World Rally RX Looking For All Electric Move in 2020?

[Paul Jeffrey]

The FIA World Rallycross Championship looks set to move to a fully electric series in 2020, bringing an end to the flame breathing monsters of recent seasons.

Having just begun to establish itself once again as the pinnacle of off road competition, the FIA have reportedly made a brave move to switch over to an all electric series for the 2020 season, drawing the curtain down on one of the most spectacular elements of this wild and dramatic racing series.

According to Motorsport.com, a well placed source within the organisation has confirmed electric cars "absolutely, categorically will be the world championship" in time for the 2020 season, with as many as 15 cars set to take to the world stage in the refreshed series.

Expected to form something of an off the shelf attitude to parts and powertrains, the proposed 2020 WRX will offer a standardised monocoque and safety tub, with the option to fit different power units and shells to best represent the current models on offer from manufacturers who take part in the series. Although it is expected that "works" manufacturer teams will still play a prominent role in the new look championship, due to the nature of the availability of core parts, private teams will have the opportunity to buy equipment capable of competing in the championship, potentially opening the door to bigger and more diverse grids in years to come.

If electric regulations will form the whole of the World Rallycross championship rule set from 2020, or if the organisers will look to incorporate it within or alongside the current cars remains to be seen. It is expected that a formal announcement will come from the FIA within the next few months as tenders begin to be received for supply of the standardised parts expected to be run in the category going forward.

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Do you think moving to an electric power unit is the right move for the World Rallycross Championship? Can electric power provide the same quality spectacle as the current series? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[Lum]

I expected this championship to be one of the no-go for the electric madness... Oh well

 

[Filip Carlén]

Probably not switching the main series, just adding an all electric support class.

However, RX is more suited for electric than say Formula E. No need for mid-race car swap, possible to charge while waiting etc. Gonna miss the sweet sweet sound though...

 

[Matt Le Gallez]

I know one thing for sure, if they do move to full electric in 2020, i won't be watching. These things sound awesome as they are!

 

[antirussia81]

Electric engines? This is just a half measure.
Let's remove engines altogether and equip vehicles with sails! Wind powerrr!

 

[bogani]

Ffs, the sound is half the show when it comes to motorsport.

 

[Grape-Juice]

And people already hate WRX, lol what a joke

 

[testdriver77]

I visited already two times Estering in Germany and i cant imagine this big show without the awesome sound and exhaust bangs! Fac.... this electric crap!
The only place for electric drive are RC cars....

 

[hal4000]

No more grid girls, electric motors in rally...... The end is near...

 

[el chasco]

Nooo please!

Don't **** more the motorsports!

We need misfiring systemu!

 

[Dan Marr]

Fantastic move - great way to show off electric cars with their instant acceleration characteristics - some standardised parts to keep costs more in checks and much more marketable for car companies so better potential for manufacturer entries - plus we'll be able to hear the drivers shout "GET OUT THE WAY YOU B*****D"

 

[Copef1]

No more grid girls, electric motors in rally...... The end is near...

Its like they are actively trying to make us all stop watching racing!

 

[Sky]

it does at least make sense to do an electric rallycross series because the races are short. whether wrx is the right place for it is another thing.

 

[Strelok1909]

Finally these pesky sounds of combustion engines won't drown out the energy drink commercials anymore

 

[Eckhart von Glan]

well, for the track mentioned above, estering, it might solve their main problem: they are currently under threat of being closed due to neglecting sound pollution issues. it would be their main worry eliminated in one move. what a weird turn of events.

 

[Kevin Troschinski]

I am glad i was born in the late 70th, so i managed to watch at least 2,5 great decades of motorsport.
It´s sad the next generations will never know real motorsport at all, because of this electro-crap. But this is how the world goes on.... thats the way it is.....

 

[Eckhart von Glan]

don't see how using a motorized car to get to the finish faster than the chap behind you is not motorsports, but then again, it might not be about motor or sport at all.

 

[testdriver77]

This is a typical german problem.... to create bigger problems as they are.
I mean this events are just for few days in the year so whats the problem... the locals also profit from that events and the noise backround is not so a big deal. But this is just my statement.
When they really switch to this mentioned electric stuff so i will do not visit RX anymore.

 

[Pywackett-Barchetta]

It's not a day in motorsports without 3/4 of the comments section at RaceDepartment screaming that electric cars are evil and awful and suck and ruin everything.

 

[Matt Le Gallez]

It's not a day in motorsports without 3/4 of the comments section at RaceDepartment screaming that electric cars are evil and awful and suck and ruin everything.

Personally, i think electric road cars are a great idea. I just can't think of anything more boring than watching a race with no sound!