How many manufacturers will take the Rally2 option in 2027?

There is no question that the World Rally Championship is set for a transitional period as it waves goodbye to the current Rally1 rules and embraces a new formula in 2027. 

With Toyota the only mainstream automotive manufacturer committed to developing a new car to the 2027 technical regulations, alongside private tuner operations Project Rally One and RMC Motorsport, the FIA has taken action to ensure there is plenty of competition for outright wins next year.   

The 2027 ruleset aims to be more affordable – with its cost-capped €345,000 cars, built around spaceframe chassis, set to deliver a similar performance to, and share some components with, current Rally2 cars. 

The prospect of Rally2 cars going head to head with WRC27 machines from next season was confirmed last year. But the FIA has reaffirmed this by offering Rally2 manufacturers the option of developing an upgrade kit, costing €7500, to enable existing Rally2 cars to compete in the WRC’s top tier in 2027 and 2028. 

“I think it is important to start pushing manufacturers. The FIA have said this is what we are doing and now they need to come to the party” Rich Millener 

This Rally2 kit provides clarity as to how the two types of cars could compete against one another as fairly as possible. It will comprise new homologated front fenders, front bumper and rear wing to offer “greater aerodynamic parity”, according to the FIA, while cars will be 10kg lighter. During the first year of homologation, the Rally2 manufacturer must participate in all of the events listed on the WRC calendar, with a minimum of two cars per rally. 

The kit represents a strategy from the FIA to not only keep its current manufacturers in the sport but allow them time to commit and develop a WRC27 car for the future. On paper the intentions are clear and logical, but at the time of writing M-Sport – currently one of three Rally1 competitors – appears the most likely team to develop a kit for its Rally2 car.

“I think it is important to start pushing manufacturers,” says M-Sport team principal Rich Millener. “The FIA have said this is what we are doing and now they need to come to the party.” 

Hyundai and Lancia have not ruled out the possibility of homologating a kit for their Rally2 cars but face several hurdles, while Skoda appears not interested. Toyota also has no plans to develop a kit for its GR Yaris Rally2 for its customers given it is focusing on developing a WRC27 car. 

Hyundai has been developing its Rally2 car this year as a potential option for 2027, so committing to the FIA’s proposal seems on paper to be a no-brainer. But the marque is yet to receive a commitment from its board regarding its continuation in the WRC beyond 2026, and now it will have to go back to the board with the FIA’s latest proposal. 

Hyundai boss Wheatley says biggest hurdle is understanding how the technical regulation will work with the sporting regulation

Photo by: Hyundai

The timeframe to develop a Rally2 kit is tight, but still possible, although that’s not the biggest hurdle, according to Hyundai sporting director Andrew Wheatley. “At the moment we need to understand how the [new] technical regulation will work with the sporting regulation because that’s equally important,” he says.

“We have half at the moment but we don’t have the other half. So, we will wait until we see what the full package is. We have to understand how much investment you put in against how much reward you can generate out of it.” 

Lancia made its long-awaited WRC comeback this year with its newly developed Ypsilon HF Integrale Rally2 car, which was only homologated shortly before January’s opening round. The marque, part of the Stellantis Group, has previously favoured Rally2 as the best business model, regarding it as a better return on investment than competing in the top tier by building a WRC27 car. 

Now faced with the FIA’s current proposal, there is an interest to take up the Rally2 kit option, but there are two major obstacles. The limited time to develop a kit is one, but perhaps the most important is finding the budget to contest the required full season with at least two cars.  

“To help the manufacturers we reduced the registration fee by nearly 50%, which we felt would contribute towards doing the development and the production kit” Malcolm Wilson

Despite the lukewarm reception from several Rally2 manufacturers, the FIA believes this Rally2 kit concept is the best way forward for the WRC to navigate the transition to new technical regulations. It is important to add that all Rally2 manufacturers were presented with the Rally2 kit proposal before it was subsequently voted through.   

“To help the manufacturers, we reduced the registration fee by nearly 50%, which we felt would contribute towards doing the development and the production kit,” explains FIA deputy president for sport Malcolm Wilson. 

“It [Rally2 Kit proposal] is set in stone. We have to think about the future. I think it is the right thing for the bridging period [to 2029]. We feel pretty confident that the Rally2 with the kit [will be competitive]. I am sure there will be one on the podium next year.”

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Toyota is the only mainstream manufacturer committed to developing a new car to the 2027 technical regulations

Photo by: McKlein Photography / LAT Images via Getty Images