The FIA has officially announced a change to the tyre regulations for the WRC season finale at Rally Sardinia, taking place from 1-4 October. The decision comes after a series of tyre durability issues that disrupted the championship, particularly at Rally Paraguay in late August. Finnish rally legend Juha Kankkunen, now deputy team principal at Toyota, has welcomed the move.
This season, Hankook tyres have once again been a major talking point. In Paraguay, several leading drivers suffered severe delamination, throwing the competition into chaos. Previously, in Chile, the FIA had already increased the allocation from 28 to 36 tyres for Rally1 cars on gravel rallies. Now, for Sardinia, the number has been raised to 40 tyres per driver. Additionally, drivers will be allowed to replace used tyres with new ones at the mid-loop refuelling point, something normally only possible during service.
The change has been well received by drivers. Kankkunen did not hesitate to praise the FIA and the promoter. "A full 100 points to the FIA and the promoter. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart, because the fight is now better and safer for everyone," Kankkunen told RallyJournal.com. "It is so easy to implement without running the tyres down to the rims, as happened in Paraguay. This is how it should work," he continued.
The decision aims to ensure the WRC title fight is not decided by technical issues. In Sardinia, three Toyota drivers will battle it out: Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari, and Oliver Solberg. Evans leads the standings with a 17-point advantage over Pajari and 21 points over Solberg. With the increased tyre allocation and flexibility in changing tyres, the fight on the stages is expected to be purer and safer.
This rule change also reflects the FIA's quick response to competitor feedback. Previously, in Chile, the allocation was already increased, but the issues in Paraguay showed there were still gaps to address. Now, with 40 tyres and the option to change at mid-loop, drivers have more freedom to manage strategy without worrying about losing performance due to worn tyres.
The impact of this regulation is not only on safety but also on championship dynamics. With fresher tyres, drivers can push harder throughout the rally, potentially increasing the intensity of the competition. Teams will also have to adjust their pit stop and tyre management strategies, which could be a deciding factor in the final outcome.
Rally Sardinia will be the decisive stage for Evans, Pajari, and Solberg. Evans, who has been consistent all season, is clearly the favourite, but with a challenging rally format and rough road conditions, surprises are still possible. Pajari and Solberg will not give up easily; they will seize every opportunity to pressure Evans.
This rule change has also been appreciated by various parties, including fans who want a fierce fight without technical issues interfering. The FIA and WRC promoter deserve credit for listening to input and acting quickly for the good of the sport. Now, all eyes will be on Sardinia, where the WRC world title will be decided.
Baca Juga
Project Rally One, tim Belgia dengan 21 staf, ciptakan mobil WRC yang disebut seperti mobil pabrikan oleh Stephane Lefebvre. Simak potensinya di WRC.
Jari-Matti Latvala menyoroti juara baru WRC dan dampak berakhirnya musim lebih awal. Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari, dan Oliver Solberg bersaing di Sardinia.
Yohan Rossel ingin naik ke Rally1 atau Rally2 Kit, membuka peluang Teemu Suninen untuk bergabung dengan Lancia di WRC2. Simak analisisnya.
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