The FIA World Rallycross championship’s planned m♐ove to all-electric cars has been suspended by one year with the switch set for 2021.

According to a ൲statement published by the FIA, championship promoters IMG have delayed the electric switch to allow manufacturers ‘optimal time’ to develop its plans in the series ahead of the radical change.

World Rallycross had been set to go electric in 2020 but plans have been pushed back by one year with manufacturers given a new deadline of March 29^th 2019 to confirm their plans f🐻or the electric f🐬ormat.

“We are on the verge of an exciting new era for motorsport,” Paul Bellamy, Senior Vice President of Motorsports at IMG, said. “Ele🤪ctric cars are increasingly important to all areas of mobility, and rallycross is the perfect platform to demonstrate the incredible performance capabilities of electric cars in a fun, 🌄competitive and cost effective environment.

“A huge amount has been accomplished in a relatively short time since the first 🐓formal meeting in June 2017. A completely new type of rallycross car has been conceived and defined, and so it is worth waiting a little longer to secure the best possible field of compe𒀰titors. We believe that fans new and old will love what will be a thrilling addition to their favourite events.”

For the next two seasons the existing format and rules will be 🌱retained using internal combustion engines but plans to retain the petrol-powered cars are expected as part of the championship post-2020.

The electri🅰c cars will be based on a Oreca carbon fibre monocoque chassis using batteries from Williams Advanced Engineering with each car powere𒆙d by two 250kW motors which manufacturers can develop.

Manufacturers will homologate their own bodies for the cars which🔯 are de🅘signed to accept scaled versions of production vehicles.

Independent teams can also enter the championship, either with cars supplied by manufacturers or using their own drivetrains and bodies🅺 developed from an FIA approved base des🌄ign.