Thursday 16th February 2017

New WRC cars 'too fast' says FIA

Swedish stage cancelled after FIA says new faster WRC cars are ... too fast

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Remember how much we were looking forward to the new, faster and more wild looking WRC cars and the promise of a return to Group B style pace? Looks like it could be a case of 'careful what you wish for' in the case of the latter, the FIA cancelling the second running of the Kron stage on safety grounds in an ominous echo of the safety concerns that killed off that same Group B era. At least in that instance we got a four seasons of iconic action to enjoy - in the case of the new WRC cars it's lasted just a couple of rallies!

Times have changed of course and rallying in the early 80s was very different from the modern era, not least in terms of crowd control and the safety of the cars. And nobody wants to see anyone get hurt. But having launched the new era of WRC specifically on the promise of bringing back a sense of the speed of Group B cars it seems ironic for the FIA to then immediately seek to slow the cars down again.

The problem came when Ott Tanak's M-Sport Fiesta clocked an average speed of 85.65mph through the first running of the stage. This was declared too fast by the FIA and the second run on the same stage - SS12 - was cancelled, the governing body since reported by Motorsport.com to be "considering regulatory changes to ensure average speeds do not exceed 80mph".

Apparently the FIA's rally director for the event Jarmo Mahonen raised concerns about the speed of the stage after even the 'old' WRC cars that lack the extra power, aero and technology of the 2017 ones were clocking over 80mph. As such the problem would seemingly be attributed to the configuration of the stage, not the cars specifically. But the fact the FIA seems keen to make WRC cars run slower - by whatever means - does rather fly in the face of the widely applauded initiative to restore some of the spectacle absent from the sport in recent years.

Any attempt to impose restrictions - perceived or actual - on WRC's speeds will come as a blow, especially given the season has already shown competitive pace among all the top teams and a closely fought battle among manufacturers not present under VW's domination of the championship. Toyota's Jari-Matti Latvala won the Swedish event, the Yaris taking victory in only its second WRC event and providing Toyota with its first win in 17 years. With multiple stage wins by Neuville's Hyundai, Tanak's Ford and another by Sordo in the Hyundai it would seem the new cars are all on the pace and the stage is set for a proper battle as the season unfolds. Assuming the FIA doesn't make them weave through bales to keep the speeds down...

[Sources: Autosport.com, Motorsport.com]

[Photos: RedBull content pool]

[FactoryRSVR]

The only other sport I remember that had speed limits was truck racing. Everyone seems to be obsessed with speed in rallying as if that is what makes it exciting. The introduction of pointless aero and centre diffs has increased grip which reduces spectacle. Maybe the focus should be on making the cars tougher to drive and the stages more challenging, less repeat loops, longer stages more varied conditions would increase spectacle without the need for increase in outright speed.

[FactoryRSVR]

HighwayStar said:

I suspect they are having to be cautious and keep eye on speed because a spectator has already died on the seasons opener, the Monte Carlo.
https://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/2017/0119/8462...

That was very very sad and no one wants to see that happen, but I think where they were standing and not the the speed of the car wwas the contributing factor in this case.