Fully electric, hybrid and internal combustion engine engines remain possible for the regulations for the 2027 season. according to the FIA technical director, Xavier Mestelan Pinon. The international federation has been working on the design of the Rally1 and Rally2 categories for a year and a half, and it appears that it will present its rules for this campaign in December.
The governing body expects create regulations that ensure participation of current manufacturers and attract new brandsand although no firm decisions have yet been made, it appears that the working proposal that the FIA published in February offers a relatively clear framework for what the future of these arrangements could be.
The Rally1 space chassis, which has increased safety levels and adapted to various car model body shapes since its launch in 2022, appears to be continuing its adaptations, and plans to expand the chassis construction range to other companies and not to restrict it. only to manufacturers.
The FIA is working to reduce costs, with the previously mentioned figure of 400,000 euros for a Rally car1 between ongoing conversations. Rally1 cars are expected to be based on road vehicles and will likely see a reduction in performance and aerodynamics to help make the category more accessible to developing drivers.
Internal combustion engines, hybrid propulsion systems and electric vehicles remain on the table, along with the possibility of some type of technological equivalence if regulations evolve to open up different options.
“We can consider that all technologies are suitable, but the important thing is to make the best decision on what is good for rallying in terms of technology and which championship is good for each technology,” said Xavier Mestelan Pinon. . “Today we strongly believe that biofuel or synthetic fuel is a good deal, and now after that we want to open the rules to electrify the engine, and when I say it could be hybrid or fully electric. That's something we have to clarify, but that's the goal.
“It would be based on the same chassis, with the same suspension, the same bodywork, etc., because it is important that a car equipped with an internal combustion engine and an electrified vehicle have the same performance,” he said. -he continued. “We would need to define technological equivalence, which we can do well in other categories. Again, the goal is to have more cars in the Rally1 category, which means that the base vehicle will be engine thermal”.
“We strongly believe that an electrified version could make sense and we've had a few conversations with potential new entrants and current manufacturers, so it's very difficult to say,” he said. “We have to be open, it is very difficult to say whether the regulations will be with a complete thermal and electric engine or with a thermal and hybrid engine, it is too early.”
“My personal opinion is that all-electric could make sense because for 35 kilometer stages it's easy to manage with the same level of performance as an internal combustion engine car, and you can have a unit of recharge at the end of each special,” he explained. “It's something we have to decide together with the president of the WRC commission, but with the manufacturers, the promoters and the World Automobile Council, so it's a global decision.”
The Rally1 They have adopted hybrid power from 2022 with 1.6 liter turbocharged engines.linked to a Compact Dynamics hybrid control package that generates around 500 hp of power in short bursts. Although rallycross has introduced the all-electric, the sport is still in its infancy, but the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup is already in its fourth season, with the final round of the Central European Rally included in the program. .
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