Future of the WRC: the discipline finally fixed?

« Can we move on to another topic and talk about Adrien's good performance (Fourmaux au Rally from Sweden. See pages 36-47. Editor’s note) for example?, tried to kick Malcolm Wilson, founder of the team M-Sport. I don't know what will be decided, but I don't see why we should change what we have today. We had a contract for 5 years, so we have to go until 2027. If the FIA ​​takes a different option, we have no replacement solution."

This path that Wilson speaks of involves the induction of Rally2 as a reference for WRC. With the Ford Fiesta no longer produced, M-Sport would be left without a model. After a moment of silence, the boss closed the discussion with a loud burst of laughter and with a: “ If they don't want to see us, we'll find something else! » If the threat is not officially formulated, there is clearly the risk of witnessing the departure of the emblematic English structure. Which, in any case, will also have to resolve to develop a new Rally2 to compensate for the disappearance of the Fiesta, therefore…

This departure would perhaps not be the only one. On the side of Hyundai, there is still the desire to develop a new Rally1 for next year. “ Since Monte Carlo, we have reaffirmed our short and long term vision, has explained Cyril Abiteboul, president of Hyundai Motorsport. We wrote it in black and white and it was just a repetition of what we had already said. We are waiting to know. It's not very interactive. »

If a total change at the top of the pyramid had to be made, what would the Korean manufacturer do? Would he play the game long enough to move on to another program? Would he completely interrupt his official presence to highlight his client department? The weariness expressed by the Frenchman was found in a technical director. “ We are tired of waiting, explained the one who preferred to remain anonymous. Decisions should have been made several months ago. Here, we still do not know where we are going or when. We spoke at length with the FIA ​​to detail our points of view. This was without much result. Now we just wait. »

While among the three teams present there is a desire for immobility for at least two more years, there seems to be no one in the shadows to push in the direction of Rally2. Skoda receives almost no budget from Volkswagen to develop the Fabia and the latter also has a limited lifespan on the chains. At Stellantis, the official implications in Formula E and Endurance prohibit the establishment of a WRC program. If the FIA ​​leaders thought that the switch from Rally1 to Rally2 was obvious and would be simple, the more or less devastating effects in the short and medium term led to a backpedal.

What future for the WRC?

« I think that if the president of the FIA ​​brought together this working group, it is to make decisions, explained Andrew Wheatley, director of rallying at the FIA, in Umeå. We’ve been “dancing” for eighteen months and it’s time for it to come to fruition. » What the Englishman means is that all the discussions which took place with the manufacturers, the promoter, the organizers and the fans (hence the investigation proposed after Monte-Carlo) should lead to a announcement at the World Council. “ It will be a concept with serious objectives that will point the way forward, detailed the Englishman. It will not be a regulation, because the time was too short to achieve this, but it will set clear goals. The desire is to continue working on the details to have something concrete in June that could be used until 2032. »

If the former M-Sport did not wish to reveal the direction which will be followed, he recognized that the process had been very complicated and had launched lists of reflections. “ It is clear that we cannot go in a direction that no one wants. It would be dangerous. There are players who have been involved in this sport for a very long time, but we cannot only focus on those who are already there. We had to look at what's going to happen in the future and try to find a scale that works for everyone... which is practically impossible. We have a lot of options within the pyramid, and to make this regulation, we're not talking about recreating something. We can take this part and that part to constitute the top floor and so on. There will be no dramatic changes that will require intense development for the teams over three months. We are not saying that we are going to switch to hydrogen for example. There might also be no change. »

Given the delays and reluctance, it seems unimaginable to see the Rally1 disappear before January. Removing one level of the pyramid would not be without consequences in the more or less long term. The use of non-hybrid cars would allow us to keep the Rally1 while saving money. Could this be the solution? This technology was just a marketing smokescreen that everyone laughs at today. Can the championship dispense with it before moving on to something more radical? Will the Rally2s with or without “+” become the new queens? Will a “budget cap” be applied? The WRC should know a little more about its future this week. Let's hope he will be there.

ALSO READ > Can the FIA ​​really change everything in the WRC?