Hello rally fans :)!
The 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC) season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with plenty of changes and updates to keep it interesting. From new/old rules to new faces in WRC1, here are seven key things to keep in mind as we open the new season.
- Farewell, Hybrid Power✌🏻👋🏻
One of the biggest changes is the end of hybrid engines on Rally1 cars. Starting with the 2025 season, Rally1 cars will return to being powered exclusively by combustion engines. This decision was made at the end of 2024 and it’s a shift back to the old days, with the electric motor officially phased out.
- A New Tire Supplier
For the next three seasons (2025 to 2027), Hankook will replace Pirelli as the sole tyre supplier for the championship. Chosen through a detailed process during 2024 season, Hankook now has the challenging task of proving itself on the world stage. It will be interesting to see how drivers adapt to the new tires and whether they impact performance.s.
- A Bigger Calendar
The 2025 season will feature 14 events, one more than last year. Among the highlights are the debuts of Canary Islands, Paraguay, and Saudi Arabia on the WRC calendar. These new additions promise to bring fresh challenges and unique rally stages. (I’m still pissed at Saudi Arabia 🙃..)
Photo credit to: WRC.
- A Revamped Scoring System
The scoring system has been updated yet again, following the heated discussion changes introduced last season. The maximum points a driver can earn in an event have increased from 30 to 35. This new system is designed to further optimize competition and keep the championship race thrilling until the final rally.
Photo credit to: WRC
- Enhanced Live Data
WRC broadcasts are about to get even better. Starting at the 2025 Rallye Monte Carlo, fans will have access to more in depth live data from Rally1 cars (much better than just showing the km’s into the stage, speed and hybrid power). This initiative is led by Andrea Adamo and dubbed “Live Data Transmission,” will be rolled out gradually, offering a closer look at the performance of the cars and the strategies of the teams.
- Driver Lineup Changes
The driver lineups for the 2025 season include some significant updates:
• Toyota: will be having four drivers at every event, with Sébastien Ogier participating in cca 5-6 rallies.
• Hyundai: Adrien Fourmaux has joined the team. He switched from M-Sport.
• M-Sport: Signed Grégoire Munster (🙃🫥🙄) and Josh McErlean, with Mārtiņš Sesks competing in six events as their third driver😍!!
- Defending Champions
The reigning champions, Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe (drivers) and Toyota (manufacturers), head into the new season with set goals. The 2025 season promises intense competition! Will we see a repeat from Neuville and Toyota, or will new champions emerge, we can only sit back and wait?
I’m going to miss WRC Croatia Rally this year but we are back in the game next year! Fast forward to then please😅?
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Thank you for upvoting, reblogging & commenting. It is greatly appreciated :)❤️!
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