The format of WRC occasions has been a scorching subject this season with the Hyundai driver some of the vocal in pushing for the championship to enhance its general enchantment.
WRC drivers have been crucial of the present occasion format with the size of the times and street sections a specific bone of rivalry.
In response to the criticism a raft of proposals have been collated by the WRC Fee earlier than being tabled to the FIA earlier this month.
Whereas it’s understood an try to scale back the minimal occasion size to 250 kilometres for 2024 was rejected, the FIA has ratified a brand new factors system that may see factors attributed after Saturday’s leg and a brand new allocation of factors particularly for Sunday, in a bid to boost the ultimate day of rallies.
The WRC may but endure additional modifications sooner or later following the FIA’s resolution to create a brand new working group designed to assist forge a pathway for rallying in any respect ranges.
The group is headed by FIA deputy president Robert Reid, the 2001 World Rally Championship title-winning co-driver, and the 1981 WRC co-driver champion David Richards, who’s the chairman of Motorsport UK.
Requested for his opinion on the way forward for the WRC format, Neuville revealed he want to see extra selection within the size of rallies and the return of iconic occasions of the previous.
“For me, initially, and like I’ve at all times stated, the format of the rally is simply too lengthy, and it’s a drawback as no person follows the rally for 4 days,” Neuville advised Motorsport.com.
“Nevertheless, to not fully change the rally format I’d hold Monte Carlo as a four-day occasion, and I’d make the Safari Rally longer to be like 5 – 6 days lengthy, however with longer levels to create a bit of pleasure like prior to now.
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Crew Hyundai i20 N Rally1
“I’d deliver again the long-lasting occasions like Argentina and Wales, and I believe they’re each candidates or want to come again.
“Then I’d make the opposite rallies shorter to be Friday and Saturday solely. You could possibly have shakedown on Friday morning after which begin at noon and run till eight within the night and possibly 10-11pm on tarmac at the hours of darkness.
“Then I’d do a protracted Saturday and end within the night, earlier than a pleasant occasion for the folks within the Service Park and live performance within the night.
“I’d then have a Sunday [at some events] the place we do one stage however repeated and possibly have a distant service [near the stage], so folks can come to the service after which stroll to the stage and see us twice and have some interplay with us [the drivers]. There could possibly be co-driver runs for producers with VIPs. This is able to deliver the rally to the folks.”
