Group Rally1

Within the motorsport discipline of rallying, Group Rally1 is a formula of rally car specifications for use at the highest level of international rallying in the World Rally Championship (WRC) as determined by the FIA. Despite the use of the word 'Group' in the name, there are not multiple classes or subclasses of car and so 'Rally1' may be used alone with the same definition. Rally1 cars will be used for the first time in the 2022 WRC season and will replace the outgoing World Rally Car used in the manufacturer's championship. Though they may run on any individual rally as permitted by the organiser, they will not be used in any other championship.

Group Rally1
Motor racing formula
CategoryRallying
Country/RegionInternational
ChampionshipsWRC
Inaugural2022
DrivetrainFour Wheel Drive
Power to weight3.1kg/hp
AptitudeElite
GRR Co-efficient1.0
World Rally
Championship
 
Last complete season
Support championships
Former:
Car classes used
Related lists

The calls for new cars were made by the existing WRC competing manufacturers to reflect both changes in consumer marketing preferences, such as advancements in technology, and the need to reduce costs to make competing sustainable. The move to a new formula of car was approved in June 2018 along with a complete overhaul of cars and championships in the Rally Pyramid.[1]

Regulations

As of October 2021, the precise regulations have not been published by the FIA although they have provided evidence on the key changes and features to expect. One radical change is the introduction of hybrid electric power units for the first time. Rally1 cars will also feature common safety cells centrally designed in partnership with the FIA, with tubular space frame structures being permitted allowing for scaling of production models. Production chassis will also be permitted as tradition so it unclear what definition or method of homologation will occur. The existing 380hp 1.6L global race engine will continue to be used.

Other key features will include:[2][3]

  • synthetic fuels, claimed to be sustainable and renewable[4]
  • Artificial Intelligence Safety Cameras (AISC), to monitor the special stage for safety purpose, eg. out of place spectators[5]
  • less complex suspension with reduced travel
  • a reduction from 6 to 5 speed gearboxes, in common with Rally2 cars including the removal of 'flappy-paddle' gear shifters
  • removal of the active central differential altogether
  • ban on liquid cooled brakes
  • simplified fuel tank shape
  • simplified turbo
  • removal of the fresh air valve in the anti lag system
  • removal of some aerodynamic components

The changes to aerodynamics will remove expensive and commonly damaged parts such as the rear diffuser. Hidden ducts for cooling purposes will be banned.[6]

Hybrid system

The hybrid electric power system will be supplied to all teams by a third party, Compact Dynamics, incorporating a battery supplied by Kreisel Electric. It will be used to power the cars in 100% electric zones on liaison sections as set in the rally roadbook by the rally organiser. On the special stages it will also provide a boost of about 100 KW or 134 hp alongside the combustion engine and will recuperate kinetic energy. The driver will have three options to choose from to deploy the boost, with a further three options to choose on how to recuperate energy from the engine. The driver must set these options before a special stage and will not be able to choose when to deploy the electric boost within the stage. The hybrid electric system will add an extra 84kg to the cars gross weight. Due to the 750-volt hybrid system the cars will carry "HY" identification on the door, with a different colour background of the competition number to other vehicles.[3][5][7][8]

FIA Competition

Rally1 cars will only be permitted in the World Rally Championship where entered by the manufacturer teams. The cars may appear on individual rallies where entered by the manufacturers but not under a championship point-scoring situation.

In new Global Rally Rankings for drivers and co-drivers being introduced in 2022, Rally1 cars have a Group Co-efficient of 1.0.[9]

Cars

As the regulations have not yet been finalised no Rally1 cars have been homologated yet but Toyota Gazoo Racing, M-Sport and Hyundai Motorsport are all committed to enter cars in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and all are developing and testing prototypes.[10][11][12]

Manufacturer Car Debut Chassis Image
Hyundai Hyundai i20 N WRC Rally1[13] 2022
M-Sport Ford Ford Puma Rally1[14] 2022 Tubular,[15] Scaled[16]
Toyota Toyota GR Yaris WRC Rally1[17] 2022 Tubular[6]

References
  1. "FIA Rally Car Pyramid Brochure" (PDF). FIA.
  2. "WHAT'S BEHIND THE WRC'S NEW 2022 REGULATIONS?". WRC Promoter GmbH.
  3. "WRC - FIA ANNOUNCES HYBRID SUPPLIER FOR RALLY1 FROM 2022-2024 & A SET OF ENGINE TECHNICAL FEATURES TO REDUCE COSTS". FIA.
  4. "WRC SWITCHES TO 100% SUSTAINABLE FUEL; P1 EXCLUSIVE PROVIDER". WRC Promoter GmbH.
  5. "World Motor Sport Council Decisions October 2021". FIA. 15 October 2021.
  6. "2022 WRC car tech specs & regulations: what we know so far". WRCWings.tech.
  7. "FIA AND WRC TAKE 360-DEGREE APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE FUTURE". WRC Promoter GmbH.
  8. "AN ENGINEER'S GUIDE TO RALLY1". DirtFish.
  9. "FIA Global Rally Ranking Regulations" (PDF). FIA.
  10. "Toyota's first Rally1 car for 2022 takes shape". DirtFish. 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  11. "@msportltd". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  12. "WRC Manufacturers confirm 3-year "new deal" commitment to 2022 hybrid era". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 2021-03-31. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  13. "SORDO AND SOLBERG TO SHARE THIRD HYUNDAI IN 2022". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH.
  14. "M-Sport Ford unveils Puma Rally1 car – first pictures". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  15. "Q&A: MALCOLM WILSON ON THE NEW FORD PUMA RALLY1". DirtFish.
  16. "+ MOTOR 2021 - A FONDO CON MALCOLM WILSON". + MOTOR 2021.
  17. "TOYOTA GAZOO RACING CONFIRMS 2022 LINE-UP". WRC Promoter GmbH.
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