Extra occasions like Monza Rally Present can be “good” for WRC

The World Rally Championship may gain advantage from internet hosting exhibition-style occasions such because the Monza Rally Present, in response to Toyota group principal Jari-Matti Latvala.

All three WRC Rally1 groups attended a revived Monza Rally Present earlier this month, which acted as a celebration of the 2024 season, whereas additionally paying tribute to Pirelli’s four-year stint because the championship’s management tyre provider.

The Monza Rally Present has constructed up a robust following since its debut in 1978, recurrently attracting motorsport’s largest names, with MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi a report seven-time occasion winner. 

This 12 months’s revamped occasion witnessed crowds flock to see the WRC’s elite go face to face on the Monza circuit’s well-known phases, with Adrien Fourmaux taking the victory from new world champion Thierry Neuville within the Masters Present.

Latvala, who was among the many WRC drivers competing, believes the idea was successful and feels an occasion of this nature could possibly be a very good match right into a future WRC calendar. 

This 12 months the WRC has dabbled with occasion format adjustments with the introduction of a extra condensed 48-hour idea at Rally Sardinia.  

“I’ve actually loved it, it has been good to drive, and coming right here to Italy the place there may be plenty of followers has really been actually cool,” mentioned Latvala. 

“I believe we might have [something] within the championship, and for me all of the occasions don’t have to be the identical, so a few of the occasions we might have a sprint-type occasion like this in Monza, extra like a present. 

“If we have now 13 or 14 championship rallies we might have perhaps two or three quick occasions, two days and have a present, however nonetheless have some competitors. I believe it might be a pleasant factor for the championship.”

Hyundai’s Neuville can also be a fan of the occasion however feels the championship ought to deal with bettering different areas earlier than switching its consideration to including an exhibition-style spherical to its schedule. 

“It’s enjoyable, I’ve been to Monza many occasions, it’s good,” Neuville advised Autosport.

“I don’t know [if the WRC should do more of these events]. It’s good to have one thing on the finish of the season and perhaps in the beginning of the 12 months to launch the season, however total I might say we have now different issues that we have to type first and we have to deal with.”