The world Rally championship will undergo a great change in the technical aspect of the category in 2022. The soon-to-be called “Rally1” will enter the electric world by joining the hybrid units, which are becoming more and more trending in the motorsport world, starting with Formula 1. We are going to see all the details of this new Rally1 2022.
The FIA (International Automobile Federation) has provided some details on the new cars that will race in the top flight of the WRC (World Rally Car) from 2022, called Rally1. As we had previously announced in the title of this note, the cars will no longer follow the ‘World Rally Car’ nomenclature, but will instead be the spearhead of the new pyramid that the FIA will adopt with respect to the World Rally Championship and will adopt a series of changes: hybrid technology, aggressive aesthetics and reduced costs, among others.
It is no surprise, because in June of last year the International Automobile Federation confirmed that the hybridization would reach the World Rally Championship and the idea finally came to fruition. In addition, they stressed that the idea was to design cheaper cars than the current ones in order to guarantee an accessible show and thus attract the attention of brands.
Technical analysis:
We start with the analysis of these Rally1 2022:
The Rally1s will follow a similar line to the current WRCs, with aggressive appearances and a loving sound, but there will also be details more typical of the Rally2 (old R5), especially in terms of transmission and aerodynamics, to lower costs.
The weight / power ratio will remain at current levels, at 3.1 kilos per HP. In theory, the Rally1s will be more accessible and sustainable cars, preserving the virtues of the WRC, but with the economic Pro for the participating brands. A formula that (for now) seems correct.
Let’s look at the FIA pyramid for the weight / power ratio of each category:
Approved technical changes:
Transmission:
- All-wheel drive, five-speed transmission, very similar in concept to the current Rally2 rules.
- Single level type differential, no center differential, just a kinematic drivetrain.
- A maximum of six drivetrain units per car per year is allowed.
Suspension :
- Wheel travel or reduced travel.
- Simplified shocks with reduced reach for homologation upgrades.
- Bushings, hub carriers and stabilizer bar designs will be simplified.
- Only a mandatory suspension arm specification.
Powertrain:
- Liquid brake cooling is no longer allowed.
Fuel tank:
- Simplified form.
Aerodynamics:
- Free volume body area to allow aggressive styling.
- Hidden duct aerodynamic effect, eliminated.
- Simplified rear aerodynamics.
Hybrid system operation:
The new Rally1s will deliver a peak power of 514 hp thanks to their new hybrid powertrains.
This figure of horsepower evidently gives us the simple account of adding the 380 CV currently provided by internal combustion engines, also known as Global Engine, which will maintain their main characteristics as they are four-cylinder and 1.6-liter with turbo, accompanied in this case, for the 100 kW and 180 Nm of torque (adding the 134 hp that is missing) that the plug-in hybrid units designed by Compact Dynamics will provide.
When and how will the extra power provided by the hybrid system be used?
Obviously those extra 134 hp will not be able to be used throughout the section and the FIA has confirmed that the teams will use engine maps that will be pre-programmed in the ECU before a special to allow their use in certain sections, while mode 100 % electric, with a maximum autonomy of 20 kilometers according to the WLTP cycle, it will be used in the interchanges or in the circulation through the service park (mandatory in some places marked in the Road Book), initially restricting to half the horsepower in order to do so. extend battery life. The drivers will also have the maximum joint power at the start, for 10 seconds, which will allow the car to launch with greater speed at the start of the route.
To clarify, those 100 kW and 180 Nm of hybrid torque will be applied directly to the transmission shaft, so that power will be distributed between both axles and will not imply an imbalance when it comes to delivering it, a key point for a Rally car.
Rally1 safer than WRC
The MGU, which operates at up to 12,000 rpm, the battery, which operates at up to 750 volts, and the inverter control unit are sealed in a carbon fiber casing to withstand potential forces and impacts in the event of an accident. The unit is designed to withstand a 70G impact. The new cars will have high-performance tubular steel chassis and a safety cage designed by Federation technicians to improve protection against side impacts, frontal collisions against fixed elements and collisions with trees or poles.
Some of the most important safety results are as follows:
- Side impact with a 10-inch (25.4-centimeter) post, the equivalent of hitting a tree, showed a 51% reduction in the intrusion of the tree into the cabin in the door area.
- In the main roll bar area of the structure, the addition of a second lateral roll bar meant that post intrusion was reduced by 38%. The post test for rear impact showed the same improvement.
- The roof section of the structure, which must withstand the impacts generally seen during a rollover, can absorb energy up to 115% better than a current WRC body reinforced by a traditional roll cage.
- A frontal impact against a rigid element resulted in 70% less intrusion in the area of the bulkhead that protected the feet and legs of the occupants.
What about the old WRC models?
For those who still want a rally car without hybrid systems, the 2021 WRCs will be able to continue competing in 2022 in conjunction with the Rally1s, but will have to modify certain aspects.
To do this, current WRC cars will run approximately 30 hp less than the current specification, which will be achieved through a modification of the turbo restrictor. The only change on the cars will be to change the restrictor from 36mm to 33.7mm, which would reduce the power listed above