2022 will be a real epochal turning point for the WRC. By now, for two years now, we have known well that hybrid propulsion – consisting of a thermal engine and an electric one – will also become part of the daily routine of the World Rally.
The 1.6 turbo derived from 380 horsepower used during the luster just ended and which pushed the WRC Plus, will be accompanied by an electric motor made by the Compact Dynamics company, which has already worked for several years in motorsport creating its own MGU for the LMP1 prototypes of the WEC.
The hybrid cars will be called Rally1 and will take the place of the WRC Plus, making their debut at the Rallye Monte-Carlo from 20 to 23 January. During these months we have accompanied you to discover the new cars: the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 and the Ford Puma Rally1.
Like all hybrid cars racing in motorsport, important precautions must be taken in the course of events to avoid being hit by the high voltages that the cars can generate.
For this reason, the FIA has decided to include three lights on each hybrid car. These must indicate if and when it will be possible to touch the cars. To understand when to intervene will be very easy.
Hyundai i20 Rally1
Photo by: Hyundai
The three lights, located one in the upper part of the windshield and the rest in the windows behind the crew seats (as shown in the photo above), must be green. Should they be red, the cars cannot be touched.
Then there is a third case. If the lights remain off, then the cars should not be touched as a matter of precaution. It will therefore be forbidden to touch the machines in this situation, should it occur.
Finally, to distinguish the Rally1, therefore the hybrid cars, on the sides of the cars, instead of the number and next to the name of the race, there will be the wording “HY”, which stands for “Hybrid”. The writing will be white on a red background to try to make it even clearer which cars will be with which to pay even more attention than normal.
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