The World Rally Championship (WRC) is going through a new chapter in the development of its racing car technology starting in 2022. The Rally1 car, previously known as World Rally Car, uses a hybrid engine starting this 2022 competition season.
This hybrid engine still uses an internal combustion engine (Internal Combustion Engine / ICE) inline 4 cylinder 1,600 cc turbocharged as the drivetrain.
The same engine base was chosen for budget savings which is the main goal of the 2022 WRC regulation.
As a supporter of the internal combustion engine, the Rally1 car is equipped with an electric motor (emotor) with a power of 100 kW.
The electronic devices used by each team are uniform, including the electronic software used as well. During a break at the service park, the car is allowed to plug in the battery or take it from the electricity supplier outside the car.
The electric power from this emotor is enough to carry the car a distance of 20 km without power from the ICE, so it can be used for roads in the service area.
The minimum weight of the Rally1 car is 1,260 kg with a power reaching more than 380 hp. In addition, there are several other things that apply in this new regulation regarding engine cost savings.
For example, a ban on the use of fresh air valves for ALS (antilag system), a simpler turbo with 36 mm restrictor, and a reduction in the maximum engine limit for one season.
In addition, many other parts are frozen or cannot be changed from the initial specifications within a certain period of time. As before, the Rally1 car also uses a 4WD drive type.
The transmission is made simpler with 5-speed without a center differential, with a maximum use of only 6 transmission parts for a year, the rest will be penalized. What is unique, the hydraulic paddle shift system will not be used and will switch to a manual transmission lever for gearshift.
The suspension has also been made simpler and more efficient, with shorter wheel travel, dampers, wheel hubs and hub bearings, and simpler antiroll bars. The liquid brake cooling system is no longer allowed and the fuel tank is also made simpler.
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The use of internal ducts that are not intended for their intended purpose, in this case mostly for aerodynamic purposes, is also officially prohibited from 2022.
So apart from the aerodynamic parts, there are no other parts including internal channels that are used to help maximize the aerodynamics of the car.
In terms of safety, the 2022 car has also developed a turbular space frame chassis that is no longer based on the chassis of mass-produced cars.
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So even though from the outside it looks the same as the mass production car, from the inside there are actually differences.
There is a more stringent crash test where the 2022 car is claimed to be the best generation in terms of safety compared to previous generations.
There are still some parts that are still taken from mass products but with certain modifications while still being adjusted to regulations. For example, car glass, hood, doors, and several other parts.