The International Automobile Federation (FIA) released the new points rules for the WRC season late on Friday night. Next season, points will be distributed using a slightly more complex formula. The first points will be awarded on Saturday evening, with points for the top ten in the standings. The first receives 18 points, the second 15, and so forth.
READ ALSO: Shocking reform to the WRC points system!
More points will be available on Sunday. Based on the results of the “Super Sunday” special stages, points will be awarded to the top seven drivers, with the best driver receiving seven points, the second-best six, the third-best five, and so on. Additionally, the five fastest drivers on the concluding Power Stage will earn extra points.
Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi commented on the major reform of the WRC during his tests on Saturday in Jämsä, Finland.
“If the starting order remains like that in asphalt rallies, you could just drive out of parc fermé on Thursday and retire. Then you can drive again on Sunday. You still get to start at the front on Sunday, so you have a good chance of taking 12 points from Sunday,” Lappi criticized the reform.
“It saves budget and money, as you don’t drive on other days than Sunday. You don’t need to watch videos or make as many notes either. Okay, this is somewhat exaggerated, but an absurd amount of points is still available for Sunday if you can start from the best position on asphalt.”
It was clear that something needed to be done, as too often, Sunday’s driving days in previous seasons turned into tire conservation for the concluding Power Stage. Therefore, a reform was necessary, but according to Lappi, some fine-tuning is still needed.
“I’m not saying it’s not to my liking. It’s actually quite fun since you might have to strategize a bit differently. But now we come to the point where the starting order needs to be decided, because now there’s no point in driving on Saturday if you retire on Friday. You don’t benefit from Saturday in any way,” Lappi told RallyJournal.com.
“You just waste tires. That’s why some incentive needs to be found for the starting order. Otherwise, it’s not going to work. I think the starting order will still change because that Sunday isn’t very fair from many perspectives.”
Lappi also predicts that the reform will be difficult for the average fan to grasp.
“It’s also very hard to explain to the audience that I won the rally, but I didn’t get the most points. That’s also very possible.”
The 2024 WRC season kicks off at the end of January with the iconic Rally Monte Carlo.
