Changes to the 2017 WRC rules being considered

Various changes to the rules regarding non-registered 2017 specification World Rally Cars are being considered by the FIA.

Mads Ostberg in action in Argentina in his OneBetJipocar Fiesta WRC.This follows questions about the possibility of abuse created by the current rules.

These were raised when the Citroen team noted that the rules allowed private 2017 cars teams to test at long haul rally destinations, whereas registered teams could not, opening up the possibility for providing official teams technical information they could not otherwise obtain.

This arose in Argentina when the private team concerned, OneBetJipocar, carried out a promotional pre-event occasion.

Ironically, there is only one other long haul event left this year, Australia, which OneBetJipocar have not yet decided whether to enter.

If this rule is to be changed, the FIA has been asked to rescind the rule that all 2017 WRC cars must be entered under the name of the manufacturer. It is not yet decided whether a change will apply immediately or next year.

Meanwhile, OneBetJipocar will be carrying out a full development test in Sardinia next Monday before the start of recce.

- Martin Holmes

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