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New Challenges for WRC Teams as Monte Carlo Rally Approaches
As teams gear up for the Monte Carlo Rally, preparations are more complex than in previous years, primarily due to new technical regulations and the shift to a different tyre manufacturer. The World Rally Championship (WRC) has not seen such significant modifications since the introduction of the Rally1 cars in 2022, underscoring the critical nature of pre-event testing.
This year’s Rally1 cars will operate without hybrid power, a notable deviation from the initial 2022 Rally1 specifications. Consequently, teams are faced with vehicles that are 87 kilograms lighter and equipped with a reduced 35mm air restrictor, which leads to a loss of 130 horsepower. However, this reduction in weight improves the cars’ maneuverability, compelling teams to rapidly assess how their vehicles behave under various conditions. Adjustments to exhaust systems, camshafts, and gear ratios have been necessary to compensate for the absence of hybrid assistance.
A major change heading into this season is the introduction of Hankook control tyres, marking the Korean company’s first venture into rallying’s highest tier. Understanding the performance characteristics of these tyres across different surfaces, including asphalt, gravel, and snow, is pivotal in the WRC teams’ testing strategies.
The implications of these changes have prompted even seasoned competitors like Toyota’s nine-time Monte Carlo winner, Sébastien Ogier, to comment that crews may be “less prepared than ever.” This sentiment resonates with Hyundai’s test and development leader, Jordi Riba, who referred to the current year’s preparations as the most challenging he has encountered in his ten years with the WRC.
The Importance of Testing in WRC
Ogier’s insights highlight the constraints teams face regarding testing. With a limited annual allocation of 21 days for pre-event tests across Europe and the pressure amplified by an additional event in the calendar this year, precise execution of test programs is vital. In addition, while teams can engage in unlimited testing at their permanent facilities, the critical pre-event tests must be strategically employed to ensure optimal car setups and driver comfort.
Hyundai’s recent testing session in southern France exemplifies the meticulous nature of these preparations. Drivers such as Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak, and Adrien Fourmaux experienced different test roads to gather crucial data in anticipation of the season opener. While the logistics of rally testing are far more intricate than those in circuit racing, where teams can repeatedly test on a closed track, rallying introduces numerous variables, including public road usage and local authority permissions.
“As rallying is a confidence sport, we really need to work on the things that make a driver confident that they can go faster,” Riba explained. “In circuit racing, there’s ample use of simulations, but in rallying, conditions vary significantly, which affects our approach.”
Finding an appropriate testing road involves selecting a public route and securing clearance from local authorities to close it off for safety. Once approved, a test plan is developed alongside the drivers to determine which aspects of the car will undergo evaluation. Testing typically requires teams to set up temporary operations along the roadside, contrasting sharply with the permanent facilities used in circuit racing.
Test days generally span from 8:30 AM to 6 PM. During these sessions, drivers start by familiarizing themselves with the road and the car before delving into serious testing. Given the unique conditions of the Monte Carlo Rally, including potential snow and ice, understanding how the new Hankook tyres perform under adverse conditions is essential.
Neuville remarked on the significance of tire comparisons and their effect on car dynamics, emphasizing that comprehensive knowledge of the new tyres is crucial. “Testing is always important, but this year there is a lot more to learn and discover,” he noted. “Of course, we can’t achieve everything in just one day.”
Hyundai’s Readiness for Monte Carlo
Reflecting on their preparations, Riba emphasizes that three testing days to adapt to Hankook’s tyres ahead of Monte Carlo are insufficient. Despite this, he is optimistic about the insights gained through the testing conducted by Neuville, Tänak, and Fourmaux, the latter of whom recently celebrated success in a Hyundai during the Rallye National Hivernal du Devoluy.
Although Fourmaux’s familiarity with the Hankook tyres from a competitive standpoint lends a degree of optimism, Riba acknowledged that ultimate performance will only be measured against the clock once the rally commences. “Monte Carlo is not just a sprint; it’s a four-day marathon filled with challenging ice and slippery conditions,” he cautioned. “We have done our best to prepare; we’ll find out how we compete against others in real time.”
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