The International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced its guidelines for Rally1 cars on Wednesday. The hybrid units will be discontinued after this season, and the cars’ technology and aerodynamic features will be trimmed down as well.
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The new rule proposals have received a cautiously positive reception, although there are aspects of the guidelines that have caused some bewilderment. Particularly, the so-called “sales rule” or “folk racing rule” has raised eyebrows.
The FIA is planning to set a price cap of 400,000 euros for Rally1 cars in the future. In addition, a WRC team is obliged to sell its vehicle if there is an interested buyer immediately after a race.
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala is not readily swallowing this clause.
“In folk racing, we’re not talking about a costly investment. But now we’re discussing an expensive car. If a car worth 400,000 euros has competed in, say, the Safari Rally, where it has taken a beating, how do you determine its value after the Safari? Or how is the value determined after a type of asphalt rally like in Catalonia, where the car does not wear much? After these rallies, the cars would have different values,” Latvala says RallyJournal.com.
“We’re talking about really expensive and significant prices for these cars. I don’t believe the manufacturers are terribly keen on the idea of directly selling the cars.”
With the price cap and “forced sale”, the FIA aims to keep car costs under control. This would enable private teams to better compete against factory teams with larger budgets.
But as Latvala points out, winning is everything for the sport’s giants.
“A factory team always wants to make the best possible car. And then it’s possible that the manufacturer could incur quite a loss from the sale of the car. It’s still difficult to determine where the car’s price will be with the new rules.”
Latvala has in mind a different tactic to keep the costs of cars in check, taking inspiration from the lower category.
“The Rally2 concept has been really effective. It has been based on setting a price range for certain components. Perhaps this type of approach should be aimed for in Rally1 cars – that is, defining what, for example, body and suspension parts should cost.
“Until now, there has been the freedom to choose the best possible part if one could afford to buy it. The cost was not a factor. Price control of parts could be the solution,” Latvala muses.
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