Relief for M-Sport-Ford as FIA Scraps Hybrid Power Units for 2025 WRC Season
As the World Rally Championship (WRC) gears up for the 2025 season, M-Sport-Ford lead engineer Tim Jackson has expressed relief that the removal of hybrid power won’t require a substantial overhaul of their Rally1 cars. The FIA’s confirmation last week that the 100kW control hybrid kits will be scrapped has brought much-needed clarity to the development landscape.
The decision to revert to 1.6-liter turbocharged internal combustion engines, powered by 100% sustainable fuel, has been driven by the rising costs associated with running hybrid units. This change stem from new safety guidelines introduced at Greece’s Acropolis Rally in September, which stipulate that hybrid units must be stripped and sent back to the factory for full repair if they suffer three shock errors over 15G or one over 25G.
“The power-to-weight ratio is the same basically. There is some work to do on ballast to adjust the car to that weight. When you have ballast to play with, you have the opportunity to move the centre of gravity.”
- Tim Jackson, M-Sport-Ford Lead Engineer
M-Sport, the only non-full factory team in the top class, had previously raised concerns about the feasibility of running a Rally1 program under the new hybrid regulations. However, with the hybrid power units being abandoned, these fears have been alleviated.
The FIA has also confirmed that the car’s minimum weight will be reduced from 1260 kilograms to 1180 kilograms, given the hybrid unit weighs 87kg. Additionally, a slightly smaller air restrictor – 35mm instead of 36mm – will be mandatory.
While these changes may not be as significant as those proposed earlier in the year, teams will need to adapt to the new regulations, including working with ballast to meet the minimum weight now that the hybrid unit has been removed. According to Jackson, the necessary changes will not require a “huge amount of work” during the off-season, citing the need to remove the cooling system and cover up openings on the car.
M-Sport has already utilized a homologation joker to improve its gear ratios for next year, while Hyundai and Toyota are also pressing on with significant developments for their vehicles.
The uncertainty surrounding the 2025 regulations had left teams’ development plans in limbo, but with the confirmation of the hybrid unit’s removal, teams can now focus on fine-tuning their cars. As the WRC 2025 season approaches, teams will be looking to make the most of the new regulations, with M-Sport already making strides in improving their gear ratios. With the removal of hybrid power, the focus shifts to optimizing the traditional internal combustion engine, powered by sustainable fuel, for the ultimate WRC 2024 calendar and beyond.
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