WRC 2027 rules to offer powertrain flexibility and component cost cap

The 2027 World Rally Championship rules are prone to supply producers a variety of powertrain choices and vehicles that will likely be considerably cheaper by way of a value cap on parts.

The WRC’s 2027 ruleset for the way forward for Rally1 and Rally2 is predicted to be revealed at subsequent month’s World Motor Sport Council, though Autosport understands groups have been issued a draft of the proposal finally weekend’s Rally Japan.

It’s extensively anticipated that the present Rally1 spaceframe chassis, which has elevated security ranges and accommodated numerous automobile mannequin physique shapes because it was launched in 2022, is predicted to proceed with diversifications. Plans to develop chassis development out to tuning firms, and never locked to solely producers, is being mentioned.

Whereas hybrid energy has been deserted for 2025 and 2026 in Rally1, it’s anticipated that producers will likely be provided flexibility on powertrains for 2027.

It’s seemingly that the inner combustion engine, powered by 100% sustainable gas, would be the most well-liked possibility, however the means to run full EV and hybrid is ready to be provided.

If sooner or later a mess of powertrains are chosen by producers the efficiency between the vehicles will likely be balanced utilizing a torque meter. This idea is ready for use at subsequent yr’s Dakar Rally.

“The process for 2027 will likely be totally different. There will likely be a core automobile which would be the base going ahead and there will likely be a chance for flexibility among the many producers,” FIA street sport director Andrew Wheatley informed Autosport.

“One of many core ideas that was decided in February and March was going ahead we want a component of flexibility so there will likely be a chance for producers to think about full electrical, hybrid or ICE.

“Nevertheless, trying on the future I feel it’s considerably extra seemingly all producers will transfer to in direction of a extra conventional powertrain merely due to the industrial alternative {that a} less complicated automobile has.

“If anyone comes into the dialogue and needs to run full EV there isn’t any downside. What we’re seeing in different championships is that the reliability of the torque meter is fairly good and the consistency is excellent.

“We are going to see it in apply in Dakar which is the primary occasion in our division that will likely be utilizing a torque meter to stability the turbos etcetera, and that’s going to present us an excellent indication of the way it works in apply.

“You might be given a torque map and also you construct your engine to that torque map. It could possibly be a 500 horsepower automobile however the torque map limits it to 380 horsepower. For me, that’s an fascinating idea.”

This flexibility is just not solely confined to powertrains, with the chassis designed for use in each WRC and the World Rallycross Championship shifting ahead.

Andreas Mikkelsen, Torstein Eriksen, Hyundai World Rally Crew Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photograph by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport

WRC set for part price cap

Certainly one of flaws of the present Rally1 rules is that prices have spiralled with vehicles priced at near one million euros.

Lowering prices has been among the many FIA’s principal targets with the brand new rules and in February this yr it indicated that vehicles would price roughly 400,000 euros.

In keeping with Wheatley vital strides have been made to decrease the prices of constructing 2027 vehicles, which will likely be helped by a value cap on sure parts.

“That [reducing costs] is one thing the producers have actually taken to correctly to the extent that the proposal when it comes, offering it’s accepted, I feel you’ll be stunned by the general price of the automobile,” he added.

“In a world the place 12 months in the past it was tough to get anyone to agree that price must be a key factor, it’s now a key factor.

“There gained’t be [a cost cap] throughout the entire championship however there will likely be for particular person components. They are going to be regulated and the concept is that by regulating sure components it will be tough to go previous [the cap].”