The FIA has granted a significant reprieve for Rally1 crews at this week's Rally Chile, increasing the tire allowance to 36 units from the standard 28 for gravel events. The move is a direct response to the spate of punctures and delaminations that marred last month's Rally del Paraguay, and it's part of a broader plan to support tire supplier Hankook through the rest of the season and beyond.
The decision was reached in a meeting late last week, and it's not just a quick fix. Emilia Abel, FIA's road sport director, emphasized that this is only one piece of a larger strategy to improve cooperation with Hankook and all stakeholders. "The conditions in Paraguay were exceptionally demanding this year, following unusually hot weather in the weeks leading up to the event," she told DirtFish. "After every rally, the FIA, together with Hankook, analyzed what worked well and what could be improved."
Abel also revealed that medium and long-term plans are in motion for the remainder of the season and into 2027. "We continue to work closely with Hankook, the promoter, and the manufacturers. One area where we need to do more is planning, particularly by involving Hankook earlier in the process so we can identify potential challenges sooner," she added. The philosophy is simple: the earlier everyone sits down together, the better prepared they are for changing conditions.
This tire allowance increase is like a breath of fresh air for crews still scarred by the Paraguay ordeal. There, unexpectedly hot temperatures and rough surfaces overwhelmed Hankook's Dynapro tires. Steven Cho from Hankook had previously admitted the difficulty of bringing the same tire to gravel rallies with vastly different characteristics, but he also affirmed the company's readiness to supply more tires if needed. Now, that readiness is truly tested on Chile's gravel roads.
Interestingly, Chile is no stranger to tire drama. Three years ago, the same rally was a nightmare for Pirelli due to extreme heat and dry roads. However, early indications suggest cooler weather this year, offering some breathing room. Even so, the FIA is taking preemptive action with the extra allocation.
With 8 additional tires, Rally1 crews now have greater flexibility in managing their tire strategy across the stages. It's not just about avoiding incidents; it's about performance: fresh tires can be saved for the power stage or used aggressively early on. This FIA decision shows they are serious about balancing technical challenges with competitive fairness.
Rally Chile will be the real test of whether this short-term solution is effective. If it works, we might see similar patterns in future events. If not, the debate over tires in the WRC will only intensify.
Baca Juga
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Sami Pajari bidik kemenangan keempat di Rally Chile untuk memangkas jarak 20 poin dari Elfyn Evans di klasemen WRC. Simak komentar lengkapnya.
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