Last week, the WRC working group unveiled a substantial package of changes, notably the decision to abandon hybrid units after just a few years of use, among other reforms.
The reforms planned by the WRC working group will gradually take effect from next season, but a major change has also been made this season, with the championship’s scoring system overhauled.
This season, the championship awards a large pot of conditional points on Saturday. Sunday, meanwhile, is designated as a separate sprint day, offering daily points, with the Power Stage continuing to award points to the top five finishers as before.
To receive Saturday’s conditional points, crews must make it to the finish on Sunday. The new system has drawn criticism for potentially diminishing the value of a rally win, as it’s now possible for the rally winner not to receive the biggest points haul.
This scenario played out in the season’s second round in Sweden. Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi won, but Toyota’s Elfyn Evans scooped up the biggest points haul from Sweden. The value of victory has undeniably suffered inflation.
“I don’t understand it. So that says enough for me,” WRC working group leader David Richards blasted, according to Dirtfish.
“You know, the reason football is so popular is because you kick a ball backwards and forwards and you score the points for every time you get a ball in the goal. And if we can think of a simple points system for the World Rally Championship, it’d be far better for us,” Richards illustrated.
FIA chief Andrew Wheatley agrees with Richards.
“I agree with David. It’s complex,” Wheatley admitted straightforwardly.
“It definitely adds another element of complexity to the overall decision,” he continued.
Wheatley also revealed that there were many other options on the table, but they would have been even worse alternatives to the current system.
“But there is only one winner, and trust me, there were options on the table where there could have been more than one winner over the course of a rally, which would definitely not have worked. There’s only one winner at the end of the weekend, and there’ll only be one champion at the end of the year,” Wheatley said.
Big changes can’t be internalized overnight. It’s important to remember that the championship has only completed two rounds this season. In Sweden, the new scoring system showed its other side, but in the season opener in Monte Carlo, the points were awarded as they should be. Winner Thierry Neuville grabbed the most points over the weekend.
“I think we’ve had two dramatically different events,” Wheatley said.
“In Monte Carlo, there was hardly any effect. In Sweden, there was a huge effect. I think there were also two dramatically different events in terms of conditions and in terms of the level of competitiveness of the drivers at the front of the field.”
Wheatley hopes the new system won’t be judged too hastily.
“I think we need to give it a little bit more time. I think we need to understand where we are.”
The new scoring system aimed to eliminate Sunday’s caution and cruising. According to Wheatley, it has already achieved this.
“Certainly in Sweden, I didn’t see anybody sandbagging on Sunday. I saw people driving their absolute door handles off on Sunday morning with a desperate attempt to try and recoup a few points from the championship,” he described.
Wheatley also stressed that the new system is under review and adjustments can be made if deemed necessary.
“But we need to give it a bit more time,” he concluded.
The new scoring system will be tested again at the end of March when the season’s third event, the Safari Rally, is held in Kenya.
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