After a loud chorus of concern about working hours for WRC crews during Rally Portugal, a proposal for mandatory rest periods for 2026 could be added to the regulations
Photography by Hyundai
Words by Alasdair Lindsay, Head of Digital Strategy
Rules mandating minimum rest periods for competitors and personnel in the World Rally Championship may come into force for next season.
A proposal drafted in collaboration with the FIA, WRC Promoter and its competitors was discussed in depth at a meeting of the WRC Commission on September 22, which per the FIA would “ensure that itineraries allow the necessary time for those working on-event to recover between the competition sections of the rally.”
Briefing notes from the FIA also stated: “The aim is to improve consistency across all rallies and ultimately create safer working conditions for the crews, officials and volunteers who make the events possible.”
That issue was highlighted most prominently during this year’s Rally Portugal, where several drivers complained that the rally’s itinerary lacked adequate time to recover from very long days behind the wheel.
Ott Tänak was the most vociferous of the complainants at the time, saying: “Sometimes I feel that we have been treated like animals a bit, you know, just for the show.”
Several drivers felt Portugal's itinerary lacked sufficient rest periods to facilitate adequate recovery from the rally's long days
Elfyn Evans had highlighted that regulation for rest periods, rather than the lengths of itineraries, was the key change drivers felt was needed: “The length of the days is fine, but the short nights as well coupled with that is difficult by the time you get to Sunday,” he said prior to Rally Portugal this year.
Members of the WRC Commission agreed on the principles of the proposal for mandated rest periods, with a revised draft now underway ahead of an e-vote in the coming weeks.
Other operational tweaks to WRC events were also agreed, subject to final sign-off by the World Motor Sport Council.
Remote services will be limited to one per rally to “reduce the workload on team personnel and reduce costs,” though a door has been left open for rally organizers to propose alternative solutions for approval on a case-by-case basis.
Documentation deadlines from rally organizers to the FIA have also become more stringent. Itineraries must now be filed six months ahead, up from five and a half, while event maps, remote service locations and tire fitting zones plus details on promotional activities must all be provided by the six months to go milestone.
Words:Alasdair Lindsay
Publish Date September 23, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/09/LyFQwett-2025ACROPOLIS_RT_062-780x520.jpg September 23, 2025
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