FIA does not expect delay for Rally1 regulations and hybrid

2022 must mark the start of a new era for manufacturers engaged in World Rally Championship, since the so-called cars will be introduced rally1, the current WRC, integrating the famous hybrid system.

But faced with the crisis linked to the coronavirus pandemic, concern could arise about the car development process underway among manufacturers. However, Yves Matton, director of rallying at the FIA, remains confident about the calendar.

“We are sticking to the plan and the schedule, indicates the Belgian manager. For sure, when it comes to committing a manufacturer for 2022, we will be looking to August rather than June to finalize that.

But if we are two months late after a three-month crisis, we will not be far from what we expected. All manufacturers are working hard on the 2022 car. There is a weekly technical regulations working group to answer all questions from manufacturers.

When you start designing the car, that's when you start to have a lot of questions. We have also set up a weekly meeting with the WRC promoter and the manufacturers in order to have a good level of communication. »

The still unanswered question of the 2020 calendar

This was the highly anticipated setting of the last World Motor Sport Council, but no 2020 calendar appeared in the FIA ​​decisions last week. If a first version for 2021 has been validated, discussions continue to find the right formula to conclude the current year.

The proof is the end of negotiations with Rally Liepaja, sleeve ERC candidate for promotion to the WRC, but who was unable to reach an agreement with the promoter. “The DNA of rally makes the organization of events without an audience quite complex, underlines Yves Matton.

We therefore linked the decision-making process to government decisions. As the evolution of national health policies is still uncertain, we were forced to take a little time before planning a new calendar.

The most realistic prospect is a seven-event schedule and we are close to achieving it. Of course, there are still a lot of question marks but I saw a great commitment from the organizers to do everything possible to be part of the championship.

We have seen the same thing in other championships, like the ERC, and the enormous work that the organizers of the Rally di Roma Capitale, for example, have done in developing a social distancing app to be able to organize their event. »

A calendar of XNUMX rounds in total to offer real value to the FIA ​​title and which would validate the decision made by the World Council on the limitation to two engines usable per driver for the end of the season. International bodies are also working to the possible reduction of the minimum mileage against the time limit of 250 km.