The next generation of World Rally Championship machinery will retain the same engines currently used in Rally1-specification World Rally Cars.
There had been a wideranging discussion between WRC stakeholders concerning the potential for running an R5-based (Rally2) engine as the championship moves into a hybrid era for 2022.
An announcement by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council on Tuesday confirmed however that the current Global Race Engine will be retained.
A statement from the FIA also confirmed Compact Dynamics as the sole supplier of hybrid parts – including the battery and powertrain – for the new cars.
DirtFish understands that while a large number of companies were involved in the initial stages of the tender process, the decision came down to the German-based Compact Dynamics and a joint bid from Williams Advanced Engineering and Bosch, which both work extensively in the FIA’s all-electric Formula E series.
The statement said: “The FIA launched an invitation to tender on December 19 2019 to select a single hybrid supplier in the 2022‐2024 World Rally Championship for the new Rally1 class vehicles.
“The World Council approved the appointment of Compact Dynamics as the single supplier, as well as provisions for the Rally1 engine technical regulations to retain the same base engine as current but with measures to reduce costs and development.”
The continued use of the Global Race Engine has been the subject of intensive debate in recent months – with M-Sport and Hyundai leaning towards a GRE departure earlier in the year.
Deeper analysis and investigation means the GRE remains, and service park sources were quick to stress a commonality of approach and agreement on the 2022 engine from the teams.
On source said: “While the potential for working from a Rally2 [R5] base engine might have been more economic, it would have raised questions over reliability and durability as well as performance.
“We would need to have more [Rally2-based] engines to get through the season, whereas we can make the GRE last longer.”
Toyota Gazoo Racing had always been in favour of retaining the more bespoke GRE for 2022.
