New 2017 WRC Cars Are Too Quick, According To The FIA

The World Rally Championship entered a new era last month with the start of the 2017 season, but the FIA thinks the cars are now almost too fast..
New 2017 WRC Cars Are Too Quick, According To The FIA

It’s fair to say the new 2017 World Rally Championship cars look epic, sound downright insane and are much quicker than last year’s machinery.

But, according to the FIA, the cars are now too fast. This comes after stage 12 of Rally Sweden was called off due to safety recommendations over the speeds of the cars.

No, we’re not joking. The first run through the Kron stage saw Ott Tanak set an average speed of 85.62mph, but the FIA doesn’t want that figure to go over 80mph.

New 2017 WRC Cars Are Too Quick, According To The FIA

So, according to the FIA’s rally director Jarmo Mahonen, it’s considering rule changes to bring down the average speeds of rally stages.

Here’s what he told Autosport:

“These cars are quicker than the old cars - but in this stage even last year’s [cars] were going more than 130km/h [80mph]. These kind of stages teach us one thing: we need to take a more firm grip when organisers want to introduce new stages, we have to be present to check them.
“If we see a stage time of more than 130km/h then it’s an indicator that we need to be looking at this. From our point of view this was too fast. What we want to do is look at a guideline on this, but maybe we need to think to the regulations.”

New 2017 WRC Cars Are Too Quick, According To The FIA

But, of course, no one wants to see the average speeds decreasing through artificial means or the cars being pegged back.

Thankfully, Mahonen seems to understand this:

“We want the cancellation of this stage to send a message to the other organisers to think carefully about their route. We want speeds lower than 130km/h, but I remember when I was an organiser and I didn’t want to use straw bales to make chicanes. I understand that, and the answer is simple: use smaller roads that will be slower. This is what we have to do.”

Let’s hope that, if something is brought in, it doesn’t impact the incredible spectacle of the new WRC cars.

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Comments

Anonymous

Feels like Group B all over again

02/17/2017 - 20:33 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

its because we all know what happens when they get to 88mph….

02/17/2017 - 21:11 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

new cars are faster than group B. they are actualy modern group B cars. they killed then, and now (in monte carlo hayden paddon killed a spectator/media). comments and artical are populist. fia is right to be nervous. they should not be worrying about the avarage speed, but the top speed and high speed turns, and big bumps are getting way dangerous.

02/17/2017 - 21:49 |
1 | 0
Nick Denton

Jarmo Mahonen = FIA Goodell

02/17/2017 - 23:16 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

Average speed of the Isle of Man TT is 200+ kph and the riders only have 3mm of leather protecting them from the scenery.
The FIA need to grow some balls. People want excitement, thrill, a spectacular show.

02/18/2017 - 00:49 |
6 | 0
Conrad Brightman

Speed limits on rally? what has the world come to?
Next thing you know they will stop NASCAR drivers returning to a race after a crash

02/18/2017 - 06:16 |
3 | 0
DJ N

Too fast? We could be seeing some Group B revival! And then there’s the “I remember when I was an organiser and I didn’t want to use straw bales to make chicanes.” Just use tractors!

02/18/2017 - 06:16 |
3 | 0
Anonymous

Should we shocked by the fact that these cars are fast (actual reason for racing) or that the FIA wants speed limits on “Racing”

02/18/2017 - 13:18 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Next you thing you know is that the FIA is going to say that F1 cars are too fast this season and have to slow them down also.

02/18/2017 - 14:45 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

So if ever comes with the end of new cars, the future of WRC is not good ad ugly. I wish I was born in the 80’s

02/18/2017 - 15:24 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Me too

02/19/2017 - 23:33 |
0 | 0