Day two of Rally Chile BioBio has come to an end. Ott Tänak leads the WRC1 class after the day.
SS1, Pulperia 1
Ott Tänak picked up where he left off in Chile, taking the first stage win of the event. Tänak posted a time 2.1 seconds faster than Teemu Suninen to win the stage. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 2.8 seconds slower than Suninen. Pierre-Louis Loubet set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.5 seconds slower than Evans. Kalle Rovanperä rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.6 seconds slower than Loubet.
SS2, Rere 1
Elfyn Evans took the stage win of the second stage of Rally Chile BioBio. Posting a time 1.5 seconds faster than Kalle Rovanperä to take the stage win. Pierre-Louis Loubet finished third fastest on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Loubet. Teemu Suninen rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.4 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS3, Rio Claro 1
Eflyn Evans also took the stage win on SS3. Posting a time 0.9 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to win the stage. Teemu Suninen finished third fastest on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Kalle Rovanperä set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 4.5 seconds slower than Suninen. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 3.5 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS4, Pulperia 2
Teemu Suninen took home the stage win on the fourth stage of Rally Chile BioBio. Setting a time 3.7 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to take the rally lead. Thierry Neuville finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Neuville. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS5, Rere 2
2019 winner Ott Tänak took the stage win on SS5. Posting a time 2.5 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to take the rally lead. Teemu Suninen finished third fastest on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Neuville. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Suninen. Championship leader Kalle Rovanperä rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Evans.
SS6, Rio Claro 2
Ott Tänak took home the stage win on the final day of Rally Chile BioBio day two. With Tänak setting a time 3.1 seconds faster than Teemu Suninen to win the stage. Thierry Neuville finished third fastest on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Suninen. Elfyn Evans posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.7 seconds slower than Neuville. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Evans.
Lappi Out
The first stage of an event normally doesn’t have much drama. However, this weekend it did. As Esapekka Lappi would roll out during SS1. Due to the roll, Lappi’s car suffered a lot of damage and is unable to be repaired, thus forcing him to retire from the event as a result.
Loubet Out
Pierre-Louis Loubet crashed out on stage 3 of Rally Chile BioBio. Loubet put up strong times on SS1&2. It’s unknown if Loubet will return for day three tomorrow.
Suninen’s First
Teemu Suninen took his first stage win of the season in a Rally1 car. Winning SS4 of Rally Chile BioBio. This would also promote Suninen into the rally lead. Making it the first time he’s led a rally in a rally1 car. Unfortunately for Suninen, “normal things” forced him out of the rally lead. He now sits second 4.2 seconds behind Tänak at the end of the day.
Not Rovanperä’s Day
Kalle Rovanperä has had a tough start to Rally Chile BioBio. The championship leader currently sits 5th overall, 11 seconds behind Thierry Neuville. This is unfortunate for Rovanperä who had a chance to win his second drivers championship this weekend. However, there are still 10 stages to go and lots of time for Rovanperä to find his pace. It’ll also help that Rovanperä won’t be on road sweeping duty tomorrow.
Hybrid Issue For Hyundai
Thierry Neuville reported he had no power from his Hybrid engine on SS6. This didn’t affect Neuville much, however, as the stage didn’t require much power from the Hybrid engine. Luckily the issue only arose for Neuville on the final stage of the day. It’s also suspected Suninen has had issues with the hybrid engine, however, he is being tight-lipped about the issue.
The game modes list for EA Sports WRC has been revealed. Find out everything you need to know below.
Career
Unlike the career mode in the Nadcon WRC games, you won’t be able to join manufacturer teams. Instead, you will build your own rally team. You can choose to start in WRC3/Junior, or WRC2 or jump straight into WRC1. You will get to choose your own team name, colors and other team identity items before meeting the team engineer and benefactor. Throughout the season you will work with the benefactor who funds your team. They will set goals and objectives for you to complete throughout the season. The more rallies you do, the more budget you get. With a larger budget, you will be able to bring in other drivers for the team, buy new cars among other things.
Builder Mode
Builder mode is probably the most interesting mode in EA Sports WRC. As a result of the mode giving you the opportunity to build your own rally car. Much like Colin McRae built his own rally car in the early 2000s. You can choose to build a WRC3, WRC2 or WRC1 car. You will get to customize all components of the car to fit your likes. Everything from engine position to the body pins. Every component will have pros and cons. You can also opt to buy used parts to save money, however, the quality of the parts will vary. Some parts depending on the value will be able to be tuned, whilst others won’t be.
Championship
In Championship you will get to hop into a WRC1, WRC2 or WRC3 championship as your favorite driver. Want to drive a season as Ott Tänak? You can do that, how about Junior WRC champion William Creighton, you can also do that. Players will be able to customize the length of the championship. You could choose to do the full 13-round WRC season or do select events.
Moments
In the 50 years the WRC has run there have been many moments. From the Mini Cooper podium sweep at Rallye Monte-Carlo in the 1960s to Kalle Rovanperä’s record-setting 2022 Championship win. Each moment will give the player a specific car to use at a memorable point in rally history. Drivers will have to complete goals and hit targets. Medals will be earned based on performance, whilst results can be shared to a global leaderboard. Moments can be replayed at any time. Throughout the year more moments will be added.
Regularity Rally
In regularity rally, you won’t compete on a special stage to set the fastest times. Instead, you will drive through select routes at an average speed. With scoring being based on who is closer to the average speed. Co-drivers will detail the road ahead with a special set of notes. While also telling the driver if they are above or below the performance target. This is a good way for players new and old to challenge themselves and learn a thing or two about driving a stage.
Rally School
A feature that crosses over from every other dirt game into EA Sports WRC is the rally school. At the rally school drivers will be given specific challenges and objectives to complete. This will help new drivers learn the basics of rallying and give older players a chance to freshen up their skills as well. Each lesson can be run on different surfaces (e.g. Snow, Gravel and Tarmac).
Quick Play Solo
In quick play solo, you will be able to create your very own championship. Using whatever car you want, in whatever season you want, with whatever car you want. The choice is yours. You can select the stages you want to use, how many stages you want to use, you can even mix regular stage rally events with regularity rally events. Alternatively, you can select for a randomly generated championship to be created.
Quick Play Multiplayer
Quick Play Multiplayer takes all the components from Quick Play Solo and turns them multiplayer. You can have a crossplay lobby with up to 32 other players at once. With all players competing in real-time.
Clubs
Another feature that comes to EA Sports WRC from Dirt Rally 2.0 is the clubs feature. In clubs, you will be able to create your own championship for you and your friends. The difference between clubs and Quick Play multiplayer is that it’s not real-time. Instead, everyone can drive the event at different times. Using similar features as Quick Play, players will be able to create a championship that is as long or short as they want. You can make it a day-long championship, week-long championship, month-long championship or longer, and anything in between. All of this will be available via the racenet clubs system.
Time Trial
Another mode that comes over from every other dirt game is the time trial mode. In this players will be able to compete on any stage they want with any car they want. The only thing you’re competing against on said stage is the clock. Set the fastest time you can for a chance to be one of the fastest in the world.
The first day of Rally Chile BioBio has come to an end. Elfyn Evans topped the shakedown stage on the day.
Shakedown: WRC1
Elfyn Evans posted the fastest time on the shakedown stage. Posting a time 0.5 than Kalle Rovanperä. Pierre-Louis Loubet finished with the third fastest time on the shakedown, 0.4 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Teemu Suninen set the fourth fastest time, 0.4 seconds slower than Loubet. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the shakedown, finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Suninen.
Shakedown: WRC2
Emil Lindholm topped the Rally Chile BioBio shakedown for the WRC2 class. Posting a time 1.9 seconds faster than Gus Greensmith. Oliver Solberg finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.8 seconds slower than Greensmith. Fabrizio Zaldivar set the fourth fastest time on the shakedown, 0.1 seconds slower than Solberg. Yohan Rossel rounded out the top five for WRC2 in the shakedown, finishing 0.6 seconds slower than Zaldivar.
*All comments taken from WRC.com
SD: Heller “The best feeling in the world! Amazing. I am at home, I am the most happy man in the world, I think!”
SD: Munster “It’s incredible. The corners arrive so fast, the braking and the pace notes. So much fun, it’s great. We enjoyed so much this 5km and we have 300km left!”
SD: Loubet “It looks very nice. The stages are very enjoyable so I hope we will enjoy this rally.”
SD: Rovanperä “It was quite okay. Quite slippy and damp in the morning because it’s so cold and humid during the night. It’s nice to be back, the stages look quite nice. Definitely a lot of cleaning for us, but that’s quite normal.”
SD: Evans “Quite okay. There’s quite a difference in conditions, especially from Friday to Saturday, so it will be quite difficult to make a call in terms of set-up.”
SD: Neuville “I don’t know how good the car will be, but I hope it will be very good – that’s for sure! It was quite humid now but the grip was quite okay. The stages here are very nice but very challenging for the drivers and for the cars as well.”
SD: Tänak “Great roads, I guess some of the best you can find in the championship. It seems like most of them are new for this year as well, so they seem to have a good choice of roads.”
Rally USA has confirmed a second World Rally Championship proof of concept event. Find out everything you need to know below.
Another Proof Of Concept Event
Rally USA is hosting another WRC proof of concept event in Chattanooga Tennessee. The first event was held shortly after Rally Mexico earlier this year. The event posted the following on their social media pages about the event.
“We are pleased to announce the second proof of concept event on November 11, 2023, in our series leading us towards the first World Rally in the US in 36 years. Our list of events building to the World Rally including rallies, conferences and training has grown a bit longer since our first demonstration event in April of this year!
Nevertheless, we are on our way.
Polk County, Tennessee will host the Copperhill Veterans Day Rally, a 50-mile one-day Rally on the hills of the area’s former copper mine. We plan to honor our country’s veterans and reintroduce stage rally to the area as we march towards our ultimate goal…a World Rally event in Southeast Tennessee.
Stages will vary from very tight and technical to flowing with moderate elevation change. The RallyUSA team will use the event to test the roads, conduct World Rally-specific training and to develop high-capacity spectator viewing sites needed for the volume of WRC spectators later anticipated. The stages used here WILL appear in later test events and the World Rally lineup as well!
This private site will accommodate the HQ, service area, scrutineering, spectator parking and viewing, and all stages and transits. It has mountain vistas, rolling hills and former industrial backdrops. The town of Copperhill, a lovely mountain getaway, is only a few hundred yards away from the event site and will provide a perfect setting.”
When Could The WRC Return To The United States?
There hasn’t been a WRC round in the United States since 1986. This was also the last time Group B-era cars were allowed to race in the WRC. 36 years later there is work being done to have a round in the USA return to the WRC. The first proof of concept event went rather well, well enough for a second one to take place. So when could the WRC return to the states? From the sounds of it, 2025 will be the year it returns. There were rumours that it would return during the 2024 season. However, due to how much has to go into making a WRC event happen that won’t be the case. As if it were easy to put on an event for the WRC everyone would be doing it or trying to do it. Especially with a brand-new rally, there’s a lot to be proven.
A Long-Awaited Return
Rally fans in the USA have waited a while for the WRC to return. Something that looked like it wasn’t going to ever happen, or at least not for a while. However, that changed after the success of F1 in the USA, proving motorsports outside of NASCAR and IndyCar can work in the USA. Obviously, there’s no guarantee the WRC will work out in the USA but even a couple seasons of being in the USA could be good for the championship.
The 2024 WRC season continues this weekend with the 11th round, Rally Chile BioBio, find out everything you need to know below.
Drivers’ Championship Rundown
Andreas Mikkelsen leads the WRC2 Drivers’ championship heading into Rally Chile BioBio. However, Mikkelsen won’t be attending the event this weekend. This gives Yohan Rossel a prime chance to move back into first in the championship. As Rossel sits just 16 points behind Mikkelsen. Gus Greensmith also has a chance to move into the championship lead this weekend. As Greensmith sits 16 points behind Rossel and 28 behind Mikkelsen. Sami Pajari sits fourth in the championship, 9 points behind Greensmith heading into this weekend. British Rally Champion Adrien Fourmaux rounds out the top five in the championship. With Fourmaux sitting 4 points behind Pajari. However, Fourmaux will not be attending Rally Chile BioBio.
A Battle For Fifth
With Adrien Fourmaux not attending Rally Chile BioBio, it creates a 4 horse race for fifth in the championship. As Oliver Solberg who will be attending his final event of the season this weekend sits 3 points behind Fourmaux. Kajetan Kajetanowicz sits 4 points behind Fourmaux. Emil Lindholm sits 5 points behind Fourmaux and Nikolay Gryazin sits 12 points behind Fourmaux heading into this weekend. Both Gryazin and Kajetanowicz will likely be focused on gaining as many points as possible this weekend. As a result of them both being in the championship hunt still. For Solberg and Lindholm it’ll probably be more about gaining experience and putting up a decent result. Nobody will likely focus on the battle for fifth as drivers have their sights set on different achievements this weekend.
Teams Championship Rundown
Toksport WRT3 leads the WRC2 Teams Championship. With the team currently sitting 2 points ahead of M-Sport heading into Rally Chile BioBio. Toksport WRT3 and M-Sport have no drivers attending the event this weekend. This leaves the door open for Toksport WRT1 and 2 to close the gap in the championship or move up. Toksport WRT1 sits 31 points behind M-Sport. With Toksport WRT2 sitting just 5 points behind the first team.
The 2024 WRC season continues this weekend with the 11th round, Rally Chile BioBio, find out everything you need to know below.
Drivers’ Championship Rundown Heading Into Rally Chile BioBio
Kalle Rovanperä expanded his Drivers’ Championship lead with a win at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. Rovanperä now leads Elfyn Evans by 33 points heading into Chile. Thierry Neuville looked like he was going to shrink the gap between himself and Evans in Greece. That was before his suspension broke on the third day ending his rally. Neuville now sits 33 points behind Evans heading into Rally Chile BioBio. Ott Tänak also remained in the same position, with Tänak staying fourth after Greece. Tänak pulled off a spectacular comeback to take home 4th place in Greece. After a mechanical issue forced Tänak to receive 1 minute and 40 seconds worth of late penalties. Tänak sits 15 points behind Neuville heading into this weekend. Sebastien Ogier remains in fifth after Greece. Much like Neuville, Ogier took home limited points after his suspension also broke on the same day. Ogier sits 20 points behind Tänak heading into Chile. Ogier however will not be driving this weekend.
In A Prime Position
With Sebastien Ogier skipping Rally Chile BioBio. Esapekka Lappi sits in a perfect position to move into fifth in the Drivers’ Championship. Lappi sits just 1 point behind Ogier heading into this weekend. Fifth isn’t the highest Lappi can move up to this weekend, however. As he sits just 21 points behind Ott Tänak for fourth. This means that if Tänak’s misfortune keeps up in Chile, Lappi could sit fourth in the championship by the end of the event.
Teams Breakdown
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Toyota comes into Chile on top of the rallying world. The team currently hosts both championship contenders, in Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans, and will probably win the Manufacturers’ championship this weekend. Rovanperä has a slim chance to seal the Drivers’ championship this weekend. That likely won’t be on the top of Toyota’s mind this weekend, however. As all Toyota needs to do is finish first and second or have one of Neuville or Lappi struggle during the event to win the manufacturers’ championship. If Toyota does clinch the manufacturers’ championship this weekend, it’ll be their 4th consecutive manufacturers’ championship. Making them one of the most successful teams in WRC history, in case they haven’t already proved that. The normal Toyota crew will be at the event this weekend. With Rovanperä, Evans and Takamoto Katsuta competing for the team.
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
With Hyundai, there isn’t much to talk about. The team hasn’t been great but they haven’t been bad either. They’re pretty much right in the middle. Sure you could talk about the poor reliability of the i20 but that’s been beaten to the point that it’s boring to talk about. Thierry Neuville, Esapekka Lappi and Teemu Suninen will compete for the team this weekend. The Korean manufacturer needs a decent result, also known as a first and second-place finish. If they want to keep their slim chances at winning the manufacturers’ championship alive past Chile. Neuville’s drivers’ championship hopes ended in Greece. Unless by some streak of misfortune, both Rovanperä and Evans retire from the event or take home 0 points and Neuville takes home 30. Considering that Rovanperä rarely messes up there’s like a 10% chance this actually happens.
M-Sport Ford WRT
Where do I start with M-Sport? I mean seriously they seem to have no luck. Loubet hasn’t finished a rally without an issue since Estonia. Tänak hasn’t finished one without an issue since Italy. M-Sport has to put up a good result this weekend. Especially Tänak, mind you mechanical issues are out of his control. It’s just been a lacklustre season for the British team. The Puma hasn’t been reliable, and having a two-car team hasn’t worked in their favour. Tänak comes into Rally Chile BioBio as the defending winner. Winning the event back in 2019 with Toyota. Can Tänak bounce back in Chile? That’ll be found out this weekend, but it’ll depend on a lot more than just his driving. Tänak and Loubet will both drive for the team this weekend. They will be joined by two new Rally1 drivers in Grégoire Munster and Alberto Heller joining the team for the weekend.
Two Rally1 Debuts At Rally Chile BioBio
WRC2 driver Grégoire Munster will make his Rally1 debut this weekend. Munster will become the first driver in WRC history to drive a Rally3, Rally2 and Rally1 car in the same season. As Munster drove a Rally3 car in Estonia, a rally2 car at select events for the WRC2 championship and now a Rally1 car. Munster will pilot Jourdan Serderidis’s Puma Rally1. Alberto Heller will also be making his Rally1 debut this weekend. The Chilean driver will pilot a Puma Rally1 provided by M-Sport.
Esapekka Lappi joined the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team last season. Should the team keep Lappi for next season?
The Facts
Esapekka Lappi joined Hyundai last offseason to replace Ott Tänak. On paper, this was a bit of a downgrade for Hyundai. As Tänak is a former world rally champion and one of the best drivers in the WRC currently. On the flip side, Lappi has been floating from team to team for the past couple of seasons. Driving for M-Sport, Citroen and Toyota in the process. Lappi was a part-time driver for Toyota last season and put up decent results. Finishing third three times in the season. Lappi moved into a full-time role for Hyundai this season. Making this his first full season since 2020 with M-Sport. Lappi only has one rally win under his belt, that sole win came at the 2017 running of Rally Finland. He is the most recent Finnish driver to win the event.
Why Hyundai Should Keep Lappi
Esapekka Lappi has been good for Hyundai this season. Finishing on the podium four times so far this season, Lappi has shown he and Thierry Neuville make a good team. Lappi was on pace to win Rally Mexico for his second rally win of his career. However, an accident forced Lappi out of the lead and rally. The biggest thing Hyundai has to consider is how well Neuville and Lappi work together. Lappi has been willing to put Neuville over this season when he’s had to. He’s also a driver who can step up when Neuville makes an issue.
Who Could Replace Lappi?
If Hyundai chooses to not retain Esapekka Lappi for next season, who could replace him? The likeliest option for Hyundai would be Teemu Suninen or Emil Lindholm. Suninen likely has a spot with Hyundai next season. It’s just unknown if that’s part-time or full-time. Suninen going full-time doesn’t necessarily mean Lappi is out of Hyundai however. As it’s believed Hyundai is getting a fourth i20 Rally1 for next season, or Dani Sordo could retire from driving. Both of which are an option. It’s also believed that if the fourth car does end up happening for Hyundai reigning WRC2 champion Emil Lindholm will get a drive in the car. Ott Tänak has also been rumoured to be involved in talks to rejoin Hyundai. However, that seems unlikely. Lappi is probably Hyundai’s best option for having a second driver that can finish on the podium or top five consistently.
Sebastien Ogier has confirmed he will drive for the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT for the 2024 season.
First To Confirm
Sebastien Ogier is the first of many drivers to confirm their 2024 season plans. With Ogier confirming he will once again be a part-time driver for Toyota next season. The time World Rally Champion has driven part-time for Toyota since the 2022 season. Ogier has proven this season he still has what it takes to compete with the best. As Ogier has won 3 out of the 6 events he’s driven so far this season, and likely would’ve won EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. If it weren’t for a broken suspension arm on the final stage of the third day. Ogier is the first Toyota driver to confirm his plans for next season. As up to this point no other driver for Toyota has a contract for next season. In fact, the only driver at the WRC level with a contract for next season is Thierry Neuville for Hyundai.
In case There Was A Doubt
There were rumours that Ogier may move to Hyundai for next season. However, that isn’t happening. Ogier has even said there wasn’t much to the talks between him and Hyundai. It was more just talking than anything. As Ogier is his own agent meaning he deals with this stuff on his own. For Ogier, sticking with Toyota seems like the right move. As the Yaris Rally1 has proven it can win, and he has a fantastic team backing him. With Hyundai, it’s a lot of uncertainty. The i20 Rally1 is unreliable, and unproven in a lot of cases. Sure Ott Tänak won a couple events in the car last season, but that was a miracle in a half. Thierry Neuville has been decent this season, same with Esapekka Lappi. For Ogier that unknown isn’t something he needs to challenge at this point in his career.
Who Will Join Ogier?
Sebastien Ogier will likely start a domino effect of drivers announcing their 2024 plans. The lineup for Toyota will likely remain the same. Rovanperä seems happy with the Japanese team. So does Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta. For Toyota they have the perfect lineup heading into next season if they can keep the current lineup. Rovanperä is a nearly unstoppable force, and when he’s out Evans steps up. The bigger question heading into the off-season will be, does Toyota find somebody to fill in for the other half of the season when Ogier’s not there? Currently, that’s Takamoto Katstua’s role with the team. Although Katsuta has driven every event this season, he only scores manufacturers’ points at events Ogier isn’t attending. Toyota will likely keep this how it is, but could they bring another driver in to develop and give valuable Rally1 seat time to at events Ogier isn’t at? It’s possible, but unlikely.
The Toyota Yaris Rally1 has a chance to make history at Rally Chile BioBio next weekend, but how? Find out below.
How The Toyota Yaris Rally1 Can Make History, Well Kinda
The Toyota Yaris Rally1 currently sits with 15 rally wins heading into Rally Chile BioBio next week. This 15-win number may seem random to mention, but it’s the main focus of this article. As to tie for the 10th winningest car in WRC history, the Yaris Rally1 only needs 1 rally win. Something they can and probably will achieve in Chile. If they do win, the Yaris Rally1 joins another Toyota for the 10th most wins in WRC history. The other Toyota in question? The Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (STI85). The Celica won its first event at the 1992 running of Safari Rally Kenya, with Carlos Sainz behind the wheel. Its final win came at the 1994 Rally Sanremo with Didier Auriol behind the wheel. Anyways back to the Yaris Rally1. The first win for the Yaris Rally1 came at the 2022 running of Rally Sweden, with Kalle Rovanperä behind the wheel, and the latest win came at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece with Rovanperä also piloting the car. In fact, Rovanperä has the most wins in the car, winning 9 of the 15 events the car has won
Could The Yaris Rally1 End Up Higher On The List?
The Toyota Yaris Rally1 has a chance to tie for 7th on the all-time wins list. Joining the Fiat Abarth 131 with 18 wins. In doing this the Yaris Rally1 would pass the Ford Escort MK2 and Lancia Stratos, both are tied for 8th on the list, with 17 wins a piece. Most likely the Yaris Rally1 will be tied for 8th place by the end of the season. As it’s unlikely that the car will be brought to victory seven consecutive times. As a Toyota driver has won every event from Safari Rally Kenya onward. Rovanperä may be a good driver, but at two events he and every other driver have little experience at, it’s unlikely he or another Toyota driver will win both. Toyota will probably win their home event of Rally Japan to end off the season, however. It is worth mentioning that there is a chance no Toyota driver could win in the remainder of the season. This is extremely unlikely, however, as well Rovanperä seems unstoppable and Elfyn Evans is right behind him.
Joining Another Toyota
Once the Toyota Yaris Rally1 joins the list of the 10 winningest WRC cars it’ll join another Toyota. Not the Cecila, it’s actually another Yaris. The Toyota Yaris WRC which was used from 2017 to 2021. Taking home its first win at Rally Sweden in 2017 with now Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala behind the wheel. Its final win came at its final event, the 2021 running of Rally Monza, with Sebastien Ogier behind the wheel. The Yaris WRC currently sits tied for fourth on the list. It’s tied with the Citroen DS3 WRC with both cars having 26 wins. Funnily enough, once the Yaris Rally1 makes the list there will be 3 Citroens and 3 Toyota’s on the list. It’s no surprise there are so many Citroens on the list seeing as Sebastien Loeb won 9 consecutive championships with the cars.
Is there any potential that the WRC could go fully electric in the future? Find out why or why not below.
The Facts
It’s been reported that the current deal between the WRC and Compact Dynamics has been extended to 2027. Meaning the WRC will continue to use hybrid engines until the end of the 2027 season. Giving the WRC just about 3 years to decide their next move as a result. Could their next move be to go fully electric? It’s possible but highly unlikely. It’s unlikely for multiple reasons. I’ll explore some of those reasons in a minute, but first, let’s look at why this could happen.
Why The WRC Could Go Electric
Simply put, going electric seems to be the way of the future and what the FIA is interested in. However, that’s about where the good reasons end. The FIA will likely have interest in the WRC going fully electric as most of their championships are going down that route, or another environmentally friendly route. However, most of the FIA’s championships that are doing that take place on a closed course.
Why The WRC Probably Won’t Go Electric
Buckle up because this is about to be long. The WRC likely won’t go electric, for a multitude of reasons. Including battery range, safety and most importantly it doesn’t make sense. Let me break each of those down further.
Battery Range
The total kilometres of stages on a single day would require more than just a single battery charge from an electric car. So why not just charge them at service? That’s not the issue, the issue is how long they take to charge. To fully recharge the battery or batteries would take more than 30 to 45 minutes. So why not up the service times? If only it were that simple, the WRC can only close roads for a set amount of time, expanding the service times would push the entire second half of the day back. Something the WRC likely wouldn’t be keen on doing.
Safety Reasons
One of the biggest things the FIA and WRC promoter will have to look at with electric vehicles is safety. Not necessarily the safety of competitors, but the safety of fans and spectators. Take a look at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece there were many instances of spectators on the stage throughout the event. The WRC and event Marshalls can’t control every spectator nor sit on every corner of a stage. For this reason, rally cars need to make some loud noise. This is something electric cars don’t make a lot of, they sound like quiet vacuum cleaners. Something you probably wouldn’t hear until it was right behind you. The WRC can’t run the risk of somebody being on stage or in a bad spot and getting hit by a car. There are rules for spectators, yes, but that doesn’t always stop people from doing what they want. Electric cars work on closed courses but on an open course where spectators are right beside the road may not be the safest idea.
It Doesn’t Make Sense
The WRC going electric just doesn’t make sense at the end of the day. It would be a venture that would end the WRC. Sure there are some electric series that work, and then there are some that fail. The WRC promoter is seeing this firsthand with the World RX. A championship that is losing fans and slowly dying out. The WRC can’t risk the same happening to the championship. It’s not worth it for the championship to take the risk. It’s a coin toss of if it’ll work or if it’ll fail miserably.
The WRC Needs To Focus On Other Things
Instead of focusing on a fully electric future the WRC first needs to get themselves into a good place. It’s no secret the WRC isn’t doing great currently. Having only three Rally1 teams and no new ones joining in the near future it seems. The WRC should focus on trying to attract new manufacturers and fans. Will bring fully electric bring new manufacturers? Maybe, will it bring new fans? Maybe. It’s all unknown, there’s a 50% chance it will bring new manufacturers and fans and there’s a 50% chance it won’t. The WRC needs to stick with and grow what they have until they are in a comfortable enough spot to try a major change like becoming fully electric.