TOM HOWARD
WRC
World Rally Championship teams have raised concerns to the FIA regarding the proposed sudden technical changes for 2025 and expressed a desire for the current rules to remain in place.
Sources have confirmed to Autosport that Toyota, Hyundai and M-Sport collectively wrote to the FIA last week citing a need for the current Rally1 technical rules to see out their original window of 2022 to the end of 2026. The letter was sent ahead of a planned WRC Commission meeting in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday.
In February, the FIA’s working group revealed its vision for the future of top-level rallying, including a raft of proposals incorporating changes to technical and sporting regulations, and the promotion of the category. The proposals will be voted on at June’s World Motor Sport Council meeting. While WRC Rally1 teams have shown their unanimous support for proposed changes to the sporting side of the championship, the FIA’s plans to change the technical regulations for next year have been strongly opposed.
The FIA intends a series of changes beginning from next season until new regulations are introduced in 2027, with hybrid power removed from Rally1 cars along with a reduction in aerodynamics and air restrictor diameter. The aim is to bring the performance more into line with Rally2 cars, which will be offered more aero and performance through an upgrade kit, to boost the number of competitors capable of competing at the sharp end of rallies.
Chief among the teams’ concerns
