APRC to implement 32mm restrictors from 2018 season

A new set of regulations were finalised at the APRC meeting after the International Rally of Johor, APRC President Vicky Chandhok said.

“We finalised a set of regulations. Instead of the 34mm restrictor that is there, we have made it to 32mm,” he told Motorsport.com.

“People were saying that no one is ready to homologate cars with the 34mm restrictor because the FIA regulation is 32. That was a major breakthrough,” he added.

Chandhok felt that the drop in power would not really be an issue.

“We are looking at a loss of about 40bhp but it does not matter. We had a debate on that but I think we should start following the FIA regulations. We have to try and implement them,” he stated. “There is a power difference but it is the same for everyone.

“For next year, all ASNs have agreed to follow the 32mm regulation. Asia will implement in 2018 and Australia and New Zealand will do so in 2019.

“We are going to try and get some of those cars to join the grid. Our idea is to have at least those double digit grids. We have had two car grids running in the past but my mission is to see more cars because the APRC is a fantastic championship,” he noted.

With the Mitsubishi Mirage cars now numbering three in Malaysia, Chandhok said things were looking up. “The Mirages have now stepped up to three cars. We had only two in Australia and there were three in Malaysia,” he informed.

“We had nine cars in Malaysia and it was really encouraging. But in Hokkaido, I think we will get 11 and that is a much stronger grid.

“The APRC is seeing the number of cars growing and it will be nice to have manufacturer interest in the championship,” he added.

However, Chandhok agreed that with the last round being in Chikmagalur, it is a bit of a problem getting more cars. “It will be good to get six or eight cars. Farooq Ahmed (from the Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur) was also in Malaysia and we are pushing to have 6-8 cars,” he said.