In Sweden, first hiccup for the new points system

You now have to get used to it and keep your calculator close at hand. With its triple allocation per weekend, the new WRC scale continues to provoke fierce debates between those for, against and those who change their minds based on their position on Saturday then Sunday. Like all rules introduced haphazardly without carefully measuring all the consequences, there are side effects which are difficult to swallow for purists and many pilots. The major danger was that the winner of an event would not be the one who scored the most points. In Monte Carlo, Thierry Neuville did not want to leave anything to his rivals and left the Place du Casino having stocked up (30 = 18+7+5). There had been no debate or controversy. It was different in the north of Sweden…

Two strategies clashed at the head of the race on Sunday. Although leader, Esapekka Lappi did not try to aim for points in this last stage. The Finn just wanted to grab this second success that had been awaited for too long. At the same time, Elfyn Evans had other ambitions and almost achieved a perfect score. Showing himself the fastest at the end of the three scheduled specials and losing by 2 in the Power Stage, he recorded 0 points which added to those of his 1nd place on Saturday allowed him to start again from Umeå with the biggest nest egg of Rally11 drivers. It's quite funny, because the Welshman doesn't hesitate to say how unfair and demeaning he finds this system to the one who wins. At the end of this 2nd meeting, Lappi scored 1 points (2 on Saturday and 19 with his 18th place on Sunday) while Evans took 1 (7 on Saturday, 24 on Sunday and 13 in the Power Stage ). Must follow... EP may not be playing the championship, but this conclusion offers more to the second knives. With the old scale, Evans would only have registered 7. This disrupts the title race and does not reward panache.

Ambiguity

The Monte-Carlo having been raised, but without any major underperformance, the progress of the final stage between Gap and the summit of Turini did not offer any surprises or reason to cry scandal. It was different in Sweden. Kalle Rovanperä, Ott Tänak and Takamoto Katsuta no longer appearing in the Saturday evening cast, it was certain that they were going to come and shake up the last day, because for them it was the only solution to not leaving empty-handed. This is exactly what happened. While they finished respectively in 39th, 41st and 45th overall, they saved some subsidies which will perhaps be important at the end of the year, especially for the Estonian. To achieve this, they had to drive fast. Just like Evans, Neuville or Fourmaux. This provided a lively and interesting Sunday to follow, far from the processions of some years. A few hours earlier, this also boosted the intentions of Evans or Fourmaux who saw the opportunity to make good operations. This had changed nothing for the offenders from the first day, but the old system would not have motivated them much more. The prospect of the “Golden Sunday” on the contrary had a pernicious effect for Kalle and Ott who absolutely must not hit their tires and their Rally1 to hope to be competitive during the last stage.

After two races, it is very difficult to take a position on this scale. It is clear that it is too complicated and very unfair for the winners. It is also practically certain that it is not this artifice which will bring out the WRC from the rut. This system generates as many policies as it deletes. How to judge whether it is positive or negative? Only the alignment of sleeves will allow a more objective assessment.

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