WRC News: Evans Tests 2025 Toyota GR Yaris Prototype, Expresses Disappointment
Ahead of the Croatia Rally, Elfyn Evans got a sneak peek at the future of the World Rally Championship (WRC) when he piloted a modified Toyota GR Yaris during a pre-event test last month. The test offered a glimpse into the WRC’s proposed 2025 regulations, which have been met with opposition from teams and drivers.
Footage from the test revealed the GR Yaris featuring revised aerodynamics, centered around a new rear wing design that appears to conform to the FIA’s 2025 regulations. Notably, Toyota is the only team to have developed and tested a 2025 prototype.
The FIA’s intention is to reduce the performance of Rally1 cars for the 2024 season by removing hybrid power and scaling back aerodynamics and air restrictors. This move aims to bring Rally1 cars more in line with Rally2 vehicles, with the hope of attracting a larger entry of competitors to battle at the sharp end of rallies.
“My opinion is quite clear” when pressed on whether this is the right direction for the WRC next year.
However, WRC teams and drivers have strongly opposed the new regulations, with teams requesting that the current rules remain in place until the end of 2026. Elfyn Evans, when asked about his experience with the modified GR Yaris, was blunt in his response, stating that it was “as expected” and “not so exciting.”
The FIA is reportedly working on a compromise with teams regarding the 2025 technical regulations, which could be announced this month before the June World Motor Sport Council meeting. FIA road sport director Andrew Wheatley provided further insight into the proposed rule changes during a media roundtable in Croatia.
“At the start of the five-year Rally1 process, it was very clear that the hybrid element was a three-year contract, and that is what we have with Compact Dynamics, but we are not changing the concept of Rally1,” Wheatley explained. “The only discussion we are having about changing Rally1 is to modify the rear wing. We want to take one plane of the rear wing off, we will keep the top plane. The changes are half of the spoiler, it is removing the hybrid unit, and it is compensating the weight difference, which means a smaller restrictor so effectively the power to weight ratio is negated.”
Stay tuned for further updates on the WRC 2024 calendar and the ongoing debate surrounding the 2025 technical regulations.
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