Regulations: How the World RX works

In the FIA World Rallycross Championship, spectators hardly have a moment to take a deep breath. Up to 28 races are held on each race weekend, depending on the size of the field. The format is simpler than it appears at first glance.

At all events, the drivers determine a winner in four qualifying heats, two semi-finals and the final. Consequently, a driver will ideally contest six races on a race weekend.

Draw
The race weekend starts with a draw. Computer software determines the starting order for Qualifying 1 and allocates it to the individual races with a maximum of five starters. Positions and opponents are totally open before the start – a real lottery.

Qualifying (heats)
Five drivers, four laps, three minutes of maximum suspense – a qualifying heat in the FIA World Rallycross Championship is always based on this system. The number of races depends on the number of entries. In the Supercar class, the maximum number of starters is 25 so that a maximum of five races are possible per qualifying. Every driver has to drive the Joker Lap once per race – an alternative track configuration on which the drivers lose about two seconds.

Following the first qualifying heat, an intermediate classification consolidates the results of the maximum of 25 starters:

1st: 50 points
2nd: 45 points
3rd: 42 points
4th: 40 points
5th: 39 points
6th: 38 points
7th: 37 points
8th: 36 points
9th: 35 points
10th: 34 points
11th: 33 points
12th: 32 points
13th: 31 points
...
25th: 19 points

The ranking from the respective qualifying heat produces the starting grid for the next heat. The slowest drivers will compete against each other in the first race and the five fastest in the last race. The results are tallied after the fourth qualifying heat and the twelve best-placed drivers from the intermediate classification move into the semi-finals.

Semi-finals and final
Now the top 12 are battling for the podium positions. The key differences between these races and the qualifying heats: six drivers, six laps (including one Joker Lap) and a different starting grid. While the drivers started side by side in the qualifying heats, they now start from an offset, three-row grid. Only the top three will move into the final.

The semi-finals are directly followed by the final. Repairs are hardly possible any longer now. Again, the name of the game is: six drivers, six laps (including one Joker Lap) and maximum concentration. After that, the winner has been determined.

Points system
There are three possibilities to score points in the World RX drivers’ championship. Following the heats, the 16 best-placed drivers are awarded points:

1st: 16 points
2nd: 15 points
3rd: 14 points
4th: 13 points
5th: 12 points
6th: 11 points
7th: 10 points
8th: 9 points
9th: 8 points
10th: 7 points
...
16th: 1 point

The semi-finals and the final offer two more opportunities to score points:

1st semi-finals: 6 points
2nd semi-finals: 5 points
3rd semi-finals: 4 points
...
6th semi-finals: 1 point

1st final: 8 points
2nd final: 5 points
3rd final: 4 points
...
6th final: 1 point

Consequently, a driver can score a maximum of 30 points for the drivers’ world championship. They are broken down as follows:

1st intermediate classification (top qualifier): 16 points
1st semi-finals: 6 points
1st final: 8 points

Changes to the regulations
As opposed to the previous three, only two engines are permitted per driver throughout the season this year. The number of turbochargers allowed to be used during the course of one season has been reduced as well, from six to four.

Adjustments have also been made with respect to the tires in order to save costs. From 2018 on, the teams are no longer allowed to use their own, non-registered tires in free practice and warm-up sessions. Now twelve new tires per car are available in each of the first two races of a season. From the third race on, the teams may register eight new and four used tires.

In addition, in 2018, the gear ratios may not be changed again throughout the season. In the past, the teams were allowed to use varying ratios. The utilization of different rear wings is no longer permitted in the future either. The brakes must be of the same specification throughout the season as well.