Next season will see new Rally1 cars in the WRC with significantly less performance than the machines seen previously, aiming to increase overall championship competition through drastically lower manufacturing costs. Toyota stands out as the only manufacturer to build a brand new Rally1 vehicle, deploying two distinct models for the upcoming campaign to secure a competitive edge in the standings.
Star drivers such as Kalle Rovanpera, Ott Tanak, and Takamoto Katsuta will pilot the GR Yaris, while Sami Pajari, Elfyn Evans, and Oliver Solberg take the wheel of the new Celica. The updated powerplants churn out approximately 300 horsepower, narrowing the gap significantly to Rally2 machinery which trails by a mere ten horsepower.
Returning to top-flight rallying following a year-long sabbatical, Rovanpera confessed that he remains uncertain about how quickly he can master the updated machinery and where his pace will stack up against fierce intra-team rivals. The new regulation machines demand a completely different driving style compared to the retired 380-horsepower monsters.
"Obviously it is going to be quite interesting with totally new style of cars. I do not really know who is going to be where, and how my driving fits these cars," Rovanpera stated regarding his early test sessions. "I have only driven the car a few times, so I cannot really tell much, but I am expecting a very tough battle ahead."
The Finn also pointed out the immense strength within his own garage, noting that fielding top-tier talent in identical machinery creates a unique dynamic. Because the handling characteristics closely mirror Rally2 cars, drivers who spent recent years exclusively in older top-class machinery face an interesting learning curve.
"I think it is going to be quite tough because we have a strong team with all the best drivers in the same team and car. I think guys like Oliver and Sami should be quite strong too. The car is really close to a Rally2 vehicle, whereas others have spent a long time away from driving those specific specs recently," he explained.
Despite initial driver complaints regarding reduced aerodynamic grip and lower raw power figures, Rovanpera suspects those grievances will fade into the background the moment the intense race for championship points kicks off.
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