It’s hard to not see at least a huge decision being made in a World Motor Sport Council meeting, and the latest one, held in Philippines, presented new routes for the LMP1 class as well for the FIA World Rallycross Championship, among other competitions.
From the FIA WEC side, a sketch of the proposed technical rule change for 2020 pointed towards a ‘Hypercar’ concept, with manufacturers having freedom of design to incorporate the design of a road going machine in the prototype. The concept remind of the LMGTP days of the late 90s, but this new rule will not have the production requirements of the LMGTPs, which brought in many of the so called homologation specials.
Other measures approved included a program to improve the participation of female drivers in the FIA WEC, as well the change in the length of the Sebring round in the 2018/2019 season, effectively changing to 1000 miles.
In the rallycross department the tables will be turned towards electric racing, as the proposal of the FIA Electric World Rallycross Championship comes in to start in 2020. The drivers championship would still be there, but the current World RX teams championship would be separated in the manufacturers and the teams championships for factory teams and privateers respectively.
About the cars to be used in E-World RX, the concept is a 4 wheel drive silhouette with two motors in each axle to reach around 500 kW or 670 HP, with a common battery to be supplied by Williams and a common chassis to be supplied by ORECA. The latter has the experience in World RX due to its ties with Team Peugeot TOTAL and Sébastien Loeb Racing.
One of the things that’s still seen in World RX is the development of privateer-built machines, and in E-World RX they will be allowed to do so, under the conditions of using the common battery and chassis, as well design the body based on a generic car required by FIA. The STARD HIPER MK1 is the best example currently in the market, even though it’s still on tests only, and Volkswagen and Audi openly showed their support to the E-World RX a few years ago.
While more information about the new LMP1 regulations will come during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, further info about the E-World RX will not come too soon.
PHOTOS: FIA
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