Now, the initial provisional points are awarded after Saturday’s stages. On Sunday, the fastest drivers also earn points, as do the top competitors in the rally-ending Power Stage.
Hyundai’s WRC star Thierry Neuville admits that the new system has added interest to what were previously lacklustre Sundays. Neuville himself scooped maximum points from the season-opening rally in Monte Carlo. However, in Sweden in February, it was Toyota’s Elfyn Evans who amassed the most points, even though Esapekka Lappi clinched victory for Hyundai.
“I still don’t think it’s right. EP won and he has a load less points than I do. Whatever the circumstances, I don’t think that’s right,” said Evans after the event.
While Neuville has praised the system, he acknowledges it has its challenges.
“It’s hard to follow, but I think the main goal of the points system was to make the Sunday interesting again. And I think it succeeded,” Neuville notes, according to Dirtfish.
“Sunday is more interesting again and everybody has to go drive fast on Sunday. And we, as a competitor, we can feel it as well. The Sunday stress is much higher than in previous years because you know that every single stage counts.”
Neuville illustrates this with an example from his rally in Sweden.
“On Saturday you need to take what you can, but Sunday…I mean, for me, I took nearly the same amount of points on Sunday, two less (in Sweden). I took eight on Sunday, I took only 10 on Friday–Saturday,” Neuville summarizes.
“And on Friday–Saturday, in the position I was, I couldn’t do more than what I did. So that’s why the Sunday is really interesting for us now, that’s for sure,” Neuville continues, referring to his starting position in Rally Sweden.
Both the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the WRC Promoter have stated that they will monitor the new points system throughout the season. Adjustments are possible if the system feels too complex or unfair.
The WRC series continues next week with the legendary Safari Rally in Kenya.
