As usual during the short World Rally Championship off-season, motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, has tweaked the regulations for the forthcoming year.
Running to more than 90 pages, the newly published 2009 FIA World Rally Championship Sporting Regulations is a hefty and detailed document. But for people who want to understand every intricate detail of the sport, it’s an essential read. Luckily, a revised layout this year makes it far less complex than before.
You can download a full version from the sporting regulations section of the FIA’s website, http://www.fia.com.
If, however, you just want a quick summary of the important developments for this year then read on. We’ve listed some of the key changes - plus a couple of clarifications on other areas.
Calendar
Revised: This year’s 12-round WRC calendar is the first to be planned according to the FIA’s two year rotation system. In 2010 a different 12 rallies are scheduled to run. This year’s calendar will return in 2011, and so on. This year’s calendar contains fewer rallies that any season since 1996, when a previous rotation system meant there were just nine WRC events. New or returning rallies for this year are Ireland, Australia, Poland, Cyprus, Portugal and Norway.
Cars
Clarification: The World Rally Car era is coming to an end. This season will be the last that this type of vehicle will compete alone at the top level of the sport. 2010 will be a transitional season when a new specification of World Rally Car, based on a Super 2000 vehicle, will compete alongside the existing machinery. From 2011, however, the Super 2000 based model will take over completely. More technical details of the Super 2000 conversion will be released by the FIA this year.
Support championships
Revised: Both the Production Car World Rally Championship (P-WRC) and the Junior World Rally Championship (J-WRC) consist of eight rounds, from which competitors select six. Four of the eight rounds (Portugal, Argentina, Sardinia and Greece) count for both the P-WRC and the J-WRC.
FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers 2009
Clarification: Two types of team will contest the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers in 2009. Their names are similar but they are very different. Two car manufacturers (Citroen and Ford) have entered, and each will tackle the full 12 round series. Entries for this category closed on 15 December 2008 - so no more are expected. In addition, two Manufacturer Teams (previously known as ‘M2’) have entered the eight round contest. These are the Citroen Junior and Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team. More entries in this category are possible because the registration deadline isn’t until 1 March.
Mechanics in service
Revised: As a cost cutting measure, the FIA has reduced the number of mechanics permitted to work on cars in a service area (at the same time) from six in 2008 to four this year. This number does not include the driver and co-driver who are also permitted to lend a hand.
Safety crews
Revised: On some events safety crews (a driver and a co-driver) are allowed to drive through stages before the competitors to inform them of last minute changes to their pacenotes. In the past there could be one safety crew per competitor. For this year each team is limited to just one safety crew.
Tyres
Revised: Pirelli remain single tyre supplier to the WRC and will use largely the same range of PZero (asphalt) Scorpion (gravel) and SottoZero (snow) tyres this year that was introduced in 2008. The only exception is a new, wider, studded snow tyre designed to fit a standard 15 inch gravel wheel and cut out the need for teams to purchase narrow 16 inch rims purely for snow rallies.
The FIA has allocated tyres from Pirelli’s range for each of the 12 rallies, so that on nine events just one type is available. Exceptions are Ireland, where a non-studded winter tyre is an option, and Spain where hard and soft compound variants of the PZero will be available. An asphalt and gravel tyre are on the FIA options list for the mixed surface Rally Cyprus, but it looks like teams will be asked to use only the hard compound gravel tyre for all stages.
The quantity of tyres available for each car per rally is based on the number of tyre changing services and the category of competition. For Priority 1 and Priority 2 competitors, a maximum of six tyres per tyre change plus six tyres for shakedown are permitted (note - cars can carry two spares). P-WRC and non priority drivers of 4WD cars are allowed a maximum of four tyres per tyre change plus five tyres for shakedown. J-WRC entrants are allowed 24 tyres per event including shakedown.
Championship points
Revised: Full points will be awarded at the end of every WRC rally - even if it is substantially shortened. Previously, fewer points would be allocated if the competitive distance was cut short. This revision was brought in to protect P-WRC and J-WRC competitors who might - through no fault of their own - be unable to score full points on any of their six nominated rallies.
Fuel
Revised: The FIA has chosen Carless to replace Shell as fuel supplier to the World Rally Championship. The specification of fuel has been altered to make it more environmentally friendly.
Mechanical linking
Revised: To suit the reduced number of rallies in 2009, the FIA has altered the linking rules that govern the cost saving multiple use of chassis, engines, gearboxes and some spare parts.
Engine linking
Revised: Manufacturer or Manufacturer Teams must list the rallies to be run with the same engine links (a minimum of two rallies). Manufacturer and Manufacturer Teams which contest 10 to 12 rallies must nominate four engine links per car. Manufacturer Teams which will tackle eight or nine rallies must list three engine links per car.
Chassis restrictions
Revised: For Manufacturers and Manufacturer Teams the use of chassis for both testing and competing in WRC events will be limited to: Eight chassis for each Manufacturer. Eight chassis for each Manufacturer Team which will content 10 to 12 events, and seven chassis for each Manufacturer Team which has nominated eight or nine events. If the maximum number of chassis is exceeded, a time penalty of five minutes will be imposed.
Transmission and spare parts linking
Revised: For a Manufacturer or a Manufacturer Team, a list of linked rallies intended to be run with the same transmission and spare parts must be notified prior to the first rally in which they will take part as: Four links per car for a Manufacturer. Four links per car for a Manufacturer Team which has nominated 10-12 rallies. Three links per car for a Manufacturer Team which has nominated eight or nine rallies.
Transmission notes: For Manufacturers and Manufacturer Teams, two gearbox and differential assemblies per car will be sealed on the first rally of each link. Only these units must be used on the linked rallies. If two gearbox and differential assemblies have been used on the first rally of a link, only once per season, two different gearbox and differential assemblies may be sealed without incurring a penalty.
Spare parts notes: For cars entered by a Manufacturer or a Manufacturer Team, the following parts will be sealed before the first rally of each link: One front subframe and one rear subframe fitted on the car. Two spare front subframes and 2 spare rear subframes for a two car team. One steering rack fitted on the car. Two spare steering racks for a two car team.
