1 NEW POINTS SYSTEM TO STOP SUNDAY DRIVING
Gone is the old system of handing out points (25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1) to the top 10 finishers at the end of a rally.
Instead, the top 10 at the completion of Saturday’s action will get points (18-15-13-10-8-6-4-3-2-1) but only if they get through Sunday’s stages. If they don’t, their points will go to the next best crew. Sunday will get its own classification with points (7-6-5-4-3-2-1) going to the top seven finishers. Powerstage bonus points (5-4-3-2-1) for the fastest five will continue to be handed out. Why the changes?
The sport’s chiefs – along with the fans – have tired of drivers opting to go slow through Sunday morning’s stages – and the tedious live TV chatter that ensues – to save their cars and tyres for a Powerstage push.
Whether it will work or not is very much uncharted territory as it has been impossible to simulate scenarios that have never happened before. The proposals weren’t loved by all during the planning phase and the FIA, which has said that the new rules represent the best possible compromise, is ready to make changes if things aren’t working. But as a solution to the Sunday driving dullness problem, this is not a
