Apache Automotive‘s APH-01 hybrid automobile will lastly be eligible for FIA competitors after they enter the Baja España Aragón on 26–28 July, competing within the Challenger class and notably underneath the T3.U subcategory. The corporate will area three APH-01s for rally drivers Pierre-Louis Loubet, Charles Munster, and Julien Saunier.
T3.U is a subcategory launched by the FIA for the 2024 cross-country rally season supposed for electrical and hybrid Challenger (previously T3) automobiles. It takes inspiration from T1.U of the premier Final class, which was stuffed by Workforce Audi Sport’s electrical RS Q e-tron collection for 3 years and received the Dakar Rally in January earlier than their demise shortly after.
Appendix J, Article 286 of the FIA’s cross-country rules stipulate a T3.U automobile have to be able to travelling on a flat street for not less than 5 kilometres whereas “being solely propelled due to the e-motor(s)” and reaching 90 kilometres per hour inside twenty seconds. The battery and battery administration system have to be commercially accessible and authorized by the FIA. The Rechargeable Vitality Storage System, which incorporates each battery pack, the housing they’re encased in, and every other inside elements, will be constructed because the crew pleases so long as it weighs sixty kilograms at minimal together with cooling fluid.
After being revealed in June 2023, Apache made its competitors début on the Baja Portalegre 500 final October with Mathieu Serradori. Though the race is a part of the FIA European Baja Cup, Serradori was not included within the last outcomes because the APH-01 didn’t meet FIA regulation on the time, as an alternative being thought to be an Open/Experimental entry. In January, Apache enlisted Loubet and motocross star Gautier Paulin for the Africa Eco Race; regardless of it being each drivers’ first instances in rally raid, Loubet received 5 levels however completed exterior the highest ten attributable to mechanical points whereas Paulin was the general winner.
Loubet has raced within the World Rally Championship since 2015, which he juggled with competing in WRC-2. After successful the WRC-2 title in 2019, he totally dedicated to the highest degree and spent two WRC seasons apiece with Hyundai and M-Sport Ford (the latter additionally having a rally raid arm). He completed twelfth within the 2023 standings earlier than returning to WRC-2 for 2024 with Škoda on a part-time schedule. François Borsotto, who partnered with him for the AER, will proceed as his co-driver.
Munster additionally competes in WRC2 for Hyundai, ending fifth in his début on the Safari Rally. He primarily runs rallies in his native Luxembourg in addition to the European Rally Trophy and French and Belgian championships. His navigator Loïc Dumont shall be by his aspect once more.
Saunier is a Frenchman who does tarmac rally. Benjamin Boulloud will work with him.
Baja Aragón is the third spherical of the 2024 FIA World Baja Cup.
