WRC plans revamp to boost privateer and young driver WRC2 prospects
The FIA is considering significant changes to the structure of the World Rally Championship to increase privateer participation and help young drivers

The introduction of a separate manufacturers' award in the second-tier WRC2 category is under consideration for 2020, along with a new specification of R5 car to bridge the gap between WRC2 machinery and the current-generation World Rally Cars.
The WRC2 title race is currently being dominated by factory-backed teams from Skoda, M-Sport, Hyundai and Citroen.
The R5 class was introduced in 2013 with the intention of offering private drivers the chance to shine in the WRC, but the WRC2 title has never been won by a genuine private driver.
Robert Kubica had Citroen backing when he won the inaugural award in a DS3 RRC (Regional Rally Car - a detuned World Rally Car), Nasser Al-Attiyah was in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta to win in 2014/15 while Skoda factory men Esapekka Lappi and Pontus Tidemand have won the two most recent titles.
The FIA hopes these latest changes will offer genuine privateers a shot at the WRC2 title, while leaving Skoda and other firms fielding factory line-ups free to chase the manufacturers' award.
This would mean, however, that factory drivers would sacrifice their own title chances for their employers.
It is reported drivers in the manufacturer class would be permitted to drive the mooted R5-plus car with more power - an attempt to reduce the advantage of the near-400bhp current World Rally Cars over R5 cars with a 260bhp output.

A driver entering WRC2 via a registered team will pay £3400 for a Rally GB entry, for example, while a private driver of an R5 car can do the same stages for £2200.
Rally GB managing director Ben Taylor said: "We want to see as many R5 cars competing as possible on what is an aspirational event for drivers from around the world.
"But what we have at the moment is a two-tier entry system for R5 cars.
"We have those who can afford the higher entry fee [for WRC2] which gives them a priority seeding and maybe more chance of time in the spotlight and then we have the crews who are paying less as privateers.
"Those not paying [for WRC2] have to be seeded further back on the road and, to be honest, I don't feel we offer them the right kind of welcome."
That system has created issues as Rally GB is the final round of the British Rally Championship.
"We've had to dictate to crews that, if they want to score BRC points, they can't register for WRC2," said Taylor.
"Understandably, this has upset some of the drivers who wanted to come and compete on a level playing field against the likes of Pontus [Tidemand] or Gus [Greensmith].
"I think this is a bit of a nonsense, the crews should be seeded on merit - surely that would provide a better incentive to bring more crews into the championship and to the rallies."

Toyota forced to revert to older-spec WRC engine for Rally Turkey
Double champion Gronholm working on one-off WRC return with Toyota

Why WRC's Safari tour is more than just a rally
OPINION: A source of national pride in Kenya, the Safari Rally is also a sporting, cultural and economic phenomenon. And as last weekend's World Rally Championship round reminded us, it's a key driver in establishing Africa’s place in world motorsport
How Rovanpera tamed a wild Safari Rally
The Safari Rally acted as a brutal test of driver and car resolve as multiple retirements opened the path for a historic Toyota 1-2-3-4 triumph, headed by star Kalle Rovanpera. But keeping things clean was only half of the challenge, as a well-timed charge when conditions worsened allowed the Finn to take control
How Tanak turned the tables to deliver Hyundai a timely WRC triumph
The 2019 champion has been a bit-part player recently, but Ott Tanak ended a 15-month drought in fine style with a dominant win in Sardinia. On a weekend when championship leader Kalle Rovanpera struggled with cleaning the road, his Hyundai rival has made his belated arrival into the title race and given cause for those predicting a walkover from the Toyota star to pause
How Rovanpera overcame rallying royalty in Portugal to extend his WRC lead
Although the Rally Portugal entry list featured World Rally Championship royalty in Sebastiens Loeb and Ogier, victory was secured by rallying's rising star in Kalle Rovanpera. Here's the story of his 2022 hat-trick, as his key rivals faltered among the gravel and asphalt ahead of them
The former WRC star playing the unsung hero role for Rovanpera
Kalle Rovanpera’s 2022 World Rally Championship displays have been spectacular, with the Toyota driver benefitting from a secret weapon in his crew to win two of the opening three rallies. But while the former challenger to Sebastien Loeb won’t take credit for his fellow Finn's performances, a key bond has been formed which could prove key to Rovanpera’s title charge
How Rovanpera's Croatia turnaround sent a message to his WRC rivals
After a dominating Rally Croatia, a wrong tyre choice on the final day looked to have undone all Kalle Rovanpera's hard work and left him with a mountain to climb heading into the power stage. That he emerged the winner all the same has surely quelled any lingering doubts that the Finn is the man to beat in the 2022 WRC
How M-Sport's faith in Loubet led to a WRC reprieve after a dismal 2021
It's fair to say 2021 was a year to forget for Pierre-Louis Loubet. A maiden full World Rally Championship season offered hope but soon turned into a nightmare that ended in hospital, after being hit by a car in a road traffic accident. Now handed a lifeline by M-Sport, the Frenchman is desperate to rebuild his career
Why WRC mechanics deserve more respect
The drivers get the glare of attention, but it’s the mechanics who are key to the operation of any World Rally Championship car. Autosport donned a set of overalls and joined M-Sport on a Belgian national rally event to get an inside look into the trials and tribulations of a rally mechanic