With less power and less weight, this is how the 2025 title contenders will face the difficulties of the calendar, using a new brand of tyres this year, adapting the Rally1s to ice and snow, as seen in Monte Carlo and Sweden, but also to the gruelling dirt tracks, as will be seen in the Kenya Safari Rally between 20 and 23 March. The South Korean brand Hankook will now be the official tyre supplier for the WRC, replacing Pirelli, which drew so much criticism from the drivers in various situations. More resistant tyres are to be expected from the various types of rubber that will be used by all the WRC categories over the next three years.
This year, the Rally1s will no longer have a hybrid system, which is likely to happen next season as well, until the new regulations come into force in 2027. Technologically less complicated and more affordable, the new generation of Rally1s loses power, but also 80kg in weight, so the power-to-weight ratio is identical. In Sweden, the efficiency of the Rally1s led to constant duels right to the end, as shown by the small differences between the top five finishers. Elfyn Evans took the 10th victory of his career, achieving maximum points in the Swedish event, while Takamoto Katsura finished just 3.8 seconds behind, signing the best rally of his career, and champion Thierry Neuville rounded off the podium 11.9 seconds behind the winner.
The FIA won't accept carelessness in the language used by drivers, as has now been proven at the Rally of Sweden, with a fine of 10,000 euros imposed on Adrien Fourmaux for his interview after the Power Stage. You have to be careful with your language, as the penalties get worse and worse, with the second offence costing twice as much and the third offence leading to a month's suspension.
