I now wonder if the FIA is eventually going to replace the worldwide/WRC R5 class with this one, it being soooo much more affordable, accessible, and easy to maintain/support/campaign than any R5 car, and IF they are NOT going to require hybrid power/drive trains for
any class below top WRC spec, going forward.
It is almost like a much more affordable, less bespoke/exotic part containing, more standardized, S2000 class of old, but with much more 'tractable' and 'torquey' turbo power, vs that old class's VERY peaky/torque-less ~300 naturally aspirated AWHP.
In other words, THE most affordable turbo AWD rally class for (mostly for now) worldwide competition.
They certainly
look A LOT cooler (with those big box flares and hood vents) than the FWD R1/R2/R2T cars, which are almost 'showroom stock' appearing from the outside (the old now defunct, all naturally aspirated 1.6 liter R1 cars WERE basically a 'showroom stock' rally class, being even
much more sedate than the old Group N class (i.e.; NO; coil over suspensions, factory sliding caliper brakes were
required, factory hubs/uprights only, no engine mods at all, no lightweight parts allowed, no aero/bodywork at all, etc.).