The FIA World Rally Championship is turning 50 in 2022 as it enters a new, exciting and sustainable era with the advent of the hybrid-based Rally1 category.
Breaking new ground, Rally1 is the product of extensive work by FIA departments in partnership with the competing manufacturers, Hyundai, M-Sport (Ford) and Toyota.
Together they aligned to deliver a category that maintains spectacular performance, further enhances safety, while focusing firmly on the environment. In addition to the hybrid unit, which is mated to the existing 1.6-litre turbocharged internal combustion engine, Rally1 cars run on 100 per cent fossil-free fuel.
The hybrid kit includes a 100kW electric motor fitted to a 3.9kWh battery and can lift combined performance levels to more than 500hp. Significantly, however, Rally1 cars are designed to run on electric mode only, which they are required to do in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) zones located close to event service parks.
Pirelli continues as the exclusive tyre supplier to the WRC under a long-term agreement with the FIA.
Focus on safety
By introducing hybrid technology in the WRC, the FIA has implemented a number of safety measures, such as requiring the hybrid components to be contained in a reinforced safety structure.
The upgraded safety cell chassis is the result of months of intensive research and developments and enables to reduce accident intrusion by up to fifty per cent.
An awareness campaign on social media highlights the precautions spectators and safety crews must take in the event of an accident due to the high-voltage electrical current they can generate. Rally1 cars are identifiable by an ‘HY’ graphic on the side door panels and safety lights on the windscreen and both side pillars will be green when the car is safe to touch. A flashing red light with an audible warning means a car is unsafe to touch.
All Rally1 cars must carry two pairs of Class-0 gloves capable of withstanding 1000 volts that can be easily accessible for the driver and co-driver when vacating their car. This enables both crew members to provide valuable assistance in the event of a high voltage issue affecting either their car or the car of a competitor. Crews and volunteer officials have also received essential training.
Titles up for grabs
- FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers, Co-Drivers, Manufacturers
- FIA WRC Teams’ Championship
- FIA WRC2 for Drivers, Co-Drivers, Teams, Junior Drivers, Junior Co-Drivers, Masters Drivers and Masters Co-Drivers Cup in Rally2 cars
- FIA WRC3 for Drivers and Co-Drivers in Rally3 cars
- FIA Junior WRC for Drivers in Rally3 cars
What’s new for 2022?
- Safer and more sustainable Rally1 cars take over from the World Rally Car as the WRC’s headline category.
- In addition to the plug-in hybrid unit, which is mated to the existing 1.6-litre turbocharged internal combustion engine, Rally1 cars run on 100 per cent fossil-free fuel.
- The hybrid kit includes a 100kW electric motor fitted to a 3.9kWh battery and can lift combined performance levels to more than 500hp.
- Hybrid Electric Vehicle Zones created close to service parks and ceremonial start areas on all rounds of the WRC and require Rally1 crews to demonstrate that they can run in full electric mode over a specified route highlighted in the roadbook.
- Rally1 cars must carry two pairs of Class-0 gloves capable of withstanding 1000 volts that can be easily accessible for the driver and co-driver when vacating their car.
- Rally1 cars are identifiable by an ‘HY’ graphic on the side door panels. Safety lights on the windscreen and both side pillars will be green when the car is safe to touch. A flashing red light with an audible warning means a car is unsafe to touch.
- Manufacturer Teams are limited to two engines per Rally1 car down from 3 in 2021
- A Manufacturer Team running three cars can use from a pool of nine hybrid units across the season, with a two-car operation restricted to six units. On each event, no more than two hybrid units per car can be used.
- Registered WRC Teams can score points towards the WRC Teams’ Classification using either the 2017-specification World Rally Car or the new-era Rally1 car.
- Teams can choose more of the second option Pirelli tyre but without adding to their total tyre allowance. Teams still get their normal number of first choice (depending on the length of the route) and eight second choice, but they can choose the specification of the additional four tyres allocated for the shakedown, potentially increasing the amount of second choice tyres from eight to 12. Tyres used in shakedown are available for use on rallies.
- The top three WRC2 drives only can score Power Stage points rather than the top five on a descending scale of 3-2-1.
- Awards for the best Junior Driver and Co-Driver and best Masters’ Driver and Co-Driver also up for grabs in WRC2.
- WRC3 is for Rally3 cars, while M-Sport Poland’s Ford Fiesta Rally3 replaces the Fiesta Rally4 as the FIA Junior WRC base car.
- Digital noticeboard, such as the Sportity notification app, replace the traditional physical notice board.
FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 SUPPORT CATEGORIES EXPLAINED
FIA WRC2 Open Championship
Photo credit: François Flamand / DPPI
- Every WRC round features WRC2 for Rally2 cars using Pirelli tyres
- Drivers and co-drivers nominate seven scoring rounds only
- Their best six results count
FIA WRC2 Junior Championship
- For drivers and co-drivers born on or after 01/01/92
- Previous winners of WRC2/3 (4WD) are not eligible
- Drivers previously nominated to score WRC Manufacturers points also not eligible
- Drivers and co-drivers nominate seven scoring rounds only
- Their best six results count
FIA WRC2 Championship for Teams
- Teams can nominate two drivers per rally to score points
- They can score on six nominated rallies in Europe plus an additional one outside Europe
- Best five European scores and the score from the event outside Europe count
FIA WRC2 Masters Cup
- For drivers and co-drivers born on or before 01/01/72
- Drivers and co-drivers score on six rallies in Europe plus one outside Europe
- Best five European scores and the score from the event outside Europe count
Power Stage points
- Power Stage points awarded to fastest three WRC2 Open drivers and co-drivers on a 3-2-1 scale
- No Power Stage points for WRC2 Teams, Juniors or Masters
FIA WRC3 Open Championship
Photo credit: Marcin Rybak
- Every WRC round features WRC3 for Rally3 cars
- Drivers and co-drivers nominate five scoring rounds only
- Their best four results count
FIA WRC3 Championship for Teams
- Teams can nominate five scoring rounds only
- Their best four results count
FIA WRC3 Junior Championship
- For drivers and co-drivers born on or after 01/01/93 using the Ford Fiesta Rally3 run by M-Sport Poland on Pirelli tyres
- It’s the first time a four-wheel-drive car has been used as the championship’s base car
- Drivers and co-drivers count their best four scores from five designated rounds
- They can also register for WRC3 Open points
- Double points on the final round for drivers/co-drivers contesting at least three previous rounds
- Drivers and co-drivers score one point for each fastest stage time
Entry list lettering
D = Drivers’ championship
C = Co-Drivers’ championship
T = Teams’ championship
J = Junior championship
M = Masters Cup
More information:
Click HERE for the Sporting Regulations and click HERE more information.
