WRC | (Almost) only part-time drivers win: is it time to review the starting order?

So much uncertainty, so many different winners. Yet something doesn’t add up. The 2024 WRC is presenting a season – which in 3 weeks will be at the halfway point with the Rally Italia Sardegna – very heterogeneous from the point of view of the quantity of drivers capable of winning an event, but it is a question “doped” by the quantity and by the quality of the drivers who race part time this season.

Sébastien Ogier 8 times world champion, Kalle Rovanpera 2 times world champion (reigning), Esapekka Lappi, Dani Sordo, Andreas Mikkelsen. These are the part time drivers who alternate in Toyota Gazoo Racing and Hyundai Motorsport, teams that field 3 cars and allocate the third to crew rotation.

The statistic that immediately catches the eye at the start of the season is the following. In 5 rallies held, therefore Monte-Carlo, Sweden, Safari, Croatia and Portugal, only in one of these did a regular driver who works all season win.

Thierry Neuville, one of the two drivers that Hyundai fields for the entire season, was the winner of the Rallye Monte-Carlo. In the following 4 outings we witnessed the victory of 3 different crews, all employed part-time.

In Sweden Esapekka Lappi won, taking advantage of the perfect starting position on snow – the last, having not taken part in the previous event in the Principality – and so did Kalle Rovanpera at the Safari, the third event of the season, but also Sébastien Ogier , which first stood out on the asphalts of Croatia, then on the dirt roads of Portugal.

The only event in which the starting drivers could have achieved victory was the Croatian Rally, with Neuville and Evans respectively first and second to enter qualifying but both authors of two errors that cost them dearly, precisely on the decisive day . Sébastien Ogier, who was already in the podium area, took advantage of this.

However, there was no story either in Sweden, much less at the Safari and in Portugal. Those who started in the last positions found themselves with such an advantage as to put those who were and are fighting for the world title out of the running.

Thierry Neuville, leader of the World Championship, achieved the following results after his victory in Monte-Carlo: fourth in Sweden, fifth in the Safari and two third places between Croatia and Portugal. Elfyn Evans, second in the Drivers’ world championship and first of Neuville’s pursuers, is 24 points behind the Belgian, the result of third place in Monte-Carlo, second in Sweden, then fourth at the Safari, second in Croatia and sixth in Portugal.

So a victory for 2. The two who are fighting for the title. In the discussion it is right to also include Ott Tanak, who returned to the title chase also thanks to second place in Portugal, but without any successes.

Sébastien Ogier, winner of 2 events this season, is now in fifth place in the World Championship with 70 points, one less than Adrien Fourmaux despite having taken part in 3 out of 5 events. Kalle Rovanpera, on the other hand, is much further behind by virtue of just one victory in the face of two bitter withdrawals.

A paradoxical situation, in which, like never before this year, those fighting for the title almost never have the opportunity to have a chance of winning in individual rallies because they almost always find part-time drivers with such a favorable starting position that they don’t have hopes. And it will also be like this at the Rally Italia Sardegna scheduled for the beginning of June. If Rovanpera were to race, he will be considered the big favorite precisely because of the advantage of the position he will have in the tests of the first stage.

The rule that forces the World Championship leader – and his closest pursuers – to start first in Friday testing was introduced a few years ago to try to have more variety in the winners of the events, while the WRC was dominated by Volkswagen.

At the time it was a measure that hit the mark: it led to having more winners of the individual events, but without distorting the meaning of the final ranking, where those who were strongest stood out at the end of the season – often even before… – but leaving a good stage for others too.

Now, with riders of the caliber of Ogier, Rovanpera and Lappi above all, this rule has become a huge advantage for those who can field them depending on the characteristics of the rider and the event, causing damage to those who, instead, are playing for the title.

A possible solution to the problem

Reporting something wrong is simple and often quick. But it’s also a good idea to try and work hard to find some solutions and make sure they can change, without just complaining about the status quo.

So what could be a solution to the problem the WRC is experiencing? Part time drivers could be called upon to open all Friday specials. By doing so, they would lose the big advantage over those who, instead, are forced to open the tests today being in the top ranks of the rankings.

Another solution could be to give importance back to the Shakedown, making it a qualifying stage again for the starting order of the first stage. In this way the trial stage would take on new value and would further balance the fate of events.

In short, the meaning would be to give credit back to those who had the strength to impose themselves and do better than the others in previous races, finding themselves in the lead or among the top of the class. We are aware that this solution would penalize high-ranking drivers, but it could be a fairer solution for those who spend their entire year chasing a dream. That of winning the World title by truly showing that you are the best, and not just by clinging to placing after placing knowing that you are forced to settle.