WRC set for S2000 future

The cars will be based on the existing S2000 regulations but will allow the addition of a common turbocharger and a larger rear wing to differentiate the cars visually from S2000 cars. The new formula will include the fully passive differential set up as seen on S2000 cars and the cars will not be allowed to use the semi automatic gearboxes, water injection brake-cooling or launch control systems seen on current WRCars.

The propsed regulation change could kill many birds with one stone. The current WRCars are seen as expensive, which combined with the genrally poor recent state of the WRC has seen manufacturer numbers at a depressing low. Advanced transmission and suspension systems have also made the latest World Rally Cars quite boring to watch but the S2000 car's light weight and simpler diff set up mean they generally look more agile, especially on gravel. Looking at it from the other direction, the addition of a turbo to the S2000 set-up should eliminate one of the main criticsms of the formula - their lack of torque out of slow corners.

Abarth (Fiat's sporting division) have already expressed an interest in WRC under the new regulations, whilst Skoda and Peugeot might make a return to the series as the other two works outfits already running S2000 cars. However the cost of the cars has not been the only problem with WRC in recent years and the poor promotion of the series will also need to be adressed to tempt those makes back in. On the whole though these proposals should be seen as a victory for the WRC Commission who seem to have managed to get everyone singing from the same hym sheet for a change.

This might also settle a simmering fight between WRC and IRC for manufacturer attention. IRC has been picking up support recently from a growing number of manufacturers and drivers and the 2008 season looks set to be their most competitive yet. If the manufacturs involved in WRC also have to homolgate an S2000 car this will increase the number of eligible competitors for the 'Eurosport Events' promoted series. We might see a situation where the works teams run in WRC whilst satellite teams such as Kronos run S2000 cars in IRC. This can only be healthy for the sport in the long run. The new forumla WRCars would only be allowed to compete in WRC, just as is the situation under the current regulations.