Standing on the frozen grass of the Monte Carlo Rally as Sébastien Ogier powers past in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC, it certainly seems like the changes applied to the 2017 World Rally Championship (WRC) have worked a treat.
“The engine picks up so much faster before,” is the verdict from one punter. “You can really see the difference between the 2017 cars and last year’s models when they accelerate,” says another.
This year’s cars are running with more advanced active centre differentials that have to put 380bhp down onto Monte Carlo’s icy surface.
“It’s faster, but the extra power and more downforce is already increasing tyre wear,” says Tommi Mäkinen, four-time champion and team principle of Toyota Gazoo Racing. “It suits some drivers but others will wear tyres out faster.”
Drivers have had to adapt their driving styles to suit, and the varied surface conditions of the French Alps have made choosing the right tyres incredibly difficult. Some cars run with a mixture of soft and studded tyres to cater for snow and ice, so drivers have to be careful on dry sections so as not to wear studs.
It doesn’t work out for some: “I pushed too hard on the dry tarmac and I killed the studs before the ice,” admits Latvala after SS9. But Thierry Neuville fares much better in his Hyundai i20 Coupé, clocking the fastest time on several stages and beating even reigning champ Ogier for much of the weekend.
Thankfully, 2017’s speed increase hasn’t been met by reduced competition, as the four manufacturer brands involved in WRC’s top class remain neck and neck on almost every stage. The Fiestas, i20s, Citroën C3s and Toyota Yaris pairing are all drastically different machines, yet their pace is as close as ever and calling a winner after the third day is near impossible.
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Are faster cars needed??
So, while they seemed quicker - they didn't look massively quicker; maybe later in the season when they're dialled in properly we'll see how quick they are.
Final thought; it's okay changing the cars - but events need changing - 12-13 identikit events is not what the WRC should be about. Even the Monte had barely 250 miles of stages...that is a sprint!
And having Turini during the day is just wrong..Are faster
Disappointment for Citroën,
A great Neuville, but unlucky.
Bravo again Seb Ogier.
Perhaps the year of Neuville.
But great driving. The F1 has become so asepctic in comparison.
A great Monte-Carlo.
But I stay against aerodynamics.
There is another point. I think there is now too many points to distribute in the power stage (until 5), power stage which is at the opposite of the rally spirit.