WRC will trial a helmet camera at next week’s season finale in Sardinia. The technology has been utilized by several drivers during pre-event tests, but never before in WRC competition.
Live Test During the Rally
WRC Promoter CEO Eric Boullier confirmed the camera will be fitted to an M-Sport driver, understood to be Jon Armstrong. "We’re going to reinforce the media department to make sure we have a new approach in terms of content," Boullier said. "So as early as the next rally in Sardinia, we’re going to test this camera on the helmet. It’s the same technology they have in Formula 1. I made contact with them to make sure we can test it, so one of the M Sport cars will have it."
Asked if that would be during the rally itself, Boullier confirmed: "Yeah, we want to do a live test. We’re going to test it first, obviously, on Thursday and Friday. And if it works, we may see it yes on the live TV."
FIA-Approved Technology
Boullier added that the technology has been homologated and approved by the FIA and tested in Formula 1. "So we want to do the same, to have more cameras possible," he said. "We are working improving or upgrading the technology as well to allow us to have a bigger bandwidth from the car so we can get more data out of the car, more cameras, but also more data which we will be able to showcase to our fans in the future through the platforms."
This move aligns with WRC's efforts to show more emotion, share the life of the WRC Arena and service park, and push new personalities and drivers to the platform. "We want to share more content," Boullier said.
Preserving the DNA of Rallying
Boullier has previously talked about the need to preserve the "DNA of rallying", but he wants to modernize the sport’s media offering. "I know it looks like details, but for me it’s more important to keep, as I said, the DNA of the rally first, but adjust a little bit the Sunday stage, to make sure we can broadcast easier, especially the powerstage," he explained.
"It’s difficult to showcase all the weekend. We have many stages, as you know. Logistically, it’s nearly impossible. But I think the best thing is to make sure we can bring some content through the digital media, the social media, every day to the fans and on Sunday have a special focus on the last stage."
With this trial, WRC hopes to enhance the viewing experience and bring fans closer to the action inside the car, similar to what F1 has done. If successful, the helmet camera could become a permanent feature in future seasons.
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