Hybrid’s future in WRC?

Hello rally fans :)!

Our Rally community admin and a WRC driver himself @ssekulji wrote about this theme already, but it’s so interesting to see all of it unfold after years of speculations.

The FIA’s consideration of removing hybrid units from Rally1 cars has sparked debates around performance and the future direction of the World Rally Championship (WRC). And apparently it will become the new “IT” thing. Hyundai took part with a non-hybrid Rally1 car at Rally La Nucía. Participation in this Spanish event was a preparation ahead of Rally Japan and to test the newest modifications. I’ll attach the pictures so you can see what has changed.

• Picture description; the tape is blocking the rear air intake. Those were used to cool the hybrid battery down. Since it’s covered the design of the car will have to change because there won’t be any benefits to it.

Hybrid systems currently play a crucial role in Rally1 cars, providing an extra power boost and shaping the way teams design aerodynamics to balance the weight and power distribution. Without these hybrid systems, the car’s balance and aerodynamics would need recalibrating, as downforce setups and handling are specifically tuned to accommodate the weight and power characteristics of hybrid units.

However this decision is still under review and it should be decided sometime next month.

Thierry Neuville, Hyundai’s driver, has voiced his concerns before regarding the potential change. He worries that without hybrids, WRC risks lagging behind other racing series and failing to showcase environmentally progressive technology (I kind of agree with him but having 3 main WRC1 teams isn’t what this sport should fall down to).
Some say other categories should be the “main ones” but honestly people lose interest after the “cool” drivers pass. I’ve witnessed it while working at WRC Croatia Rally. It seems people follow drivers only because of their name, not their impressive skills :/

Picture credit to: Javier Pascual & PomataCrazy