New WRC rules mean no more turbos

[WRXtranceformed]

Lol wut?

The World Rally ChampionshipÔÇÖs governing body, the FIA World Motor Sport Council has just confirmed that as of 2011 competing vehicles must use non-turbocharged naturally aspirated engines ÔÇô a move that has series veteran and all-star S├®bastien Loeb considering a new career path.

The new rules will allow for certain aerodynamic changes to the Super 2000 (or S2000) cars, however, the decision to move away from turbocharged powerplants was made to open up the series to more manufacturers ÔÇô including Skoda, Abarth, Peugeot and Proton ÔÇô by making it less expensive to run a competitive car.

These rules may also be to blame for other manufacturers leaving the series. Several months ago Subaru announced that it would not compete in the 2009 season, stating economic concerns, however, it is just as likely that the the company had no intention of running with the new rules (which donÔÇÖt take effect until 2011).

Turbochargers are set to return to the series in 2013, but mated to smaller 1600c (1.6-liter) engines.

Five-time WRC Champion S├®bastien Loeb, whoÔÇÖs contract with Citro├½n is up at the end of this season, has expressed his displeasure with the new rules and his desire to try his hand at other forms of motorsports.

ÔÇ£The excitement will not be the same,ÔÇØ Loeb told AutoWeek. I always said it would be better with the turbo, and this is how I feel.ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£We donÔÇÖt have to decide anything until 2011,ÔÇØ he continued. ÔÇ£When that comes, maybe I can move to something more interesting.ÔÇØ

What exactly he might move to is the Le Mans series, as Loeb is already scheduled to test a Peugeot 908 HDi Le Mans prototype this year.

ÔÇ£S├®bastienÔÇÖs contract is up at the end of this year,ÔÇØ a Citro├½n source told AutoWeek. ÔÇ£ThereÔÇÖs really nothing for him to prove to stay on in WRC. He has won every rally and broken every record. Maybe he can leave at the end of 2009 and start racing straight away next year.ÔÇØ

[.RJ]

Lol wut?

Its called sustainability.

[ScottyB]

sad but true. even if new brands come aboard i just don't expect it to be as fun to watch.

i wonder how this will also affect cars/brands built on the foundation of rally supremecy like the Evo and STi moving forward. i imagine the companies will continue to improve the models and built the brand around the cars but what venue will they show the technology off in, besides D1 :lol:

[Evan]

the angry squirrel anti-lag will be missed, but ultimately all that is important is the racing and competition.

WRC homologation rules havent required AWD or turbo production cars for a long time, Subaru and Mistu are out of the WRC, and the WRX/STi and
EVO are popular profitable vehicles on their own anyway.

[D_Eclipse9916]

I Dont think it will be too sorely missed. Gone are the days of small liter, turbocharged f1 cars, but F1 still enjoys popularity today.

New technology will be brought on board for NA cars, im excited. I think the technology of WRC really helped bring in technologies to reduce lag times and turbo technology in general. I bet I wouldnt have had Anti-Lag and stutterbox on my GSX if it hadnt been in the WRC.

[Steve85]

Hmmm...I was under the impression that the only thing drives up costs more than a lack of regulations is ever changing regulations? Over the next 2 years those new entrants are looking at developing two very different powerplants and chassis' to go with them...

[DierwulfBL]

just like what happened in f1, im sure the open class NA cars will be simply amazing and just as fast. There was an NA 2.5RS at the last rally and a boxer at 10k sounds pretty good, although turbos noises and the anti-lag will be missed greatly. We will see, if stage times are considerably worse then they blew it

[Goodspeed]

Lame.

Hmmm...I was under the impression that the only thing drives up costs more than a lack of regulations is ever changing regulations?

You know what would be cheap as hell? Mandating old-tech laggy turbos.



They're moving in the wrong direction.