From the 2022 season, the WRC has embarked on a new journey to make the series more sustainable. All competing cars now use engines with 100 kW plug-in hybrid generators, which, combined with a 1.6-liter internal combustion engine, generate more than 500 horsepower. This extra electric boost makes the cars even faster and gives crews an extra element to consider during a rally weekend to further increase the skills required to compete at the highest level. While nowadays we are used to rally cars being visually close to sedans and hot sedans, this has not always been the case. The Lancia Stratos was the first car built specifically for the World Rally Championship. However, its sleek supercar appearance and Ferrari V6 suggested it was better suited to parking outside the Monte Carlo casino than to the toughest rally stages in the world. Short for Recognition, a reconnaissance takes place on the rally site the week before the WRC event. Crews drive at low speed through the stages to take speed notes that describe the route in great detail. The cars are standard road models, although they are equipped with a roll bar for safety, as well as swamp protection and off-road tires to deal with rough terrain. This is a crucial part of the preparation for the rally. Anyone who has ever played Sega Rally 2 will be instantly familiar with this car. Mäkinen won his fourth consecutive WRC title in a red Evo VI, and this car was ordered as a replica road to celebrate this fact.

The Tommi Special was equipped with a faster responsive titanium turbo, lower suspension, front strut and faster steering. The car produced 280 horsepower and reached 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds. In many ways, it was the end of an era. Ugly, fragile, hardcore and very fast – that`s what made the first rally reruns great. 7. What are good/best/best rally cars? It is difficult to give a simple answer to this question because it is always subjective, because some of the best cars were Group B beasts, for some current generations of WRC, while others prefer the middle, such as the Peugeot 206 WRC or the Ford Focus. But if we look at the cars based on WRC wins, the best cars are Subaru Impreza and Lancia Delta Group A. Despite state-of-the-art technology, the driver and front passenger still rely on conventional pen and paper to create speed notes. These instructions, which are read by the passenger during the stage, are like a second pair of eyes for the rider. They provide all the exact details of the road ahead, such as the severity of an upcoming turn, jump or dive on the road. Speed ratings let the driver know exactly what`s coming.

3. What tyres do rally cars use? Rally cars use special racing tires that differ depending on their condition and driving surface (asphalt, gravel, snow). Take a look at our previous article on WRC rally tyres to find out more about the individual tyres available on specific rallies. The driver may be the one fighting the rally cars at 200 km/h on the dangerous roads of a rally stage, but the co-driver plays an equally important role. They are responsible for preparing and reading speed notes, assisting with repairs and always making sure the car arrives on time at key checkpoints. An on-board radio connection ensures that the driver and front passenger can always stay in constant contact. At the end of each day of competition, the cars are stored in the so-called Parc Fermé, which literally means “parc fermé” in English. This is an area that is strictly controlled by the championship and the organisers to ensure that the cars are safe. No work or repair of vehicles is allowed during their stay in the Parc Fermé, unless expressly authorized. This is an area to which only authorized agents and shop stewards have access. The Integrale was a very old car, even when it was still on sale. In fact, the Delta was launched as early as 1979, while cars like the Integrale Evo 2 were still coming out of the factory in 1993.

But this impressive lifespan should tell you everything you need to know about the quality of this small plastic and square car. While supercars have enjoyed a natural home on the walls of teens` bedrooms for decades, the scathing reality is that they`re not exactly great to own. Try driving a Ferrari Testarossa on a narrow country road or maneuver it in heavy traffic and see how much fun it is. (Spoiler alert: not much.) While street rally cars can have a huge toxic image in some parts of the world, as they tend to be equipped with ridiculous sound systems, garish stickers, and other sticky ornaments, the school that spawned them for the first time is filled with very good cars. Here`s our roundup of ten of the best. These days, road cars are extremely desirable – expect to pay around half a million dollars if you find a good one. 12. Why do rally cars drift? Rally cars do not drift in the true sense of the word, drivers tend to use the handbrake in hairpin corners as it is easier to turn and takes less time, while drifting as seen on gravel roads (as in Finland) only serves to achieve faster speeds in corners. The only reason automakers spend millions of dollars competing in motorsport stems from this theory: “race on Sunday, sale on Monday.” The idea expressed here is that if a car manufacturer can get their car into motorsport events and maybe even win, fans will want some of that pedigree in their own car.