A LEADING Hyundai Motorsport engineer feels the regulations that have been agreed for the 2027 World Rally Championship onwards will keep it relevant and help safeguard its future.
Ballyclare’s Jamie McMillan – who made the move from M-Sport Ford to the Korean team with former champions Ott Tanak and Martin Jarveoja for the 2024 campaign – has spent the past few days examining the latest WRC technical regulations after they were ratified by the FIA.
Members of the governing body’s World Motor Sport Council met in Rwanda this month and agreed to develop the sport’s next top-flight car around a Rally2-specification spaceframe.
The one bone of contention is the cost cap that has been mooted as part of the ‘WRC Future Technical 2027 Proposal+’, with McMillan – and other senior figures from M-Sport Ford and Toyota Gazoo Racing – suggesting Є345,000 (£288,000) is unrealistic and will be much higher despite a number of the key components either being significantly downgraded or simplified.
Some have put the final cost closer to the Є400,000 mark, but either way, McMillan says this is still affordable for existing manufacturers – and could attract more to the Championship.
“I think the first thing to say is the steps are really positive,” McMillan told Irish News Sport.
“To have the framework outlined so early on by the FIA and to have it in the public domain provides clarity and allows teams and car manufacturers to start planning – it is a great step.
“From a Hyundai perspective in particular, knowing this so early is important – it also helps to agree budgets, so the sooner decisions like this and the outcomes are known, the better.
“Generally speaking, the cost-cutting is really important to retain the current manufacturers and to try and get some more interested.
“Currently, the cars are super expensive but the way the FIA is approaching the need to find efficiencies and make savings all seem sensible and from my side it is encouraging that the savings don’t seem to dilute the entertainment value.
“The next generation of car still needs to look and sound spectacular when they are on the stages – that is crucial. They must be exciting to watch because that is all part of the appeal.”
Aside from cost, Thierry Neuville – who was crowned this year’s World Rally Champion after coming close many times before – has expressed fears Rally2 cars will beat 2027 WRC cars.
The charismatic Belgian argues the framework could open the door to factory drivers like him being beaten by privateers in current Rally2 cars given that a Rally2-specification engine and transmission, brakes, double wishbone suspension and simpler aerodynamics underpin the next generation top-level WRC cars.
Attention has also been paid to dampers – another complex aspect of Rally1 – with their future design set to move in-house to reduce expense.
“There should still be a clear performance gap between the new Rally1 car and the support categories,” continues McMillan.
“Rally2 is a very much seen as a stepping stone, so I agree with Thierry: the top guys should not find themselves being beaten by anyone in a Rally2 car.
“Yes, of course there are instances where this has happened as we have seen, albeit in very specific conditions – where the rain’s just been blown in during a special stage, or on a short Super Special – but it should not become the norm, no.
“There still needs to be a distinction between what the top level is and what the support series is – that’s important for the sport. The concept is right but there are still a lot of details that need to be sorted,” added McMillan.