Monte-Carlo Rally 2024: The last of the hybrid Rally1s?

What a turnaround! First there was the period of great denial. For several months, everyone, apart from a few discordant voices, said that the Rally1s were great cars. There were three types of models lined up, great fights, almost all the time 3 cars per team, vague promises were flying, the WRC would very quickly see Hyundai et Toyota enter 4 and even 5 Rally1 and soon other manufacturers attracted by so many wonders would quickly rush back... euphoria awaited and those who dared to raise the slightest reservation were treated as killjoys at best.

After a decent 2022 season, the one that has just ended has finally raised awareness. The fabrications of some have been shattered by the reality on the ground and the wallet. While the WRC was wondering on all sides about the changes to be made to remain popular, a little music began to sweep away the ideas deployed so far: the Rally1s are too expensive. For behemoths like Toyota and Hyundai, it may make you smile to say this but it is probably not entirely true. What is proven, however, is that the sums requested are too large in relation to the benefits.

Stating that, ultimately, these cars were ultimately too expensive to send them on the broken tracks of Kenya did not have all the expected effects. While brandishing this truth, which was obvious from the starting point of hybridization, everything was done to pursue it! For months, the renewal of the contract with Compact Dynamics dragged on. The 2027 regulations were revealed, but in small groups, from which emerged the frightening prospect that nothing was going to change (a little less aero here... perhaps).

The death of the WRC was almost planned, because, in these conditions, it was difficult to believe in the arrival of a new manufacturer. It was rather the departure of Hyundai that we had to fear, which would have been very problematic for the discipline. This was the outcome after the rally of Japan and the 2024 season did not promise to be happy with 8 Rally1s, champions in draughty versions... There was reason to be worried and then suddenly the first rumors appeared: the Rally2s were going to replace the Rally1s.

Rally2s for the elite?

This solution has been put forward from the start by opponents of the introduction of this regulation. It seems so simple that it is incomprehensible why no one has had the courage to impose it. One of the reasons is that the manufacturers didn't want it. Neither did the FIA, because it did not want to jeopardize the stage which is doing remarkably well. With such barriers, it was impossible for this to happen and even the Rally2 hybridization projects that had been mentioned were postponed until much later. How then can we explain that, suddenly, the idea of ​​making Rally2s the cars of the elite has become an imperative?

The turnaround only took a few months. Those who swore only by Rally1 yesterday, will they now affirm that it is what is best for the WRC? Without a doubt. Although very simple, this idea is nevertheless accompanied by reservations in terms of security in particular. The Rally1s have reached a level of safety never before equaled. The FIA ​​has done a fantastic job for the crews and the accidents of recent years have confirmed this. How to find this in a Rally2? Of course, at the beginning they will go slower. However, they will be in the hands of the best in the world who will perhaps be more demanding than usual users.

A risk for Rally2 costs?

The other unknown still concerns costs. Currently, the Rally2s are dedicated to customer competition. This implies that during the construction of the car choices were made to contain prices. If tomorrow the engineers of the three teams are asked to design a machine to win and take the title, the result risks being spectacular... and expensive. This would inevitably have an impact on the Rally2 market. Would teams still launch cars for customers knowing that no one would be able to buy them? Would they agree to produce them and then see them go into the wild at the risk of being beaten by their own customers? Not even in dreams !

Should we, as some recommend, create two subcategories, one for the pros (with a bigger fin and more power?) and one for the amateurs, with the dilemma of finding the border. Before declaring victory and dancing about saving the WRC, we must still question the desires of the manufacturers. As a preamble to the season, Hyundai coincidentally announced its intention to launch a new car in 2025, without specifying whether it was a Rally1 or a Rally2. If it is the first, it goes against the rumors that this transfer should take place in 2025.

If a manufacturer conditions its presence in 2025 by the continuation of Rally1, can the risk of losing it be taken? This is dangerous, especially since there is no guarantee that Skoda or Stellantis will want to join the dance. If the WRC2 appears to be the most reasonable option for sending the Rally1s to museums, the FIA ​​must find the best solution for this induction and the modalities. In addition to offering a never-ordinary sporting challenge, Monte-Carlo harbors questions that will be very interesting to try to untangle.

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