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The 2017 regulations have been introduced to conjure up a sense of the past for fans that believe the WRC has lost its edge. Harking back to the aesthetic pleasures that their Group B fore bearers carried the new breed of cars should at least look the part, although the more flamboyant driving style of a decade or so ago will still likely be neutered.
It's not all about looks though with more under the drivers right foot too, the 1.6 litre turbocharged engine is able to pack more punch due to an increase in restrictor size - up from 33mm to 36mm seeing figures closer to 400 than 300bhp. There are passive diffs front and rear but for the first time since 2010 an active central diff is allowable, allowing the driver more scope with which to tune the cars characteristics for each stage.
Since you ain't been around you know Nico retired, right? He said he was tired of dealing with HAM always throwing his toys out of the pram. Claims he was hit by a rattle after Malaysia.
Also Honda will supposedly be switching to a split turbo like Merc and Ferrari is crying about the suspensions on the Merc and the RB