Removing hybrids will reduce costs and make cars lighter, but it also significantly reduces power. Additionally, the FIA is considering implementing a smaller restrictor next season, a change opposed by Hyundai.
Newly crowned world champion Thierry Neuville has expressed his dissatisfaction with these developments. Ahead of Rally Japan, Neuville tested a Rally1 car in Spain without a hybrid unit.
“I have been driving the car without the hybrid and obviously without the extra weight. I was running with the standard restrictor from this year, and that felt pretty good. We did some qualifying with Andreas (Mikkelsen) during the rally, and I was two-tenths faster, so the times were really close,” Neuville said, referencing the Spanish test event.
“That’s why I’m a bit concerned about the smaller restrictor next year—that the cars will be quite a bit slower,” he continued.
Neuville has voiced his concerns directly to the FIA, including during phone conversations.
“I don’t think they’re going to consider anything I’ve said, to be honest, which is, again, very frustrating. But at least the message has been passed,” Neuville stated bluntly.
Drivers naturally want as much power in the cars as possible.
“I mean, obviously, we’ll take 80 kilos away, which will be nice in some corners, but we’ll also take away 130 horsepower. On gravel, I don’t know how it will be, but on tarmac, for sure, the additional power was very helpful,” Neuville concluded.
