WRC main class in 2025

[wyler]

I wouldn't be surprised at this point if they're reading our discussions at this point: https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/how-l...-over-the-wrc/

let's check!

very roadside rumors from italy (don't really trustworthy to me, but...)

lancia hired david richards to manage their rally2/rally2+ adventure to come.

[RS]

Also for MSport if you look at the car they need to make into a rally car I suppose Rally2 is no-go, the Fiesta doesn't exist anymore and the Puma seems to be not ideal, the spaceframe solves this.

The roadgoing Puma has a similar wheelbase to the Rally1 car and is narrower too, so should be possible.

[HKSjbg]

To me the most relevant comparison is to the Mk1 Mini Countryman;

Puma is 4186mm long - 89 longer than MC (79mm longer than the current-gen Fabia by the way)

Puma is 1537mm tall - 24 lower than MC

Obviously there are more considerations that go into assessing the suitability of the Puma as a Rally2 car. But I was surprised to find out it’s lower than a Countryman so maybe it’s not so farfetched an idea?

[doubled1978]

I have been and I remain a supporter of the idea of Rally2+ becoming the main class for WRC. The current situation is just not sustainable for the series, no matter how good the cars are.
To be honest, I would actually be happy with Rally2 if all 5 brands (Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, Citroen & Skoda) would field teams of at least 3 works cars, plus customer entries. Strong competition with a deep field of entries trumps 8 Rally1 cars for me everytime.
I know others have different opinions, but I think the WRC needs to step back to go forward.

[wyler]

I have been and I remain a supporter of the idea of Rally2+ becoming the main class for WRC. The current situation is just not sustainable for the series, no matter how good the cars are.
To be honest, I would actually be happy with Rally2 if all 5 brands (Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, Citroen & Skoda) would field teams of at least 3 works cars, plus customer entries. Strong competition with a deep field of entries trumps 8 Rally1 cars for me everytime.
I know others have different opinions, but I think the WRC needs to step back to go forward.

it's the manufacturers to have different opinions. skoda and citroen already said no to the idea, and generally no to works team. they want only clients. maybe they ll change their mind...

[Sulland]

it's the manufacturers to have different opinions. skoda and citroen already said no to the idea, and generally no to works team. they want only clients. maybe they ll change their mind...

When FIA is making rules for the future, the last parties they should listen to are the 2,5 manufacturers crying for their sick mother.
Choosing the Wrc2+ path will give FIA the same 2,5 plus 2-3 more, and a much better show!

[WRCStan]

When FIA is making rules for the future, the last parties they should listen to are the 2,5 manufacturers

...paying the bills.

Choosing the Wrc2+ path will give FIA the same 2,5 plus 2-3 more

...not paying the bills competing on equal footing.

I've just read David Evans' article and it's also flawed multiple times beyond any practicable logic, which is always lacking from this pro-Rally2+ argument, however nice it may be imagined panning out on the stages or in the standings.

I'm bored of commenting on this specific car now but I'll entertain the possibility of it happening, which suggests Hyundai will exit at the end of this season and the Promoter's accounts are not healthy. If it happens, it happens. I can't say I'll be following because there's no way to imagine how I'll be able to follow.

[fiscorpun]

"The working group has stipulated a minimum of 25 competitive cars in the WRC’s premier category from round one next season."

...doubt. If they are going for Rally2+ cars, we will have to believe that theres at least 17 privateers willing to UPGRADE their cars in order to fit the new top class together with 3 hyundais, 3 toyotas and 2 msports (well... IF they are all willing to keep the "factory teams", of course... and I'd guess Hyundai would quit the factory team)
BTW... really weird to just decide this number at a table, eh? "25 cars starting for 2025". Yeah, right. Whos paying for that? Weird.
THO... If they go with Rally2, then Fine. Its solved, we WILL HAVE enough privatters. Screw Hyundai, Ford, Tierry and Ogier if they "dont want to drive Rally2 cars" hehe

[Steve Boyd]

"The working group has stipulated a minimum of 25 competitive cars in the WRC’s premier category from round one next season."

Whatever the car formula, that level of entry is a pure fantasy without a drastic reduction in the number of WRC events unless they allow "WRC’s premier category" cars to run in Regional & National Championships so that local entries can top-up the championship contenders on each WRC event.

[typhoon]

"The working group has stipulated a minimum of 25 competitive cars in the WRC’s premier category from round one next season."

...doubt. If they are going for Rally2+ cars, we will have to believe that theres at least 17 privateers willing to UPGRADE their cars in order to fit the new top class together with 3 hyundais, 3 toyotas and 2 msports (well... IF they are all willing to keep the "factory teams", of course... and I'd guess Hyundai would quit the factory team)
BTW... really weird to just decide this number at a table, eh? "25 cars starting for 2025". Yeah, right. Whos paying for that? Weird.
THO... If they go with Rally2, then Fine. Its solved, we WILL HAVE enough privatters. Screw Hyundai, Ford, Tierry and Ogier if they "dont want to drive Rally2 cars" hehe

Manufacturers comes and goes, no big deal on that. If you have an exciting championship with good events, the show will be higher and thus you could have wealthy privateers with good sponsors to pay the bills. People would still come to see a better show, even though with "cheaper" cars and TV figures would increase with more exciting battles with different cars and teams/drivers.

Said that, Hyundai could remain as customer racing, which at the end of the day doesn't affect the show, just naming difference. Same for M-Sport, they would remain as just "M-Sport" without Ford backing. It already happened when Ford withdrew after 2012 (and was "just" Qatar M-Sport WRT). The cars will be on the entry list either way.

Same would apply with Skoda for example, while we could see a comeback from Lancia or also Subaru, which was rumoured to be interested to a cheaper commitment by using Haas F1 business model (purchasing parts and engine from Toyota and maybe outsourcing to a developer like Prodrive in the past).

The whole thing is still how much commitment we would have from WRC Promoter to "sell the brand". Liberty Media in Formula 1, but staying in Europe we can watch at Ratel's SRO creature with GT World Challenge (which grew ridicolously good in the last couple of years!), shows that without investments on crafting something catchy, you wouldn't have any return.