According to Andrew Wheately, the decision to allow non-hybrid Rally1 cars to compete in the WRC is designed to make the WRC more accessible to newcomers
The decision to allow non-hybrid Rally1 cars to compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC) is designed to make the premier class of rallying more accessible to newcomers, according to FIA Road Sport Director Andrew Wheately. “It essentially creates a step between Rally2 and Rally1 and is something that the manufacturers have supported,” said Wheatley.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council approved a rule change proposed by the WRC Commission at its last meeting in early December. By dispensing with the hybrid power unit from standard supplier Compact Dynamics, the cars lose a good 100 hp of power.
At the same time, however, the running costs are reduced. It also opens the door for Rally1 cars to participate in regional or national championships. However, Rally1 cars without a hybrid must carry a ballast weight that is just as heavy as the hybrid unit and is installed in the same place. Such cars are not eligible to score points in the manufacturers’ classification of the World Rally Championship.
The decision is one of a series of changes that have been decided for the 2024 WRC season. Among other things, only three instead of nine hybrid drives per season and car will be permitted in future
Cost savings an ongoing process
“Cost savings are an ongoing process and thanks to the performance and reliability of the hybrid powertrains, we can pass on significant cost savings to the teams by reducing from nine to three units,” said Wheatley.
One of the key changes for 2024 is the introduction of a new scoring system, with championship points awarded after Saturday’s stage, as well as a new scoring system specifically for Sunday to enhance the final day of the rally.
Under the new system, points will be awarded at the end of Saturday’s stage according to the 18-15-13-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 scheme, but only if a crew reaches the final classification of the rally at the end of Sunday. Otherwise, the next-placed teams move up
Effects of the new points system are being reviewed
For the classification on Sunday, the top 7 will receive points according to the 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system. This is intended to prevent participants from “rolling” to the finish without sporting ambitions or saving their equipment for the Power Stage.
The FIA has now confirmed that the effects of the changes to the points system will be reviewed and monitored over the course of the coming season so that adjustments can be made if necessary.
It has also been decided that drivers will no longer be subject to a five-minute time penalty if they change their engine between the pre-approval before the rally and the TC0 time control before the start of the rally. The previous regulation had cost Ott Tänak all chances of victory before the start at his home rally in Estonia in 2023
