The concept, dubbed the 'Command Centre', is an element of the WRC organizer's plan to enhance the championship's ability to deliver developing stories to fans during events.
The organizer worked with teams and manufacturers to extract more data from the cars and increase live interaction between crews and their teams via Formula 1-style team radio.
Live team radio is utilized in several motorsport categories. In the WRC, each stage is currently broadcast live via Rally.TV, but viewers only hear the crews' statements at the tip of the stages, and when motion or incidents occur during a stage, viewers often have no idea what happened.
The technology is being tested in cooperation with M-Sport to further evaluate the systems in Estonia next week as a part of their pre-competition performance ahead of Rally Poland.
“We will test the info, and we would like to check the technology. We will only establish the command center and the outcomes of our tests next 12 months in Monte Carlo,” said WRC competition director Simon Larkin, when asked for an update on the championship plans by Motorsport.com.
“M-Sport testing is ongoing within the evaluation center after which the Estonia testing is coming up, so actual on-site testing.
“We have many technical partners working with us. We have [former Hyundai WRC boss] Andrea Adamo asked us to guide the project, so our plan is to check all year long, but implement in Monte Carlo.
Photo: McKlein / Motorsport images
Larkin also revealed that the Command Center project could eventually evolve right into a physical structure within the service park where team representatives will reside during rallies.
“It's the name of the concept. It could just as easily be a building or a physical structure, but we want to create robust, usable, interesting storytelling technology for Monte Carlo,” Larkin added.
“Maybe something like this won't happen in Monte Carlo, but the concept will be implemented. It’s the concept of data-driven storytelling.”
As previously reported, the WRC can be working with helmet manufacturer Stilo to make helmet cameras available on the championship, which is able to enable drivers to view a number of the most difficult roads in motorsport.
