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If I'm reading things correctly:
2025
Rally 1
No hybrid
Smaller turbo restrictor
Reduced aero
Rally 2+
Bigger restrictor
Bigger exhaust
Optional paddle shift
More aero
This will bring the performance of both categories closer together (Rally 1 slowed and Rally 2+ wil be faster than Rally 2).
For 2026
Rally 1 cars to use a common safety shell.
Bodywork from B-Class, C-Class, Compact SUV or 'Concept Car'.
Performance across cars subject to BoP (via centre of gravity and aero).
Power capped at 330bhp.
Cars cost capped at 400K Euros.
Engine and transmission from Rally 2 cars.
Beyond 2026
Investigation into electric cars using the common Rally 1 safety cell.
Other
There will be changes to the format of events - organisers will have more flexibilty around timetables. Mandated Sunday afternoon Powerstage remains. Events will be a mix of sprint and endurance - total mileage across a season remains unchanged.
Limits on the number of team personnel, local providers to be used for structures in the service areas (so no more manufacturer palaces)
Thoughts
The 2025 changes to Rally1 make sense, the Hybrid has been problematic and adds weight, getting rid of that makes the cars simpler (and cheaper surely?). Rally 2+ I'm not sure about - the question here is how many manufacturers will develop Rally 2+ cars and how many people will run them? Is Rally 2+ going to be a class that sees uptake in national championships? How much more will a Rally 2+ car cost compared with a Rally 2 car?
The use of a common safety cell from 2026 is interesting - the manufacturers will no longer have control of the chassis, will this put them off? The range of allowable body shapes to drape over the cell makes sense - we've already seen M-Sport using the Puma and unfortunately more manufacturers are going down the SUV route with their road ranges so that makes sense. The most interesting point here is the 'Concept Car' part - what is the definition of a concept car here? Does this mean that the Rally 1 car can have absolutely no resembalance to a production vehicle? Reusing the powerplants and transmissions from Rally 2 cars makes the leap from Rally 2 to Rally 1 less expensive for manufacturers - that looks like a good decision.
Electric cars - these were always going to appear on the roadmap somewhere along the line. Again the use of the common saftey cell removes some of the cost of entry - presumably the manufacturers would have the same range of body options as Rally1 and use their own batteries/powertrains?
Changes to the service area also seem sensible - reduce the amount of stuff and people being shipped around. Less cost and reduced carbon footprint.
I don't mind events running to different timetables - that flexibility is fine. Not sure I'm keen on the idea of 'sprint' events - the events are pretty short as it is, if anything I'd be more in favour of longer events, even if that pushes up overall mileage for the season.
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