Rally shake-up on way, too

17th December 2008

As with their Formula One counterparts, World Rally Championship organisers are feeling the effects of the financial crisis. So they are also planning new rules to cut costs and attract fresh marques to the series. Under the proposals, teams would abandon the current hi-tech WRC racers in favour of much simpler, cheaper S2000 machines, such as the Skoda Fabia. These normally aspirated four-wheel-drive cars already compete in the rival Intercontinental Rally Championship (IRC).

However, turbocharged engines and various aerodynamic modifications are likely to be allowed. Peugeot, Fiat and Skoda support the IRC, and the WRC hopes they will join current world front-runners Citroen, Ford and Subaru in the revised series.