The FIA has revealed “it’s not the plan” to vary the World Rally Championship Rally1 rules subsequent 12 months amid the present uncertainty surrounding Hyundai’s involvement past 2025.
The world motorsport governing physique launched the present Rally1 rules in 2022 with the purpose for the ruleset to run for a standard five-year homologation cycle.
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Toyota, Hyundai and Ford by way of M-Sport initially signed as much as these rules however there was rising uncertainty over .
Final 12 months, the Korean agency would solely decide to a programme for 2025, whereas it weighs up a call for 2026 and 2027 when the WRC will undertake all new WRC27 rules. The model did, nevertheless, announce final 12 months plans to hitch the World Endurance Championship in 2026 below its Genesis umbrella.
Hypothesis relating to Hyundai’s future resurfaced at Safari Rally Kenya final month, alongside strategies that if the marque did go away, Rally2 rules could be adopted for the WRC’s prime class.
Hyundai’s reigning world champion admitted that the crew’s future remained unsure however insisted the model is but to decide on its future.
Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Group
Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally TeamVincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport
Vincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport
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Talking in a media roundtable at Rally Islas Canarias, FIA technical director Xavier Mestelan Pinon says a change of rules for subsequent 12 months just isn’t the goal ought to Hyundai make the choice to depart.
“Immediately the regulation is a five-year cycle for Rally1, so we’re already in April and we by no means know what is going to occur within the subsequent months, however right this moment [a change] it’s not the plan,” mentioned Mestelan Pinon.
“We now have a sure variety of Rally1 [cars] and you possibly can think about there may very well be much less vehicles on monitor below the umbrella, however I can think about loads of options.
“Immediately a very powerful factor is to construct a powerful future from 2027. Now we have to, after all, settle for that possibly it’s not all the time easy from now till 2027. There are nonetheless lots of followers attending the occasions, so rallying is an effective format.”
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Mestelan Pinon additionally reiterated that the FIA has been in discussions with Hyundai to deal with any issues the automotive maker has relating to its brief time period and potential future dedication to the 2027 rules.
“To begin with we attempt to handle all their [Hyundai] issues within the brief time period and center time period I might say, however on the finish we want to consider the championship itself and the way we will develop the championship,” he added.
Xavier Mestelan Pinon
Xavier Mestelan PinonSam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
“Hyundai is part of the sport however not the one one so we have to have a 360 imaginative and prescient, and take one of the best determination. In fact, we’re discussing with Hyundai however we don’t need to break the present rules [concept for 2027] for one thing that’s not safe.
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“Immediately we should not have lots of producers who’ve already signed for the following 10 years so Hyundai is one instance, however it’s not the one one. We take into account that it’s our obligation to repair and outline the foundations and we decide, and it’s a compromise, and I hope we will finetune the state of affairs to make them extra comfy if wanted. We don’t need to break the whole lot.
“Yesterday we had a pleasant assembly with the producers. There have been some good concepts to enhance the present idea and we’ll work with them.”
Curiosity in WRC 2027 guidelines rising, however timing shall be tight
Waiting for the WRC’s future the FIA has confirmed that there are “a number of entities” at the moment not concerned within the class which have proven curiosity within the 2027 rules.
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Nonetheless, , is not going to be finalised till the top of August. Present WRC groups have already raised issues over the tight timing to be prepared for 2027, however the FIA is assured the timeframe may be met, and that 20 vehicles is an attainable goal.
As beforehand reported, WRC27 will function vehicles constructed to a price cap of €345,000 in a bid to encourage extra groups and producers to compete.
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1Toyota Racing
Toyota Racing
The autos, that includes house body chassis constructed by producers and tuners, shall be largely based mostly on the present Rally2 equipment. Bodywork from nearly any scaled manufacturing automotive may be fitted to the protection cell, that means that hatchbacks might conceivably compete towards saloons and SUVs.
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“They [the teams] have already got the main points in the event that they need to design all of the entrance and the rear a part of the automotive they will do it,” Pinon added.
“I agree it’s tight however we all know there are producers and tuners who’re engaged on this venture and so they ask us to maintain to 2027. We all know that there are some producers making an attempt to push to postpone the introduction, however people who find themselves already engaged on that [to those regulations] don’t need to do this.
“I believe lots of producers take into account that it’s a good regulation. In fact there are some constraints across the timing, however we’re comfortable to see that a number of tuners are invested on this venture as a result of they will design a bespoke automotive for them and producers, so it gives new alternatives.”
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