The World Rally Championship in the 2022 season switched to hybrid technology when new Rally1-rated racing cars came to the special stage.
Even before the start of the season, there was fear in the air of how hybrid technology would work in a grueling sport, given that new rally cannons were being developed in a hurry. Hyundai’s Estonian star had to be suspended due to a hybrid unit failure in the Swedish World Rally Championship in February Ott Tänak thus losing a big pile of World Cup points. Before his interruption, Tänak led the race.
The hybrid units are supplied to the WRC teams by German Compact Dynamics, so the stables have no influence on the functionality of the technology.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) modified the rules after the Swedish World Rally Championship, and from the Croatian race, the suspension due to a hybrid unit failure will only result in a two-minute time penalty per missed special stage, when the sanction came ten minutes apart.
– So the rule has been changed, but the problem is somewhere else. No hybrids have been made for the rally, at least for now. That’s the thing that should be investigated, rather than thinking about what the time penalty is for an interruption caused by a hybrid failure, Tänak says.
– Car manufacturers can do nothing differently, and things are not in our own hands. Someone else is in control, so in that sense, the punishment doesn’t matter.
If the green light indicating the functionality of the Rally1 hybrid unit is off, the driver pair is forced to interrupt. Today calls for more efforts from the unit manufacturer to prevent a similar recurrence throughout the rally season.
– If the battery or any other component is broken, resetting the unit will not help. Rally is a pretty tough sport and if there are such boxes on board, they should also be meant for the rally. At least the current units have not been made for the rally. They just have to focus on making the boxes better, Tänak cannons.
Fair play?
Kalle Rovanperä criticizes the World Series’ electric revolution. AOP
Even a teammate today Thierry Neuville is on the lines of his Estonian counterpart. Even if the rules were changed, the basic problem remains.
– I have never been a big fan of changing the rules in the middle of the season. I do not feel that the reason for changing the rules is correct. It is a pity that the rules are only changed when something happens, even if we know that something is sure to happen, Neuville regrets.
– It’s a shame if you have to stop because of a red light. However, the decision has been made and has been accepted by all. However, if we look back, Ott would have been sixth in Sweden under the new rule. Is it then fair to change the rules at this point? I’m not really sure.
Lottery
Ott Tänak has already bitterly experienced the risks of hybrid reform. Zumawire / MVphotos
The Finnish star of Toyota Kalle Rovanperä compels Hyundai’s counterparts.
– It’s pretty clear that there are a lot of bugs that aren’t in your own hands. Fortunately, we haven’t had them terribly. It’s unfortunate when teams can’t develop those things themselves. It’s the kind of lottery that you have on board and then watches how it goes for you, Rovanperä says.
– It’s a bad thing for the competition and everything else, if you can’t do anything about it yourself. Still, it’s not really thought out in the race. You can’t do anything about it – it will light up if it lights up. That is the problem of the time.
The third race of the World Rally Championship season will start on Friday in Croatia.