Imagine a rally car with a thundering V8, or perhaps a modern V6 turbo, or even a silent full electric. That's the vision starting to take shape as the FIA designs the FIA World Rally Championship from 2029 onwards. After the new WRC27 regulations introduced a flexible spaceframe chassis, now the powertrain sector gets a breath of fresh air.
FIA Deputy President Malcolm Wilson emphasized that the door to new technology will be wide open. "We're open for business [in terms of new technology] from 2029," he told DirtFish. This is not just talk; it's a strategy to make WRC more attractive to manufacturers. "The target is to make it so that the manufacturer has to be in the WRC. We want to make it cost effective, [providing a] return on investment, so that manufacturers have to be here."
The key to this strategy is full flexibility on powertrain choice. Wilson pointed to the success of a similar approach in the cross-country rally raid championship. "We have diesel, V6, V8, turbo-charging and it works," he explained. A torque meter acts as a guardian, ensuring no one exceeds power limits with automatic time penalties. This approach proves that varied technology can coexist fairly.
FIA technical director Xavier Mestelan Pinon even revealed that full EV is no longer a pipe dream. "Full EV for a WRC application is not completely crazy," he said. The main challenge is just charging between stages. With around 300 horsepower and a 40-kilowatt battery, an EV can easily handle a 35-kilometer stage plus a 100-kilometer road section. "It's not a challenge. Because rally doesn't have... The worst for full EV car is motorway. Full throttle for long times. But for rally it's not [like this]," he added. FIA is ready to set up charging stations along the route if needed.
With this option, the competitive landscape of WRC is predicted to shift dramatically. Manufacturers like Toyota, which has already showcased the GR Yaris Rally2 H2 hydrogen concept, or Ford with its V8 in rally raid, have many development paths. This is a bold step that could bring WRC into a new, more inclusive and innovative era, while keeping the championship relevant amid global automotive industry changes.
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