Hayden Paddon recently said, ‘The future of our sport (the FIA World Rally Championship) is in real danger which is something that worries me deeply. But the reality is, there is no simple answer to what the solution is.’ The ex-World Rally Championship driver is referring to the future of the category with new regulations banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in Europe from 2035. What will happen to both Rally 1-4 classes and the world championship with the changing of their foundation, motor vehicle manufacturing.
Earlier in 2023, the European Parliament formally approved a law effectively banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the European Union from 2035, aiming to speed up the switch to electric vehicles and combat climate change.
The landmark rules will require that by 2035 carmakers must achieve a 100% cut in CO2 emissions from new cars sold, which would make it impossible to sell new fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the 27-country bloc.
With the reliance on vehicle manufacturers models as a basis for competing, the WRC faces some tough questions, as Paddon has stated, on its future direction and what form this will take.
Paddon and his team began developing an all-electric Hyundai Kona rally car back in 2019 and with continuous development, it certainly has been a head-turner and a ‘weapon’ on both demonstration runs and competitive hillclimbs.
“Our EV rally project is not about saying that EV is the answer,” said Paddon. “It’s about thinking outside the square to show alternative methods can work – whether that be Hydrogen or EV.
“The first question is determining who the customers/stakeholders of WRC will be in 5-10 years’ time. Will it be manufacturers or privateer teams? I know many say Rally2 is an option (which on the surface looks like a good option), however Rally2 doesn’t work without manufacturer involvement in terms of car builds and homologations.”
If European car manufacturing is effectively all electric, this will bring about the demise of what we currently have and enjoy. This change may already be happening as we are unlikely to see any new manufacturers joining the competition and those that are currently competing may well exit early.
It won’t just be rallying that is affected. Think of all the European touring car competitions?
Is this the reason we see a renewed interest in both Formula One and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) where the car on the track bears no resemblance to the car on the road?
For the manufacturers, it is all about promoting the brand and not the model. Audi will be on the Formula One grid from 2026, Porsche made an aborted attempt to join them while General Motors is relying on Andretti Autosport’s bid to be one of two additional teams that may also be in the starting lineup. They will join manufacturers Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin and Alpine with engine supplier Honda and Ford also making a return.
WEC has welcomed Ferrari and Porsche, Cadillac and Peugeot to the new Hyper Class in 2023 with the impending arrival of Lamborghini, BMW and Alpine in 2024.
So, what of the future of WRC? “There is no simple answer,” says Paddon. “I think regardless, a bold decision has to be made to jump in the deep end and try something.”
We may very well look back on the road that Paddon has embarked on in 2019 with appreciation and respect for his tackling the issue.
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