The recent Rally Estonia has served as a platform for the presentation of a new 50-hour format in the World Rally Championship (WRC), generating a positive reception among drivers and organizers.
The new structure allowed for a more compact event that also aims to reduce operational costs for both organizers and participating teams. With a maintained distance of 300 km of stages, the format facilitated the arrival of crews in Tartu, the host city, during the week.
Pre-event reconnaissance was scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, allowing for a promotional demonstration of the WRC on the main avenue Thursday night, which was very well received by the public.
The first stage of the competition took place Friday morning, followed by six other stages during the afternoon and evening, including a tire mounting area. After a 10-hour rest period required by the FIA, action resumed on Saturday with nine stages, finishing very late.
On Sunday, drivers faced two passes through the Kaariku stage, starting at 11 in the morning, two and a half hours later than in previous editions.
Drivers’ Impressions
Drivers have expressed their support for the new format, highlighting its intensity but also the opportunity to rest adequately. Sebastien Ogier, nine-time world champion, described it as “fantastic” and added that it is positive to have some races designed this way.
Thierry Neuville, WRC 2024 champion with Hyundai, expressed that each rally should have its own narrative, and pointed out that the compact format worked very well in Estonia. However, some drivers suggested that Saturday could be condensed further and that more stages could be added on Sunday.
Future Perspectives
Despite the success of the new format, the future of Rally Estonia in its current structure is still not guaranteed, as the current contract expires this year. Organizers are in talks with WRC promoters to ensure the continuity of the event in upcoming seasons.
Discussions about the 2027 calendar include potential new additions and a new event in Scotland as well as a change of location for the Italian event in Rome. With an increase in spectators from neighboring countries, the future of the event thanks to this new format looks promising.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
