The change from the current 2.0 litre turbocharged World Rally Car to a new specification based on the 2.0 litre non-turbo Super 2000 car was decided by a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Tuesday, which said the new regulations “reflect a need to further reduce and control costsâ€.
Repco Rally Australia, round 10 of 12 in the 2009 WRC, will be staged on 3-6 September this year and then every second year in the Tweed and Kyogle Shires in northern New South Wales.
Super 2000 cars currently compete in the Production World Rally Championship – of which Rally Australia will be a round - but will be subject to changes changes from 2011.
A statement from the FIA World Motor Sport Council said: “For the 2011 and 2012 championships, the World Rally Car will be based on Super 2000 with the addition of a specified kit restricted to modifications to the bodywork, being removable aerodynamic devices.
“The car will be subject to specific technical regulations intended to control costs through restrictions on the changing of engines, transmissions and similar components. The maximum 8500 rpm for the engine will be maintained for all World Rally Championship and S2000 cars.â€
Next year, cars eligible to score points in the Manufacturers’ Championship will include the present and future World Rally Cars and Super 2000 cars. Current World Rally Cars will not be eligible for the Championship from 2011.
The Council said it was looking at plans to reduce engine sizes and re-introduce turbochargers in the near future.
“From 2013, it is proposed that the World Rally Car will continue to be Super 2000-based with a cost-effective 1.6 litre turbo engine,†it said.
“This is subject to review, based on the specification of the car produced by manufacturers for the mass market.â€
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