Road order regulations appear set to remain unchanged in the World Rally Championship next year after a proposal to introduce a form of qualifying was rejected, Autosport understands.
The debate surrounding road position was ignited earlier this season, which prompted a proposal to alter the regulations for next year with the reintroduction of qualifying to determine road order for the first leg of an event. The WRC previously ran a qualifying system in 2012-13 before it was scrapped.
Newly crowned world champion Thierry Neuville was particularly vocal about the current road order rules with the championship leader opening the road at rallies.
The debate came to the surface in Latvia when Neuville stated that “there is no reward” for doing a “great job” to lead the championship, given the disadvantage of sweeping the roads at gravel events.
In a bid to address concerns, a proposal was put to the WRC Commission to amend the regulations.
Qualifying is not unheard of in current competition with the European Rally Championship, also operated by the WRC Promoter, running a qualifying stage where the fastest 15 drivers compete for the best road position slot.
“There is big discussion about the whole process of the weekend from the first flag to the end,” FIA Road sport director Andrew Wheatley told Autosport at Rally Japan last weekend.
“There are discussions going on about what we can do. I don’t believe there will be a dramatic difference, we won’t go to a full qualifying activity or something radically different but there is work around the edges to see if we can make it slightly different.”
The idea put to the WRC Commission would have seen the top three in the championship compete for road position.
The trio would run in reverse order in the first run of shakedown. Following the qualifying run, the top three are then permitted to select their road position (first, second or third) for Friday. The fastest crew would be given the first choice.
However, Autosport understands that the proposed system failed to secure enough support from a vote held by the WRC Commission, including a vote against from the drivers’ representative.
As a result, the championship leader will continue to open the road at rallies on Thursday and Friday, before the road order is reversed for Saturday and Sunday, determined by overall positions in the rally.
