The World Rally Championship is about to function new occasion codecs for chosen rounds subsequent season because it seems so as to add extra selection to its calendar.
The championship has lengthy been investigating adjustments to the size of its occasions with Rally Italy Sardinia trialling a condensed 48-hour idea earlier this yr.
This adopted a raft of proposals made by the FIA’s newly created working group designed to deal with the way forward for rallying in February.
This checklist of proposals included a push for occasion organisers to have extra flexibility when figuring out routes for WRC rounds as an alternative of being prescribed to a set format. It’s anticipated that every one rallies will, nevertheless, proceed to complete on Sundays.
It’s hoped {that a} selection in occasion lengths would add further character to rallies and subsequently add further storytelling capabilities.
WRC introduced its expanded 14-round 2025 calendar in July and in accordance with the WRC Promoter, chosen occasions will run completely different codecs subsequent yr.
“There might be a few occasions subsequent yr that may run barely completely different codecs. I do know one occasion that is most likely going to run a bit longer and I do know an occasion that is going to run, a tighter format,” stated occasion director Simon Larkin in a media spherical desk at Acropolis Rally Greece.
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Workforce Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
“We now have all the time stated we do not need there to be completely different manufacturers of occasions. We do not need there to be one thing referred to as a WRC dash. We do not need there to be one thing referred to as a WRC Endurance.
“We’re continuously informed by quite a lot of our multi-millionaire drivers issues are too difficult. We need not make it extra difficult.
“I already know there’s going to be one occasion that is going to run fairly a bit longer subsequent yr, which is nice, and a few others that may run barely modified, for me. It’s good.”
Which occasions will function completely different lengths subsequent season is inclear, however it’s understood Safari Rally Kenya did harbour a want to run an extended format.