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World Rally Championship going hybrid in 2022

World Rally Championship cars will include a 'supplementary hybrid system' from 2022 onwards, as the category looks to keep pace with other global motorsports.


The FIA will develop "common components and software for the first three years" of hybrid rally cars, with the goal of having electrification allow "the cars to run on pure electric power in cities and provide an electric power boost on special stages".

After the three years of control components, the rules will open up to allow more freedom in how and when teams use e-power. Teams have reportedly been pressuring the FIA to move toward hybrid power, with Citroen threatening to leave unless some form of electrification was added to the rules.

Along with the rules about hybrid power, the FIA will move to a control tyre between 2021 and 2024. Teams have been able to choose their own tyres since 2011, but cars wearing Michelin boots have won every round since 2011 except one.

Given the shrinking popularity of city cars like the Hyundai i20 and Toyota Yaris, the regulations open the door for brands to 'scale down' their more popular sellers for rallying. That means we might see an i30-aping rally car with the footprint of an i20, for example.

The new rules come into force in 2022.

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