WRC Is Already Ditching Its Hybrid Cars
Well, the World Rally Championshipâs hybrid era was a short-lived one. The FĂ©dĂ©ration Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has today announced the Rally1 class will lose the hybrid element from 2025.
Rally1 was introduced in 2022 as a way to bring a greener element to the top-class of the WRC while increasing performance, linking a 134bhp electric motor and associated battery to the existing turbocharged 1.6-litre four-pot engines. In all, this would be good for well over 500bhp – figures not seen since the Group B era of rallying.
Although the cars have proven technically impressive, manufacturers have lamented the cost of the cars and itâs long been suspected thatâs been a stumbling block for more to enter the sport – currently standing at just three (well, technically two plus M-Sport) competing in Rally1.
2024 will be the last year of the Rally1 Hybrids
In order to âreduce costâ, the hybrid element will be removed from the ruleset from 2025 with the four-pot engines existing as a standalone unit once more. Power will be down, naturally, but so too will weight – meaning the tubular frame prototype-esque rally monsters should still be seriously fast.
Meanwhile, Rally2 cars, which run in the WRCâs second-highest class, will get a bit of a tweak to bring them even closer to the top-spec machines. These will include the option of a larger exhaust, paddle-shift sequential gearbox and a larger rear wing.
From 2026, the Rally1 class will see even more changes. To reduce costs further, all cars will be required to be built on a common monocoque, although manufacturers will still be able to develop their own bodywork and aerodynamics.
2025 onwards will see Rally1 move purely to combustion power
The FIA has also said the cost per car will be capped at âŹ400,000 (approx. ÂŁ340,000), a marked drop from the reported cost of almost âŹ1m (approx. ÂŁ850,000) today. Additionally âmanufacturers will be required to make their cars available for sale directly from the finish parc fermĂ© of a WRC eventâ, which feels like a tricky point to dissect. Does this mean anyone with enough cash could buy a stage-fresh rally car? Lottery ticket sales are about to skyrocket, if so.
Further down the line, an electric category will be introduced to WRC as well but itâs unclear when this will happen. The FIA has only said itâll come at âthe earliest opportunityâ – although its plans with Rally1 means thatâs unlikely to be before 2027.
