WRC2 rules tweaked to force battles
The FIA will make major changes to next year’s WRC2 regulations – forcing competitors to go head-to-head with each other on at least three times in the season.
One of the primary criticisms of this year’s WRC2 title fight has been the lack of rallies where the leading crews have competed against each other. Current regulations permit the drivers to select seven rallies from the 13-round calendar, with no need to pre-determine which events they will compete on.
Last time out in Germany, series frontrunners Pontus Tidemand and Teemu Suninen were present in Trier, but not registered for points. Next year, the final three rounds of WRC2 will be fixed with all crews coming together to compete against each other.
Mahonen said: “WRC2 has developed very well, but I have one problem with this championship – the best don’t meet. We were supposed to have 14 (now 13) events the guys select the rallies tactically, saying: ‘He’s not here, so now we go there…’ We had to find a solution and that’s to nominate three rallies where they have to meet, this will make it more exciting.”
Mahonen also told MN that WRC3 will be ditched for next season. The FIA has issued a tender for those interested in running next year’s Junior WRC. The governing body has dropped the idea of trying to focus its junior effort on ERC with the winner stepping into the WRC. Next year’s Junior WRC will run in the world championship.