WRC - FIA announces hybrid supplier for Rally1 from 2022-2024 & a set of engine technical features to reduce costs
The World Motor Sport Council yesterday approved the appointment of Compact Dynamics as the exclusive supplier of hybrid equipment in the 2022-2024 World Rally Championship for the new Rally1 class vehicles, as well as provisions for the category’s engine technical regulations to retain the same base engine as current but with measures to reduce running costs and development.
Compact Dynamics has been confirmed as the exclusive supplier of the hybrid equipment to be utilized in the FIA World Rally Championship under a three-year agreement commencing in 2022 and specific to the Rally1 class.
The company’s appointment was approved by an FIA World Motor Sport Council e-vote this week and follows a detailed tendering process. The aim of selecting a single supplier was notably to improve cost efficiency, ensure sporting equity and safety, guarantee the best possible product and support the promotion of the Championship.
Based in Germany, Compact Dynamics has developed and manufactured high-performance electrical drives and power electronics for more than 30 years, with systems already in use in Formula 1, WEC and Formula E. The firm will now bring its technical expertise to the FIA World Rally Championship with the task to produce and deliver the hybrid kits to the teams competing in the Rally1 category.
Furthermore, a set of key technical features relating to the engine and chassis jokers has been approved to enable the teams to prepare for 2022. Based on the same type of regulations and same base engine (GRE engine) as current cars, this series of measures aims at reducing the development, manufacturing and running costs of the new engine and will help performance convergence. This includes no fresh air valve for ALS, a simplified turbo, a reduction in the number of engines per year and many parts frozen in current specifications.
FIA Rally Director Yves Matton commented: “Rally1 continues to gather momentum ahead of its 2022 launch. Following the approval of the Technical Regulations for this new class at the last World Motor Sport Council a few weeks ago, we are now very pleased to announce Compact Dynamics as our exclusive supplier of hybrid equipment from 2022, which is the result of a rigorous analysis and evaluation of the various proposals received by the FIA departments. I am convinced Compact Dynamics will bring a wealth of experience to the program. Additionally, the measures approved yesterday will enable us to achieve cost reduction in both development and annual maintenance costs, alongside a simplified process.”
Further details on the World Rally Championship and regulations can be found on fia.com.