The idea of introducing a qualifying session in the WRC has resurfaced amid ongoing concerns about the starting order on day one. The current format often forces championship leaders to sweep the road on gravel rallies, costing them precious seconds.
A prime example was seen at Rally Estonia, where Toyota's Elfyn Evans ended Friday a staggering 50 seconds behind rally leader Sami Pajari, solely because he ran first on the road. Evans feared a repeat in Finland, but unpredictable weather played into his hands, leaving him just 16 seconds adrift of leader Sebastien Ogier by the end of the day.
Amid the gravel action in Finland, Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux weighed in, calling the issue complex with no easy answers. "It's always the same. There are positives and negatives. The positive is that you give the guys in the championship more of a chance to get a better road position," Fourmaux said. "But what you also don't want is a 15-round championship where someone is already champion after eight events."
The Frenchman also highlighted how a qualifying format could hinder young drivers entering the series. "It's also not helping the young drivers coming into the championship because, at the beginning, you cannot have a good road position. So you can never show your pace because you're always cleaning the road," he explained.
Fourmaux concluded that the debate is nothing new: "There are always positives and negatives. It's always difficult. I think it's a question we've had since the beginning of the sport." With these considerations, the future of the WRC starting format remains a puzzle requiring thoughtful solutions from stakeholders.
Baca Juga
Kris Meeke kembali ke ERC di Rali Ceredigion 2025 setelah 20 tahun absen. Target: bersaing dengan Teemu Suninen dan membuktikan diri.
Sebastien Ogier akhirnya buka suara soal belum pernah menguji mobil WRC baru Toyota. Alasan waktu dan komentar kurang menarik jadi biang keladinya.
Ott Tanak kembali turun di Overmountain Rally Tennessee bersama Toyota GR Corolla RC2, bagian dari uji coba untuk mobil 2027 dan potensi WRC AS.
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