WHY HYBRID SYSTEMS CAN ONLY BE A GOOD THING FOR MOTORSPORT

As we all know, environmentally, the main weakness of motorsport as a whole is emissions. Of course this is fairly unavoidable, there are many emissions costs involved in the motorsport world and only a certain percentage actually comes from the cars on track. But what if that percentage can be helped? Now, this is not an article talking about how green trees are or how CO2 affects barn owls, there are many other places which talk about these concerns, if you're bothered. I'm going to have an overview on forms of motorsport currently using the technology and also the ones who are going to be using it this year and why this breathes new life into the racing.

Source: Wikimedia

Source: Wikimedia

Formula 1

So, Formula 1 has used hybrid technology since 2014 and power-wise, it has used the technology very successfully. Combining this with turbo engines and limiting fuel consumption, it was the first attempt the world had seen for a greener motorsport. However, like everyone else, I must ask the question of did it really work? I mean, sure it did wonders for making the sport a lot better for the world, but with Mercedes dominance, boring tactics and fussy engineering, I'm not sure it evolved in the way we thought it may.

See, high level motorsport is a money spinner, everyone knows this. After 2014 and before 2021, was F1 a motorsport people wanted to watch? Mercedes dominance was no fault of their own, for sheer engineering, there was nothing better, but what happened to the battles? Sure, you had a couple over the years, if it was an inner team battle or midfield, but it was a bit more forced than previous years. Even the drama from the cars themselves had dissipated, F1 cars used to make people gasp with the sound they made, now, not so much. The point I'm trying to get to here is that I'm sure a lot of people are against hybrid powertrains, but this is only due to the highest level of motorsport becoming stale from their introduction.

Source: Formula 1

Source: Formula 1

Formula 1 has assessed these concerns and 2022 is set to be one of the most viewer focused forms of motorsport to date. Developing the cars to be able to race side by side, without the issues of aerodynamics spoiling the fun and drama. The tactics can still exist with boost from electrical systems which is where the hybrid comes into it's own, but it isn't spoiled with previous F1 gripes. This can only be a positive move!

Source: Ford

Source: Ford

WRC 2022

Over the years WRC has always maintained the ability to be entertaining, thundering through thick forests or crashing through the very worst terrain on the Safari rally, it was never boring. Even now, it is still no where near words such as tedious or monotonous. No matter what rally or whoever is driving (apart from if your name is Sébastien, you might have a higher chance by some unknown entity), then you're in for a treat. I'd imagine it's a bookie's dream. So, why does it matter if these mental motors get a hybrid system?

The FIA is currently making similar changes to WRC like they are with F1, dubbed Rally1, cost saving measures mean that teams are a lot more limited in what parts can be used or modified in order to make the sport a lot more accessible. Don't think this will make the cars any slower however, that is far from the case. I believe we have truly succeeded a modern Group B, hear me out! Massive turbos from the '80s have now been replaced by an electrical boost from the hybrid systems in which the drivers can use to their advantage on rally stages for an allotted amount of time. Couple this in with modern suspension and braking systems and you're already very close to the craziness of Group B. There's more, obviously the cars are as aero efficient as they've ever been, somehow looking like something that should be on track at Le Mans rather than a rough forest. If you've seen the now-previous generation cars, you see how much they're pushed into the surfaces going at seemingly supersonic speeds. In addition, the cars are a bit different to previous years, they are now made on a spaceframe, tubular chassis.

I genuinely think 2022s changes for WRC will be brilliant for the sport, years past have been excellent to watch. But this will give WRC, yet again, a new lease of life while maintaining the drama and purity of what WRC is.

Source: Cosworth

Source: Cosworth

BTCC 2022

The BTCC has never been short of drama, if it's battling for the championship or building tensions between drivers, every year there has always been something entertaining to watch. Even the BTC-Spec cars that came after the high energy era that was the '90s Super Touring were still entertaining. even if it was just for driver battles. New changes come to the BTCC in 2022 after nearly 10 years of 'NGTC' regulations making BTCC one of the best forms of motorsport to watch but also to compete in.

NGTC regulations still exist, however, Cosworth have taken the reigns in developing the new hybrid system which all the teams will run, M-Sport will be the ones developing the brand new TOCA Engine - available to teams who do not run their own engine. Quite a few big names coming to the series! But how does the hybrid system affect the BTCC? When racing in the BTCC, they use success ballast to maintain close racing, this is used for drivers who have placed within the top 10 places in each of the three races on the weekend. For the first race however, it is based on the top 10 placed within the championship standings. This is achieved by adding weight to the cars. Simple enough, right? For the hybrid era, this will be changed by limiting the amount of hybrid 'boost' power available to drivers, the most amount of boost available will be a 10% hike in performance for around 15 seconds.

I'm sure some of you aren't seeing much of an environmental benefit to this, but there genuinely is! Don't expect loud noises from cars leaving the pit lane anymore, as they will run on electrical power alone until fully exiting the pit lane, surely this will reduce emissions by quite a bit if you think about it. Not bad! Lets go back to talking about performance though, because there is still efficiency to be gained.

So, when drivers use this boost of energy, it will only be engaged while the car has full traction available and will automatically disengage under braking as well as while the car has anything less than full traction as a basis. As of not yet seen, there will also be an indication to spectators as to when drivers will be using the hyper speed button, which I'm sure will quite entertaining when another drivers has used up all their energy but the one behind is hunting them down on full boost - imagine that on a BTCC final.

Source: 24 Hours of Le Mans

Source: 24 Hours of Le Mans

The purpose of this write up was to try and show that hybrids don't have to be doom and gloom, while also adding some really beneficial elements to motorsport. I think hybrids as a whole have had people turning their noses up at them, I can understand with the early days of their introduction in Formula 1. Don't forget, hybrids have also been around in the Le Mans series for many years, and even over 24 hours, that is still edge of your seat action. All the noises we know and love will be there, while the racing being as spectacular and as close as ever. The future is here, the world is a better place for it, but not just for environmental concerns. Whatever you may be watching this year, it will be entertaining!