The future of hybrid power in the World Rally Championship remains a question mark beyond the end of 2024.
While no decision has been reached, DirtFish understands the matter of retaining or ditching hybrid power was discussed by the WRC Commission earlier this month, after teams raised concerns about rules surrounding resetting the Compact Dynamics-supplied units when encountering an issue.
Teams are no longer allowed carte-blanche to reset hybrid units, instead being told they must be sent to Compact Dynamics for repairs under certain conditions. Those repairs are believed to start at a cost of €50,000.
Opinions are split on whether ditching hybrid is for the best. If it does happen, the change would be signed off at the next FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting on December 11.
But where do the manufacturer teams in the World Rally Championship stand on the issue? We asked – and they answered.
Hyundai
Hyundai is moving strongly towards electrification for road cars, but says hybrid isn’t a prerequisite for WRC participation
Of the three manufacturers currently present in the championship, Hyundai has the strongest slant towards electrification of its performance brand products. It recently discontinued production of its i20 N and i30 N road car models, leaving the Elantra N (outside of Europe) as its only combustion-powered performance vehicle in showrooms. The Ioniq 5 N flagship is all-electric.
Despite its positioning in the road car market, motorsport president Cyril Abiteboul indicated that hybrid isn’t a prerequisite for Hyundai’s participation in the WRC.
“We don’t have a preference apart from the fact that we need to have a pragmatic view about the situation,” Abiteboul told DirtFish.
“We always believe in the electrification of motorsport, electrification of WRC. But we don’t have a preference. But equally, we need to watch out for the situation in which we are, which is a complex situation.”
Hybrid units are supplied to teams through a single supplier appointed by the FIA through a tender system. There was controversy in the World Rallycross Championship last year when a battery aboard a Special One Racing-run Lancia Delta caught fire during the series’ UK round while its electric battery was charging.
Kreisel is the manufacturer of the full powertrain in World RX and of the 3.9 kWh battery in the hybrid system Compact Dynamics supplies to teams via the FIA tender.
World RX battery fire has had knock-on consequences for WRC
“We all know the event associated to the technology in rallycross and the side impact that it had in this sport,” Abiteboul continued. “We also equally know that some teams are struggling more than some others in relation to availability of units.
“What matters the most is the sustainability of the sport and the stability of the sport, rather than anything else. We need cars, we need a stable technology, a technology that doesn’t create negativity. Because right now when we talk about hybrid, it’s more in negative terms than in positive terms. So that’s absolutely the opposite of the desired effects. So again, we will be pragmatic.”
Hyundai’s WRC program manager Christian Loriaux backed up Abiteboul’s comments, pointing out that his team would “go with what is in the interest of the sport.”
“We’re happy with, we’re happy without,” he surmised.
Painting the removal of hybrid as a purely cost-saving exercise may not be as straightforward as first seems, though. Compact Dynamics has a contract to supply the FIA with hybrid units until the end of 2026, which would need to be terminated early – which would come at some sort of cost. And there’s the investment already poured into the technology that would be lost, something Loriaux himself highlighted.
“You could say that we’ve already invested in the hybrid,” said Loriaux. “But if it helps bring more people in, more drivers in, then our interest for everyone is to have as many cars as possible in the championship.”
Toyota
Toyota was a hybrid pioneer on the road but has a strong commitment towards WRC with or without it
In the road car market, Toyota was the first manufacturer to make hybrid mass-market with its Prius model. Across the duration of the Rally1 regulations cycle it has generally taken a pro-hybrid stance – though even its position appears to have softened on the issue.
As was the case for Loriaux, ensuring strong participation numbers is a priority for Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala.
“We need to have a sustainable championship,” said Latvala. “That is important. And we know that we don’t want to be fighting with issues [with the hybrid system].
“At the end of the day, we don’t mind which way we go. But we want to follow what is the best for the other teams.”
M-Sport
Hybrid had been considered key for keeping Ford involved in WRC
M-Sport is trapped between a rock and a hard place when it comes to hybrid.
In the lead up to the introduction of Rally1 cars, its position was emphatic: team principal Richard Millener confirmed that Ford would only continue its WRC involvement if hybrid was introduced in the 2022 regulations.
Fast forward to today and chess pieces are in vastly different positions on the board.
Of all the manufacturer teams, M-Sport has the smallest budget and therefore is hit hardest by an increase in repair costs for hybrid units. Its business model is also the most dependent on successfully selling and renting out Rally1 cars to customers – making affordability of purchasing and running Rally1 cars a higher priority compared to its rivals.
Customers are a crucial part of the equation for M-Sport
Meanwhile, Ford’s commitment to rally raid has stepped up with a works program for the Dakar, run by M-Sport and with reigning champion Carlos Sainz leading its four-car lineup. News on its investment into M-Sport’s WRC program, and in what quantity, is still yet to be confirmed.
M-Sport has the most to gain or lose from the future of hybrid systems in the WRC. It’s no surprise that of the three teams, it is holding its cards closest to its chest.
Millener is wonderfully chatty on most subjects. But recently, there have been two topics where he’s kept his answers extremely brief. The first is Adrien Fourmaux. When asked if there was any update on the Frenchman’s future at his team, Millener replied: “No.”
A few moments later, the question of hybrid was raised. The query was simple: hybrid, yes or no?
“Same answer to the Adrien Fourmaux question,” he replied.
