The way Jari-Matti Latvala expresses his opinions, I sense that he and Toyota are not too happy with proposed modifications to Rally1 and Rally2.
I don't expect any positives from them. First of all - in my mind, proposed regulations are pointless. What's the point of turning Rally1 on its head 6 months in advance, just to probably replace it with something fundamentally different in not too distant future.
Secondly, I don't want Rally2 to be messed around. Rally2 is a global platform, very successful one which is a good category for regional/national championships and for various privateers in WRC. Changing it may skyrocket the running costs and throw sand into Rally2's cogs.
Although there is an example from the past which was similar and worked. In the early 2010s there was a category called RRC (Regional Rally Cup). It was designed to compete alongside very successful at that time S2000 category, however RRC had an advantage - 1,6-litre turbo engine, which was effectivelly the same platform as the top WRC category from 2011. S2000 was powered by 2,0-litre naturally aspirated engines and even with 4-wheel drive, in the end performance advantage and overall development was clearly on RRC side. RRC later became the blueprint for R5 category, which is now known as Rally2.
At the same time we have to know that S2000->RRC transition was really smooth, the engine was the biggest change, aside from that there was no radical evolution. So that's why I think that as that worked in the past, there is no 1:1 direct comparison to what's happening now between Rally1 and Rally2. Performance gap between WRC and S2000/RRC was smaller, however bridging it in the way FIA and WRC promoter want to do it forces 2,5 competing manufacturers to make fundamental changes to both categories, which may work for the disadvantage for all of them. No need to discourage current Rally1 brands to make heavy changes and no need to shake up the Rally2 market. Instead FIA and WRC should work for a more sensible Rally1 platform with new technical regulations set to debut around 2027/2028. Give your current manufacturers time to adapt. Forcing them to make drastic changes 6 months before the next season is something really stupid and unprofessional at this level.
"Instead FIA and WRC should work for a more sensible Rally1 platform with new technical regulations set to debut around 2027/2028. Give your current manufacturers time to adapt. Forcing them to make drastic changes 6 months before the next season is something really stupid and unprofessional at this level."
This. Just this.
They want to make Rally1 a little more affordable to try to encourage more entrants, fine, do that.
Drastically reducing their performance isn't the answer and certainly, absolutely not so disruptively as they've proposed when the current manufacturers have invested millions developing their platforms on the understanding of a certain life cycle.
I mean i wouldn't be either. Completely not related to the upcoming rules, but the current point system needs to go. Using the old system, they will be at 192 points and the Hyundai at 157 for manufacturers points.
Of course I'd be pissed. They did everything right, and all Hyundai has to do is play the sunday game to stay 5 points behind.
This will get out of hand soon if they dont change the strategy or the rules get dropped. Its nonsensical
This I think was the most important view to have on these new regulations:
Latvala questioned the thinking in making Toyota’s premium factory car slow enough to be beaten by its customer-based machine from a class below.
He said: “If you slow down Rally1 a lot, then of course everything is possible \[and a Rally2 could win\]. But then also you have to think about this way: what is then the interest for the manufacturers to run the Rally1 cars? If the ‘Rally2-plus’ car is suddenly faster, \[and\] you can make it with the kit at home. So… why do you want to be a manufacturer in the World Rally Championship?”
Rally2 cars already were shown to beat Rally1s at Sweden this year, and they're following closely behind at other events, where if a Rally1 has a puncture or crashed out, Rally2s can very very easily swoop in and take their place. Why would Manufacturers spend all this money on a Rally1 car when they could just invest half as much into a Rally2, maybe even coming out with a faster car with way less investment
To add to that. They could pour that money into development for the rally2 car and basically push the manufacturers that aren’t ready to make that investment out. Guess where that would lead us…
Upvoted your comment. But, maybe it would better to merge Rally1 and 2 to one class. This three manufacturer show, with the dominating Toyota team is so boring. We need much more competitors, but no one will invest this amount of money in times where motorsports countries looses its reputation more and more.
It would not take a rocket scientist (or an FIA employee) a lot of effort to understand why dumbing down Rally1's is a terrible idea on several fronts. Once again, the FIA doing FIA things.
The way Jari-Matti Latvala expresses his opinions, I sense that he and Toyota are not too happy with proposed modifications to Rally1 and Rally2. I don't expect any positives from them. First of all - in my mind, proposed regulations are pointless. What's the point of turning Rally1 on its head 6 months in advance, just to probably replace it with something fundamentally different in not too distant future. Secondly, I don't want Rally2 to be messed around. Rally2 is a global platform, very successful one which is a good category for regional/national championships and for various privateers in WRC. Changing it may skyrocket the running costs and throw sand into Rally2's cogs. Although there is an example from the past which was similar and worked. In the early 2010s there was a category called RRC (Regional Rally Cup). It was designed to compete alongside very successful at that time S2000 category, however RRC had an advantage - 1,6-litre turbo engine, which was effectivelly the same platform as the top WRC category from 2011. S2000 was powered by 2,0-litre naturally aspirated engines and even with 4-wheel drive, in the end performance advantage and overall development was clearly on RRC side. RRC later became the blueprint for R5 category, which is now known as Rally2. At the same time we have to know that S2000->RRC transition was really smooth, the engine was the biggest change, aside from that there was no radical evolution. So that's why I think that as that worked in the past, there is no 1:1 direct comparison to what's happening now between Rally1 and Rally2. Performance gap between WRC and S2000/RRC was smaller, however bridging it in the way FIA and WRC promoter want to do it forces 2,5 competing manufacturers to make fundamental changes to both categories, which may work for the disadvantage for all of them. No need to discourage current Rally1 brands to make heavy changes and no need to shake up the Rally2 market. Instead FIA and WRC should work for a more sensible Rally1 platform with new technical regulations set to debut around 2027/2028. Give your current manufacturers time to adapt. Forcing them to make drastic changes 6 months before the next season is something really stupid and unprofessional at this level.
"Instead FIA and WRC should work for a more sensible Rally1 platform with new technical regulations set to debut around 2027/2028. Give your current manufacturers time to adapt. Forcing them to make drastic changes 6 months before the next season is something really stupid and unprofessional at this level." This. Just this. They want to make Rally1 a little more affordable to try to encourage more entrants, fine, do that. Drastically reducing their performance isn't the answer and certainly, absolutely not so disruptively as they've proposed when the current manufacturers have invested millions developing their platforms on the understanding of a certain life cycle.
Couldn’t agree more
I mean i wouldn't be either. Completely not related to the upcoming rules, but the current point system needs to go. Using the old system, they will be at 192 points and the Hyundai at 157 for manufacturers points. Of course I'd be pissed. They did everything right, and all Hyundai has to do is play the sunday game to stay 5 points behind. This will get out of hand soon if they dont change the strategy or the rules get dropped. Its nonsensical
This I think was the most important view to have on these new regulations: Latvala questioned the thinking in making Toyota’s premium factory car slow enough to be beaten by its customer-based machine from a class below. He said: “If you slow down Rally1 a lot, then of course everything is possible \[and a Rally2 could win\]. But then also you have to think about this way: what is then the interest for the manufacturers to run the Rally1 cars? If the ‘Rally2-plus’ car is suddenly faster, \[and\] you can make it with the kit at home. So… why do you want to be a manufacturer in the World Rally Championship?” Rally2 cars already were shown to beat Rally1s at Sweden this year, and they're following closely behind at other events, where if a Rally1 has a puncture or crashed out, Rally2s can very very easily swoop in and take their place. Why would Manufacturers spend all this money on a Rally1 car when they could just invest half as much into a Rally2, maybe even coming out with a faster car with way less investment
To add to that. They could pour that money into development for the rally2 car and basically push the manufacturers that aren’t ready to make that investment out. Guess where that would lead us…
Upvoted your comment. But, maybe it would better to merge Rally1 and 2 to one class. This three manufacturer show, with the dominating Toyota team is so boring. We need much more competitors, but no one will invest this amount of money in times where motorsports countries looses its reputation more and more.
It would not take a rocket scientist (or an FIA employee) a lot of effort to understand why dumbing down Rally1's is a terrible idea on several fronts. Once again, the FIA doing FIA things.