The 2022 World Rally Championship started with an event organized in Salzburg’s famous Hangar-7, Austria. The WRC promoters and FIA wanted to mark the unveiling of the ground-braking new Rally 1 cars with this promo gathering of all three WRC manufacturers and new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem (former WRC driver).
Toyota Gazoo Racing, Hyundai Motorsport and M-Sport Ford gave the world the premiere showing of their stunning, tech ground-braking, all-new cars with fresh liveries.
This will be the World Rally Championship 50th season, a season when a major environmental shift occurs with the FIA’s new technical regulations, where a firm drive and sight towards sustainable future is laid down.
The key elements from these new technical regulations are the upgraded safety cell chassis, plug-in hybrid systems on the cars, and the usage of 100 per cent fossil-free fuel and sustainable energy supplies.
The base of the Rally 1 hybrid cars powertrain will be 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol engine (powering the WRC cars since 2011), upgraded with 100 kW electric motor.
These hybrid powertrain’s will produce performance peak of more than a 500 hp, and in a process reducing the harmful emissions.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA president:
“Today’s launch of the new Rally1 era is a very proud and significant moment for the FIA and entire rally family and I would like to congratulate WRC Promoter for delivering a great show at the start of the championship’s 50th anniversary season.
“The enthusiasm for the FIA’s new technical regulations has been very much in evidence in recent months and the event further underlined the momentum coming from the teams and manufacturers, with Rallye Monte-Carlo just a few days away.
“Beside the hybrid technology adding a new dynamic layer of performance combined with safety improvements, Rally1 cars will be using 100 per cent sustainable fuel and work is also ongoing to achieve greater sustainability in the organisation of each round of the series. I look forward to an exciting season!”
Jona Siebel, WRC Promoter managing director:
“Tonight we’ve seen what the future of the WRC looks like. I applaud the manufacturers’ hard work and commitment in readying these amazing and innovative Rally1 cars for the WRC’s new era.
“This evening was a marvellous opportunity to showcase the WRC and exhibit the strong desire to create an environment where both fiercely competitive motorsport and the planet can thrive together.”
