Todt says longer rallies will save money

Jean Todt, President of the FIA, the governing body of all motorsport, has stated that the WRC could cut costs by organising more endurance-type rallies across the world, similar to the Circuit of Ireland and the Safari Rallies of the 1980’s.

The Frenchman, a former Talbot works co-driver, has tabled a new plan for the WRC, to run over 5 years. It includes moving away from the now standard 3-day, ~300 KM rallies centred in Europe.

“The move to endurance rallies will cut costs. It will reduce the number of parts which can be changed on the car and even on the tyre wear, it will reduce the costs – maybe we can begin to use set of tyres per day and just allow the cars to refuel. This is something we are studying.

“I am not saying this format of rallies will suit all events. Some event[s] have a long history [of events in the current format] and it works for them, but who says the format in Europe works in Latin America or in Australia? I feel the format has been imported to all of the rallies. We are studying this more.” he said.