VOLUME 5 FEATURE
5 MIN READ
Rally1 cars replace World Rally Cars at the highest level of the WRC and feature a number of significant changes compared to their predecessors, including the introduction of technologies promoting sustainable motorsport. For the first time, the cars in rallying’s top category have hybrid electric power. The existing 1.6-litre direct-injection turbocharged engine – one of the only features of the previous generation of World Rally Cars to be carried over to Rally1 – is paired with a hybrid unit that is common to every competing car.
The hybrid unit consists of a 3.9-kilowatt-hour battery coupled to a motor-generator unit (MGU), delivering an additional 100 kilowatts (134 horsepower) and 180 newton metres of torque during acceleration. It means that, with the engine and hybrid unit combined, Rally1 cars are capable of a maximum power output of more than 500 PS and maximum torque of over 500 Nm. The unit regenerates energy under braking and the battery can also be plugged into an external power supply to be recharged during service breaks.
Alongside hybrid power, Rally1 cars run on 100 percent sustainable fossil-free fuel. With a renewable blend of synthetic and bio-fuel components, the fuel is the first of its kind to be used in an FIA motorsport world championship.
The regulation changes also cover the car’s chassis, which is now formed by a spaceframe design that offers increased safety protection for the driver and co-driver compared to the previous bodyshells. On the outside, some of the aerodynamic features seen on World Rally Cars between 2017 and 2021 have been prohibited to control costs. Still, elements such as side skirts and large rear wings remain to provide stability, while air ducts can be used to cool parts including the hybrid unit.
There has also been a simplification of the cars’ transmissions. The cars remain four-wheel drive but now have five-speed gearboxes with a mechanical shift and no longer feature an active centre differential. The suspension is also now more straightforward with a reduced amount of damper travel permitted.
Opening up on tarmac.
Based on the GR Yaris, using lessons from the Yaris WRC
The GR Yaris Rally1 is based on the road-going GR Yaris production model, which itself was developed using the experience gained in competition with the first-generation Yaris WRC. Making its debut on the stages in 2017, the Yaris WRC was the first car Toyota had built for rallying’s highest level for two decades. It achieved victory in just its second event on Rally Sweden in 2017, but the demanding roads of the WRC still provided the team’s drivers and engineers with some harsh lessons in the early days. Over five seasons, the Yaris WRC’s engine, aerodynamics, suspension and other components underwent numerous updates and performance gradually improved each season.
In 2018, it won the manufacturers’ championship, before claiming successive drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles in both 2019 and 2020. In its final season in 2021, the Yaris WRC took a clean sweep of the available titles and won nine of the 12 rallies. From a clean sheet of paper, the GR Yaris Rally1 has been developed using the many lessons learned with the Yaris WRC, adapted to meet the different requirements of the new regulations.
Winter tyres ready to grip.
Three kinds of tyres to match road conditions
In racing, ideal tyre size depends on whether the car is driving on gravel or on tarmac. Generally, 381mm tyres are used for gravel while 457mm tyres are used for tarmac. In snow, special studded tyres can be fitted that grip like a cat’s claw then spit out the snow and ice through self-cleaning block patterns. The number of tyres that can be used for each championship event is regulated by the event, and the question of when to change tyres is a key racing strategy.
Specifications and equipment differ depending on the specific competition or special stage
Vehicle specifications and settings change for every competition. Depending on whether the rally is held on gravel, snow, or tarmac, not only the tyre but also parts such as the brakes and suspension need to be changed. For rallies held on smooth tarmac, the vehicle height should be kept to a minimum, however on rough gravel rally roads, the car should be higher to avoid contact with the road surface. Also, to accommodate changing road conditions including rain, settings such as the suspension and powertrain are adjusted as needed. For night driving, visibility is enhanced by installing an auxiliary light source on the hood called a light pod.
In its element after snowfall.
Work at the service park is a battle against time
While circuit races have pit stops, at rallies servicing and repairs are performed at the service park. Once the competition begins, the time allotted for servicing is limited to just 15 minutes in the morning prior to the race, 30 minutes during the day, and 45 minutes at night. Once a vehicle has been serviced at night, it is parked in a garage called the "Parc Fermé," where no further servicing is permitted until the next morning.
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You can stream all the action from the FIA World Rally Championship 2022 on Kayo Sports.
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