Has the WRC’s newest constructor unearthed a game changing concept?

The announcement of a new tuner team to join the World Rally Championship in 2027 is a much-needed boost for its incoming technical rules and may have opened the door to a game-changing concept that others could follow.

As Toyota, Hyundai and M-Sport Ford were meticulously readying their vehicles to contest the Rally Islas Canarias over the weekend, Spanish team RMC Motorsport announced plans to design and build a car adhering to the FIA’s new cost-capped 2027 formula.

The aim is to take on the WRC’s top tier beginning with a half campaign before a full season in 2028. Plans to build a new prototype body shell - not based on any current road car - discussions with Rally2 engine suppliers and interest in getting three-time WRC rally winner Dani Sordo to help with the project, were all very interesting.  

But there was one part of this ambitious plan that raised eyebrows and could offer a pathway other teams may follow. In order to bring it to reality, RMC Motorsport has entered into a partnership with the Spanish motorsport governing body - Real Federacion Espanola de Automovilismo (RFEDA) - and it's been labelled a “first of a kind partnership” by the FIA.

Running under the WRT Rally1 Spain moniker, RMC Motorsport wants to effectively create a ‘Team Spain’ scenario. A Spanish car, run by a Spanish team and driven by Spanish drivers, which it hopes will create a pathway for national talent to drive in the WRC.

On the face of it, if one is an aspiring Spanish rally driver, this project offers an incredible opportunity and potentially a much more viable way of breaking into rallying's top tier.

RMC has joined Toyota in committing to the 2027 WRC ruleset

It’s also a very enticing concept that an ASN like RFEDA simply cannot ignore. As a national motorsport governing body, its objectives are to grow the sport, increase participation and nurture talent. This concept certainly ticks those boxes.  

“We could not pass up the opportunity offered by the FIA to incorporate tuners such as RMC into the manufacture of 2027 Rally1 cars,” said RFEDA President Manuel Avino.

“This agreement with RMC also fulfils several of the objectives I set at the beginning of my tenure at RFEDA. As president, it is a source of great pride to be part of a project that will undoubtedly strengthen the quality and recognition of the Spanish Motorsport industry, while also serving as a reference and inspiration for our drivers in their sporting careers.”

"A lovely story of a Spanish car, Spanish team and Spanish drivers could be interesting. It is a good way of looking at it from a different angle we have never done before" Richard Millener

Currently the pathway to the top of the WRC is a challenging ladder to climb for aspirating drivers. Of course, the FIA has its rally pyramid that drivers can climb from Rally6 two-wheel drive machines to the four-wheel drive Rally1 pinnacle.

But with only 10 seats currently in the top category, it is incredibly difficult to break into. So the introduction of tuner teams and ventures, like what RMC Motorsport has developed with RFEDA, offers another way to develop young talent and maybe nurture a driver that can progress to factory status.

So could this concept be followed by other national motorsport federations across the world? Imagine an FFSA backed ‘Team France’ or a Motorsport UK supported ‘Team UK’. It would create a great story for the WRC and potentially grow the discipline to inspire the next generation.

Could another team follow this RMC model?

Photo by: M-Sport

Currently M-Sport Ford is known as a team which prides itself on investing in and developing young talent, as 2019 world champion Ott Tanak and current points leader Elfyn Evans are two examples of that.

The British team is also in collaboration with the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, which develops Irish rally drivers, founded by businessman John Coyne. The partnership has resulted in an Irish Rally1 M-Sport driver line-up for this year with Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong.

“When I think about it, it is probably an interesting concept [what RMC Motorsport has revealed],” M-Sport-Ford team principal Richard Millener told Autosport.

“A lot of people talk about ASN’s funding future talent to the top level, so why don’t you produce a car to put your junior talent in. Then the talent has to find the ending to run the car or do it, it's fantastic. A lovely story of a Spanish car, Spanish team and Spanish drivers could be interesting. 

“It is a good way of looking at it from a different angle we have never done before. I think there is a complication when you have ASN’s that are usually non-profit or governing bodies where there is reasoning to ensure money is spent and goes in the right places.

“I don’t know how they are going to run it commercially so they have to ensure they are not abusing the system to build a car, but I would think the concept of this is for the right reasons to help grow the sport and give opportunity to youngsters and partnering with a Spanish team is great.”

Evans and Tanak are drivers to have come from the M-Sport ranks

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Would M-Sport therefore consider this model for its future WRC plans?

“No it isn’t [ too much of a stretch to expand our collaboration with the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy], I think for the academy you have to be careful you don’t go away from the DNA it was set up for which is to fund varying drivers on their pathway through the sport,” added Millener.

“I think what John does well is he has his ducks in many rows in different manufacturers and series and you are spreading your best. The minute you say we are focusing on one area with the top car going forward you can forget the grassroots element and that is super important.”

The RMC Motorsport/RFEDA partnership has certainly created a talking point and no doubt motorsport governing bodies around the world will be taking note.

Will the RMC model prove to be a success?