Yup. A lot less torque. Torque is the biggest down-side to S2000 rally cars.
Power is around 270-280BHP, but torque is only around 250-270Nm. Furthermore, it peaks very late in the curve, almost as late as peak power at circa 7000rpm.
Drivers will need to work extra hard to keep their engines on song. WRC cars had very flat curves, not so with S2000.
It's not safety nazis - if it does have a safety effect it will be beneficial. Action would have been taken if a driver was killed in a crash - but a co-driver? No, no action.
Cost cutting is another major part of this - get a Super 2000 car, tape on some extra bodywork, go.
So lifetime of current WRC cars is extended to 2010... I understand this that way, because it does not say that performance of current WRC cars would leveled to match the new S2000 cars.
From 2013, it is proposed that the World Rally Car will continue to be Super 2000 based with a cost-effective 1.6 litre turbo engine. This is subject to review, based on the specification of the car produced by manufacturers for the mass market.
1. World Rally Car will be based on existing mass-produced street cars.
2. The World Rally Car will be a Super 2000 car, except the engine will be a turbo-charged 1.6 litre.
S2000 and S1600 cars are based on production (ie. street) cars, much like how Group N cars are modified street cars. Super 1600/2000 cars are developed the same way - take a street car, strip it, replace the differentials (if necessary), stick a standard gearbox in, tune the engine, etc.
