors.

[Bigalstosh99]

full EV with today's tech means the sport as we know it is going to change drastically

That is a good point. Power requirements across the leg of a rally, or even half a leg, are probably quite challenging for current battery technology.