FIA okays hybrid technology for rally cars starting January

Norris Ongalo

WRC Safari Rally Chief Medical Officer Norris Ongalo gets a feel of a World Rally Car safety roll cage on display at Holmatro Factory in the Netherlands on November 20, 2021.
 

Photo credit: Peter Njenga | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Spectator safety will be further enhanced with the introduction of new in-car technology in Rally1 cars. An Artificial Intelligence Safety Camera will be compulsory in all top-tier hybrid cars. 
  • The forward-facing camera will scan special stages to analyse the position of spectators and assist FIA safety delegate Michele Mouton in identifying unsafe viewing locations.

In Raamsdonksveer, The Netherlands

Science fiction has finally caught up with motorsport, and the world of high level racing and fire-spitting machines with boom sound is gradually becoming obsolete as man races against time to save planet earth from global warming occasioned by pollution.

Pollution of the environment has been speeded up by rapid industrial development, with automobiles contributing significantly. 

In line with the FIA’s drive towards new technology and sustainable energy, the next-generation of top category World Rally Championship cars will feature a state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid unit in Monte Carlo this January.

The FIA and the manufacturers have made a significant investment in the programme.

The three-year agreement for the future era of the WRC includes a shared contribution to the development costs of the innovative hybrid technology, which will have a strong focus on sustainability, cost management and safety, experts who have been deliberating here in the last three days conclude.

The Rally1 category will also showcase major safety breakthroughs with a new safety cage design, developed in collaboration with the manufacturers following an exhaustive analysis and crash test programme.

 It has a small window measuring 55 centimetres by 55 centimetres.

"It will be tough, calling for a small window for medics and rescue team to work in without a margin of error," Doctor Raj Jutley, the neurosurgeon in charge of the WRC Safari Rally’s medical team said after working in a simulated environment at the FIA rescue briefing here.

Together with technical partner Compact Dynamics, some of the key project milestones include design and prototype, manufacture of the hybrid units of which bench testing of the prototype units are work in progress.

Analysis of assimilation of turbocharged petrol engines with hybrid units along with dyno testing of Rally1 cars is ongoing.

“The Rally1 hybrid project is a major landmark in the development of rallying and underlines the FIA’s commitment to sustainability and advanced technology,” Yves Matton, FIA Rally Director, said in an earlier interview.

“Of course, any new product that is being developed encounters challenges. During the current test phase, there is strong collaboration between the FIA, the manufacturers and our technical partners. We are working as one to complete tasks that are synonymous with a development cycle of this nature," he added.

“At present, we are operating an accelerated process due to delivery delays brought about by the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic but, we are on course.”

Specific liaison sections which top-tier competitors must drive in full electric mode will be mandatory in next season’s FIA World Rally Championship," the FIA said.

Designated zones close to service parks and ceremonial start areas will be highlighted in the roadbook at all 2022 rounds, WRC Safari Rally included.

Rally1 crews will be required to travel along them with their new-era plug-in hybrid cars in electric format.

Being able to run in full electric mode is a key component of the ground-breaking new Rally1 cars, which will be introduced into the WRC at the start of next year, and this capability will be showcased as frequently as possible, effectively requiring top Kenyans attend benchmarking WRC events.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Zones will vary in distance, taking into consideration local conditions like rainy conditions.

The location and distance of each HEV zone will be agreed between the event organiser and WRC Promoter and ratified by the FIA which will assign an e-delegate to work with local experts like Dr Jutley, David Karuri, Norris Ongalo, Dash Patel and their respective lower cadre team members.

This is a dangerous scenario especially if the 749 volt hybrid electric battery fails which is unlikely because it has been designed to withstand up to 70 Gravity Force.

The devastating car crash of Princess Diana of Wales in 1997 was estimated to range somewhere between 70–100 g's.

This accident was intense enough to pull the pulmonary artery from her heart, according to hypertextbook.com.

It is a situation though inherently possible may not apply in the high tech WRC1 battery car, experts agreed.

Any crew failing to follow the roadbook will be reported to event stewards, Ongalo warns. If a crew is prevented from using electric mode due to a technical issue, teams must inform the FIA before the crew enters the zone.

A report will still be submitted to the stewards for possible action depending on the nature of the fault.

Rally1 machinery will feature special identification graphics to enable fans and officials to differentiate the high-voltage vehicles from conventionally-powered cars taking part in the Safari in R2 and 3 categories of internal combustion cars which experts predict will be phased out gradually as the world enters the sci-fi era by 2030.

Red ‘HY’ letters on a white background will be placed next to the front door panel as well as a red background – rather than black – for the competition numbering WRC1 cars.

Spectator safety will be further enhanced with the introduction of new in-car technology in Rally1 cars. An Artificial Intelligence Safety Camera will be compulsory in all top-tier hybrid cars. 

The forward-facing camera will scan special stages to analyse the position of spectators and assist FIA safety delegate Michele Mouton in identifying unsafe viewing locations.