One of the more controversial proposals that were rubberstamped at yesterday’s FIA WMSC in Manila was the transformation of the World Rallycross Championship (World RX) into an all electric only series from 2020.
Previously the FIA signalled the move and yesterday’s meeting of the World Motorsport Council agreed to a general outline for sporting regulations in the new-look series.
The series will continue to feature between 12 to 14 events per season, with race weekends to remain identical to the current format which comprises a practice session, four qualifying heats, two semi-finals, and one final.
Entries will be reserved for two-car teams, with both a FIA Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ World RX Championship to be contested. In addition, a team trophy will also be created for the private teams taking part in the championship.
Four-wheel drive ‘silhouette-type’ cars will be permitted, with vehicles to feature two electric motors producing around 500kW. In order to keep a lid on costs, there will be a standard battery and a common chassis. The power-train regulations are similar to those applicable in the FIA’s Formula E Championship.
The FIA also confirmed that Williams Advanced Engineering has been designated as the Electric World RX Championship’s sole battery supplier, with the French firm ORECA to be the series’ single chassis supplier. Both deals will run for four years, from 2020 to 2023.
Private teams will also be permitted to homologate their own cars, on the condition that they use the common battery and chassis, and design their bodywork from a generic car model required by the FIA.
The potential move to electric power was flagged up in October when World RX said it was engaged in wide-ranging discussions over its future direction after French automotive manufacturer Peugeot committed its future to the series, while US carmaker Ford opted to withdraw, seeing no point to continue in a series that had just two years left to run in its present petrol powered format.
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