Richard Millener Backs FIA Decision on WRC Kit

Richard Millener has defended the FIA’s decision to introduce the WRC Kit package for Rally2 cars, describing it as a necessary compromise for manufacturers during a regulatory transition.

The M-Sport Ford team principal believes the FIA is trying to find a sensible middle ground between the next generation of cars and the current situation. He noted that Toyota is so far the only manufacturer whose new car has been seen testing, although two other projects have announced an intention to join.

“For a team like ours, which isn’t currently in a position to develop a completely new car, this solution gives us a good opportunity. We can still register as a manufacturer and fight for the manufacturers’ championship with our existing car, incorporating only a few modifications.”

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“I think it’s a good way of bridging the gap before everyone is eventually required to build a completely new car, which is ultimately what we want to happen.”

Millener rejected suggestions that the Rally2-based WRC Kit had long been part of M-Sport’s plans. He said the concept had been discussed for years, but that the FIA ultimately pushed the proposal forward, introduced the kit and asked manufacturers to vote on it, with the vote overwhelmingly in favour.

“At that point, it’s difficult to argue against the decision. If the majority believes it’s the right solution, then it’s the right thing to do. You can always find negatives in any decision, but there’s no point. The decision has been made, so you either commit or you don’t.”

The decision still creates an additional challenge for M-Sport, as the team must now develop both a new car and a WRC Kit package. However, Millener believes the regulation can force other manufacturers to define their future direction, either by continuing with a Rally2 car and WRC Kit for two years or by committing directly to a new car for the long-term ruleset.

“If Rally2 cars had simply been left unchanged, would anyone ever have committed to the championship? The FIA is making all of us take a look at what we’re doing and make a decision, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

“Democracy is great, but every now and then you need a leader who says, ‘This is what we’re doing.’ The FIA has done that, so now we’ll see what happens.”

Millener also believes the aerodynamic changes and 10-kilogram weight reduction introduced by the WRC Kit will carry technical relevance. While he admitted the effect will not be huge and will be difficult to measure against Toyota’s new Rally1 benchmark, he argued that every weight saving matters from an engineering and performance perspective.

“We’ll never know exactly how much closer the kit brings us to the new Rally1 cars because we don’t know where Toyota’s benchmark is. I’m sure the new cars will still be quicker, and they should be.”

“Hopefully this will encourage manufacturers to commit to building new cars. I don’t waste any energy arguing about rules that have already been approved. They’re the regulations now.”

Millener’s position underlines that the WRC Kit is not only a short-term technical solution, but also a regulatory tool designed to push manufacturers into making firm decisions. For M-Sport, the next step will depend on developing the kit while preparing its response to WRC’s new-car era.