Uncertainties remain ahead of 2017 WRC

Many issues on the structure of the 2017 World Rally Championship remain outstanding, including the running order positions for the leading drivers

Could the WRC running order rules remain unchanged after Jost Capito's departure from Volkswagen?There is currently an intention to restructure the manufacturers’ championship by replacing the subsidiary WRC Teams championship, but how is undecided.  The issues concern whether it will be possible instead to provide a series to cater for team drivers who are not allowed to drive 2017 World Rally cars, or maybe for privateer drivers.  

Connected to this issue is the debate on a suitable points scoring basis for manufacturers who enter more than two drivers, while preserving an appropriate number of competing teams.  

One active proposal is to abandon WRC3, this year overlapping the existing Junior WRC series.  Tenders are now in place for providing a one-make formula for the JWRC in years 2017-2019.  

There are reports that there have been no decisions concerning possible changes in the controversial WRC running order, on account of the impressive number of different winners of WRC events this year, and the recent departure from the sport of the VW Motorsport Director, a leading pro-change supporter.  

As for the 2017 WRC calendar, there is an increasing feeling that the continued position of the long-haul Rally China in the WRC is unsustainable, which raises increased concerns about an increased imbalance between gravel and asphalt events.  

This means that apart from confirmation of the first three rounds in the 2017 WRC calendar, no further decisions about dates can be made at this time.  

An emergency World Rally Championship Commission meeting is due to be held in Corsica during the WRC event at the end of September.
 
- Martin Holmes

Author