WRC Rally Kenya
Rovanpera: WRC technical overhaul for 2025 “makes no sense”
Kalle Rovanpera says he “doesn’t really understand” the thinking behind the FIA’s proposal to shake up the World Rally Championship Rally1 regulations for next year.
Tom Howard
Edited: Mar 28, 2024, 8:02 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Last month, the world motorsport governing body released a raft of proposals designed to improve top-level rallying that included widespread changes to technical and sporting regulations.
The proposals, which the FIA wishes to ratify in June, include changes to the Rally1 class that will be implemented next year, two years before the end of the agreed homologation cycle. Hybrid power is set to be removed from the cars, which will also undergo a reduction in performance and aerodynamics to bring them closer into line with Rally2 cars.
In addition to this, an upgrade kit, priced at around €5,000, will be made available to Rally2 cars to create a “Rally2 Plus” car capable of competing with the top class. This will form part of a transitional period until new Rally1 regulations – based on the current car but capped at €400,000 – are introduced in 2026, forming the basis of the top class for 2027 onwards.
The technical changes for next year have so far been met negatively by WRC teams while Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville has strongly opposed the call.
Read Also:
Speaking to media about the changes for the first time at Safari Rally Kenya, two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera said the changes to the cars for 2025 made “no sense”.
“For sure, it [the cars] will be less [pleasure to drive] than now. There are some good things about the new ideas, but there is also the car thing [changes] which makes no sense for me, to make a big hassle for two years and use more money to make two classes that will never be fully equal or connected.
“Yes, I understand they [the FIA] want more cars on the same main class on the start list but that is it. They should focus now to make the new rules for 2027 and then maybe hopefully we will see new teams coming.”
Kalle Rovanperä, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Photo by: Toyota Racing
Asked if stability in the regulations was needed, he added: “Exactly, that [stability] has been the issue. So far there has been no real plan for the future, so no new teams come. If you reduce the costs and make the cars whatever you want, but make it for two years after – but this transition phase I don’t really understand.”
It appears the majority of the Rally1 drivers share the same view. Rovanpera’s Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans also believes the focus should be on 2027.
“Personally, I think we should stay as we are and focus on doing a proper job for 2027,” he said. “I think there is a big job to do to fix this and I think, ultimately there is a commitment for the next years anyway, we should forget about what is happening in the next two years and make a proper plan for 2027.”
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak suggested that the decision to make changes for next year was “working against” manufacturers.
“It doesn’t matter what the drivers say, it is more about keeping the manufacturers happy,” he said.
“We have only limited manufacturers at the moment and even with the situation of where we are at the moment, we are working against the manufacturers that are sticking to the sport, which is a bit strange behaviour.”
Watch: Safari Rally Kenya Shakedown highlights
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Toyota to deploy suspension update at WRC Safari Rally Kenya
Next article WRC Safari Rally: Neuville edges Tanak to grab early lead
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Tom Howard
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
WRC
WRC
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
Adrien Fourmaux confident of WRC drive despite 2027 uncertainty
WRC
WRC
Adrien Fourmaux confident of WRC drive despite 2027 uncertainty
More from
Ott Tanak
Ott Tanak to make ARA debut on WRC fact finding mission
WRC
WRC
Ott Tanak to make ARA debut on WRC fact finding mission
Ott Tanak: Never say never on WRC 2027 return but “no plan” for the moment
WRC
WRC
Rally Greece
Ott Tanak: Never say never on WRC 2027 return but “no plan” for the moment
Latest news
Cadillac signs Ricky Taylor, Antonio Felix da Costa in refreshed 2027 WEC line-up
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
38 min
Cadillac signs Ricky Taylor, Antonio Felix da Costa in refreshed 2027 WEC line-up
Christian Horner takes cheeky swipe at Guenther Steiner: 'He never achieved an F1 podium'
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Christian Horner takes cheeky swipe at Guenther Steiner: 'He never achieved an F1 podium'
Franco Morbidelli on securing most coveted WSBK ride: 'Clearly Ducati has some trust in me'
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Japanese GP
2 h
Franco Morbidelli on securing most coveted WSBK ride: 'Clearly Ducati has some trust in me'
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe