Yves Matton: “2021 will be a challenge”

Only seven rallies were contested in WRC in 2020, due to a coronavirus pandemic having forced the governing bodies of automobile competition to reduce or reshuffle almost all of their programs.

A more than complicated year that the FIA ​​intends to leave behind, with all eyes turned towards a 2021 campaign whose first weeks will be marked by a Rally Monte-Carlo in the revised format (no Col de Turini and Nice hinterland after the bad weather at the end of 2020, and advanced ES in the face of the curfew) and the cancellation of the Swedish Rally.

Despite everything, there is hope for Yves matton. “2021 will be a challenge, specifies the director of rallies at the FIA. With the World Rally Championship, we have taken into account the various constraints, without an overseas event before the second part of the year and by reducing the number of events in the interest of the current situation of the manufacturers and because that they are developing new cars for 2022 (arrival of hybridization).

Certainly, some rallies which are part of the success of the WRC are not on the calendar for 2021 but that does not mean that they will not be there in the future. There are no guarantees, but for now we can be sure that the Rallye Monte-Carlo will take place.

Of course there will be constraints and changes, but if we can pull off an event like this, we will be able to organize more and more races in the coming year, although it is disappointing that the Rally Sweden cannot take place. »

In addition to the organizational aspect, Yves Matton is pleased with the interest shown in the rally as a whole. “We have to be patient but the feedback is positive to have good lists of entries in the different categories,” continues the Belgian.

We are also preparing the return of Pirelli to the WRC, but it is not a simple agreement around tires. They work with us on sustainability and are very motivated to bring new drivers into the championship. That's exciting. »