What’s it and the way does it work?

As a way to create a extra balanced subject within the Dakar Rally, the FIA has launched a Torque Meter this yr. Motorsport.com caught up with the governing physique’s cross-country director Jerome Roussel to seek out all of the secrets and techniques behind it.

What’s a Torque Meter and the way does it work?

The Torque Meter is a sensor positioned contained in the gearbox that measures the ability reaching the wheels. In case the ability exceeds the restrict imposed by the regulators, a time penalty is utilized.

The system shall be utilized in the whole 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship, beginning with Dakar, after the FIA examined the gadget with a number of groups, together with Ford within the Morocco Rally.

“It is mainly a sensor, a type of torque sensor, that is within the gearbox,” defined Roussel. “The great factor is that in cross-country all of the producers use the identical gearbox, so it is simple to implement. The gearbox offers the ability to the gearbox, and what we would like is to measure that energy that goes out.

“Earlier than we have been measuring what the engine was producing, and now we’ve got the management system which is on a distinct degree in what the engine is producing, so for us it’s a lot simpler, as a result of we solely monitor what’s going to the wheels – we don’t care concerning the energy, simply what’s going to the wheels.

“It’s a higher system to manage efficiency, as a result of any know-how, whether or not you might have the naturally aspirated V8 or the Toyota turbo, it doesn’t matter, as a result of we have a look at what comes out.”

Successfully a system of Steadiness of Efficiency [BoP], the Torque Meter has already been seen in different classes, though the model utilized in cross-country rallying is sort of completely different.

“It isn’t a brand new system, as a result of it was used within the WEC and System 1, so we may benefit from all of the expertise we’ve got with that know-how and implement it within the producers,” Roussel identified. “We began the method two years in the past, so it is not one thing fully new.”

Why was it launched within the 2025 W2RC season?

In contrast to circuit racing, automobiles within the W2RC do not loop round a set observe. This creates extra issues and the FIA needed to perform a number of exams with completely different producers earlier than introducing the gadget in 2025.

“We would have liked time to develop it with the producers,” Roussel defined. “Cross-country is sort of distinctive. At Le Mans, each 13 kilometres it’s the identical route, the identical nook, and right here you do not have the identical factor twice, the identical terrain.

“You’ve jumps, a whole lot of compressions, so we wanted time to develop it with the producers, that is why we determined to take it straightforward, after which the foundations are carried out from 1 January.”

How are Torque Meter-related penalties utilized within the 2025 Dakar Rally and W2RC?

The FIA ​​didn’t need to create an imbalance by issuing large penalties for exceeding the utmost energy allowed underneath the laws, which is why there’s a 10-minute restrict for offences.

“You by no means have an computerized penalty. If there’s a sanction, it’s as a result of our engineers confirmed that one thing was not in accordance with the laws,” Roussel defined.

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“Within the system we’ve got what we name an ‘integral’, however it’s like evaluating it to an outlined curve of the ability that can not be exceeded in keeping with the laws and the length of that second.

“In case you have a small peak for a very long time, it is the identical as a giant peak for a really quick time, and when you might have a penalty nothing occurs, however every little thing accumulates.

“All that is additionally filtered, you might have tolerance, all of the parameters have been outlined to be delicate.

“When you might have that penalty, the primary one is 10 seconds. We selected 10 as a result of it’s not loads, we didn’t need to penalise one thing the place you’ll lose loads for only a second of exceeding that restrict, so we put 10 minutes as the utmost.

“So 10 seconds for us is sufficient. Then you might have one thing progressive of 20 seconds after you breach it. If a competitor or a staff is totally screwing up their methods, then you might have 1,000 penalties, however we didn’t need to penalise 1,000 instances with 10 seconds, so we put a most of 10 minutes.

“As a result of with 10 minutes, you do not lose the Dakar. [A penalty is] by no means excellent news, however you possibly can nonetheless win or get a podium. We did not need to kill the [chances of a] driver, that is why we wished one thing smooth. Possibly sooner or later it will likely be tougher or softer, relying on the way it works.”

First exams of the Torque Meter for Dakar Rally

The FIA ​​Torque Meter was examined on the 2024 Rally of Morocco, with the Ford Raptor specifically, and the outcomes left the governing physique inspired.

“It helped, in fact,” remarked Roussel. “Ford used it within the full package deal in Morocco, however we additionally had a Toyota, a Mini and a Dacia that had a Torque Meter.

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“All that information was very helpful for us to be taught and outline the management technique, that are all of the parameters we use.

“Additionally all of the groups did some exams, and after every session they despatched us the info so our engineers might analyse it. Every thing was performed in collaboration with the groups to ensure we hadn’t missed something – you want a little bit of testing earlier than introducing a brand new gadget and sure, every little thing was performed appropriately.”

It’s anticipated that the World Rally Championship will use the identical system when it introduces new guidelines in 2027 that may provide producers better flexibility on powertrains.