The most significant of these changes is the discarding of hybrid units from Rally1 cars. Hybrids were introduced to the WRC in 2022 amidst much fanfare, but the costly system’s journey will end after just three seasons.
What’s peculiar is that WRC teams have an agreement with Compact Dynamics, the supplier of the hybrid units, running until the end of 2026.
“There is a contract in place, but contracts are up for renegotiation at any time and the parties are talking to each other,” said David Richards, the leader of the working group responsible for the WRC reforms, as reported by DirtFish.
Richards did not delve into how the International Automobile Federation (FIA) plans to resolve this contractual dilemma.
“Rather than going into commercially sensitive contracts and discussions that are going on with the manufacturers, let’s just say that it is an issue to be resolved at the moment and we’ll get this sorted out between the various parties in the next few weeks.”
The current WRC teams, Hyundai, M-Sport Ford, and Toyota, committed to hybrid technology a few years ago. Rally1 cars equipped with hybrid units were supposed to continue for a longer period, but due to the acute situation in the championship, the FIA has opted to make radical changes.
Discussions about the removal of the hybrid unit were held with the manufacturers.
“I wouldn’t say they all wanted rid of it immediately. There are some issues to resolve with that, to the immediacy of that. But in principle, I believe they would all support the removal of it, yes,” Richards mused.
