By 2025, the hybrid units that have been in use for only a few years will be sidelined, and other cost-reducing innovations are promised. The cars are expected to have less aerodynamics and power is to be reduced by downsizing the restrictor.
Although final decisions will be made in June, the direction is now clear. Richard Millener, the team principal of M-Sport Ford, is pleased that decisions were made quickly, as the sport is at risk of fading into insignificance at the top level.
“A lot of the stuff that they have mentioned about the events, the locally sourced service park structures, the flexibility of format and promotion are all elements we have all discussed and all agree on, so that will be great,” Millener told Motorsport.com.
“I think there will be some challenges along the way about how we integrate their ideas in such a tight timescale”
Although Millener is concerned about the tight schedule, the British boss hopes for flexibility from the entire WRC community.
“But we have been set these goals now, so we have to work proactively now. We have all been shouting that we want something done and we have some key points as to where we should be heading, and every stakeholder and anyone that has had some constructive criticism now needs to work together to try and find a common goal moving forward,” Millener sums up.
“We may not be able to deliver everything that they want but I don’t think that is the goal. The goal of the working group was to stimulate some ideas and that has happened. We can’t continue to be negative now, we have to be proactive.”
The 2024 season is just beginning, and WRC teams are extremely busy until November. With the upcoming reforms, testing is also required to implement the technical rules for the 2025 season.
“In reality, that is going to be quite tight to have new aero rules (for 2025)Teams are going to want to test, develop and understand them. It is a lot to do in 10 months and realistically it is going to be six months by the time we get things sorted and understand what the reduction in aero means and develop, build, create parts and test.”
The World Rally Championship season 2024 continues at the end of March in Kenya.
