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Concerns Over Rally2 Cars’ Performance Under New WRC Regulations
Thierry Neuville has voiced apprehensions that the upcoming Rally2 cars may surpass the speed of upper-tier cars once the new World Rally Championship (WRC) technical regulations come into effect in 2027. These changes are aimed at making top-level WRC vehicles more versatile and cost-effective, with a cap set at €345,000 to encourage greater participation from teams and manufacturers.
The new vehicles will retain features similar to Rally2 cars, utilizing a Rally2 engine alongside a corresponding brake and transmission system. Sources have revealed that the speed of the 2027 WRC cars is expected to be reduced compared to current Rally1 models, aligning more closely with performance levels seen in top WRC cars from 2012 to 2016.
“The foundation of what they aim to create is intriguing, but I have genuine concerns about Rally2 vehicles being considered the new Rally1 cars,” Neuville remarked during a media session at the Monza Rally Show when discussing the upcoming regulations. “What happens to the national championships? If you have Rally2 cars that are faster than the new Rally1 counterparts, it complicates the competition. A privateer could outpace an official driver starting much later in the lineup.”
Neuville expressed discontent regarding the lack of driver representation within the FIA technical working group, highlighting a void in driver input on significant changes to the sport.
“I plan to reach out to the FIA because there have been extensive discussions among drivers about this matter,” he noted. “While the proposal has merit, we feel unheard, especially since we requested the inclusion of a driver representative in the technical group, which they have declined. This lack of engagement led to our discontent with the proposal, even though it is interesting overall.”
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala echoed Neuville’s sentiments, asserting the necessity for a clear performance gap between Rally1 and Rally2 vehicles. He emphasized that top-tier WRC cars should ideally be at least one second per kilometer faster than their Rally2 counterparts to justify the investment in higher-category vehicles. Latvala pointed out the need to maintain distinct differences to attract privateers to the Rally1 class.
“Currently, the performance of Rally1 and Rally2 cars is converging, which is a concern,” he added. “The FIA’s intention to narrow the performance gap might benefit emerging drivers, but it’s imperative that Rally1 remains definitively quicker to sustain interest from privateers.”
Lost Opportunities for Technological Advancement
While Neuville characterized the new regulations as “interest-provoking,” he believes the FIA has overlooked a significant opportunity to allow the WRC to serve as a testing ground for innovative automotive technologies, which could eventually benefit consumer vehicles.
“At Hyundai, we are working on advanced systems such as brake-by-wire, steering-by-wire, and variable ratio steering, along with exploring active suspension technology,” he shared. “If we could collaborate with the manufacturers to develop these technologies in real competitive environments, it would benefit the sport and the automotive industry as a whole.”
He lamented the lack of integration of these technologies into current rally vehicles, stating, “During a recent meeting in Japan with engineers from our R&D center, we were unable to assist them as our rally cars lack these specific technologies. It’s frustrating because development doesn’t have to be financially burdensome; there are vehicles on the market today already equipped with such features.”
Neuville’s insights underscore a broader concern within the rally community, emphasizing the need for advancements in vehicle technology while ensuring competitive integrity remains intact in the face of regulation changes.
Source
www.motorsport.com