News reported on all this week in the WRC is that of running orders. According to Autosport, with their sources high up in the FIA, the running order could revert to the pre-2008 system.
The road sweeping phenomenon, most prevalent in loose surface events, sees the leader on the event suffer a handicap as they effectively sweep the racing line clean of loose gravel and stones to leave behind a quicker line and more traction.
Pre-2008, the running order system saw the top 15 classified crews run Days Two and Three in reverse order based on their classification at the end of Days One and Two. Currently, crews start Day One according to Champinship standings with Days Two and Three running orders are based on the previous days’ overall classification.
Team tactics now rule at the end of each day’s stages, as they jostle for the ideal road position for the following day. The FIA is now reported to be contemplating a return to the pre-2008 system to avoid such strategies.
An alternative suggestion from Petter Solberg on Autorsport.com is to determine the start order for Day One by a random draw amongst the top 15 drivers. This system was used on the 2001 Rally Australia where Colin McRae was late to arrive at the draw and was forced to run first on the road!