FIA bans WRC/GpA cars from regional rally championships (updated)

[racer69]

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from www.worldrallynews.com

WRCs - 6 months to enjoy them in the regions
June 26, 2002

The FIA World Council decided today that World Rally Cars and turbocharged 4 wheel drive Gp A cars will be prohibited from FIA Regional Championship rallies from January 1st 2003.

It is understood that the FIA Rallies Commission suggested that the prohibition should commence in 2005, but the World Council did not share this view, bringing the ban forward to just six months away.

There has been growing concern at the escalating costs of competing in regional events with WRCs, but it is unclear what will replace the cars in the major regional series next year. It is thought unlikely that front runners, used to running WRCs, will be keen to move to Junior cars, so the leading Group N suppliers could be in line for a bonus year.

The move has serious negative implications for the many small teams and privateers who have a significant investments in these cars. The European, Middle East and Asia Pacific series attract the majority of their entries from owners of this these machines.

The move also restricts the ability of a number of the World Championship teams to earn useful income by building WRCs for well heeled regional drivers.
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Who's brilliant idea was this.

Apart from national series, where can teams now train younger drivers in WRC cars without the pressure of World Championship events, and as Malcolm Wilson said, this will add to budget's, causing more problems, not less.

[SJ Spode]

Poor idea all round I think

[Lee Janotta]

Good motives, but as is typical with the FIA, miserable execution. The banning of WRC I could see, but why the hell ban the best class formula in rally history, Grp. A?

This will also kill the chances of a lot of less well-funded Group N drivers, as the class will now become quite crowded with young factory-backed drivers.

It also, sadly, locks out wildcard entries from getting anywhere near the works cars in their home rallies.

Subaru and Mitsubishi are the only parties I can see really benefitting from this.

[gomick]

seems ok in australian championship - gone are the 2 wrc cars which have challenged for the past 10 championships and now the grp N title is producing great rallying

[rdjones]

A very poor idea. How are drivers ment to get experience in WRC car by driving Grp N or Super 1600 cars in regional and national championship, because without this training ground we will not get the future Colin McRae's of this world, and that would be a bad thing alround.

[StuiE]

Originally posted by gomick
seems ok in australian championship - gone are the 2 wrc cars which have challenged for the past 10 championships and now the grp N title is producing great rallying

not all of the cars are Group N, i know that Stuart Warren's Ultim8 Motorsport EvoIV is infact a Group A with restrictors.

[SJ Spode]

There's an interesting piece on Regional Rally Cars at www.worldrallynews.com.

A way forward perhaps...............

[DNQ]

Originally posted by gomick
seems ok in australian championship - gone are the 2 wrc cars which have challenged for the past 10 championships and now the grp N title is producing great rallying

Correct - won't change things in Australia, so I am not too concerned

But yes, I agree it's a very poor idea - what the hell is the point of doing something that robs the rallying world of young blood? And ****es everyone off???

[alfasud]

I've heard from local NZ press reports that the problem was mainly in the Middle East where very wealthy drivers could afford the latest WRC car each year. But it has the potential of ruining regional championshipslike Asia-Pacific where a number of competitors have invested in WRC or Group A cars and are not going to *also* prepare a Group N car - certainly as soon as 2003.

It should be noted that none of the reports say you can't run Group A in National championships - just Regional championships.

I've also heard that if all the countries in the region agree, the Regional championship can continue to run Group A (including WRC cars), so this gives a chance to save the Asia-Pacific championship for 2003. The only problem for Asia-Pacific is that Australia might not agree and so force the championship to run Group N.

[SJ Spode]

www.worldrallynews.com is reporting that WRC teams are banding together to promote a mildly de-tuned breed of World Rally Car to meet the FIA’s quest for a new, cheaper category.

The idea, backed in principle by Subaru, Ford and Hyundai, advoctaes the removal of some of the more expensive features, such as active front and rear differentials and semi-automatic gearchanges, but that the bodyshell and engine are much the same. Initial thoughts however are that it won't be that much cheaper

[Onlooker]

Originally posted by gomick
seems ok in australian championship - gone are the 2 wrc cars which have challenged for the past 10 championships and now the grp N title is producing great rallying

Australian rallying has not been as cometitive for ages as the last few years have been "bought" by Subaru not that they havent done a good job but I think this years champ is more reflective of the driving championship than in the past.

[SJ Spode]

From wrc.com

Motorsport's governing body the FIA has postponed its plans to ban World Rally Cars from regional championships next year.

Following a request from all the affected regions, a fax vote of the World Motorsport Council has deferred the ban in regional championships until January 1 2004.

[racer69]

Good idea i feel. For starters it was too short notice i think.

Also, it gives people another year to get this rule abolished