What to expect from the WRC in 2026

The 2026 World Rally Championship season represents a period of transition, as the series prepares to bid farewell to the Rally1 regulations ahead of the 2027 rule shift, while saying hello to a new commercial rights holder.

Reigning world champion Toyota and rivals Hyundai and M-Sport/Ford have all reshuffled their driver line-ups for a campaign that is likely to deliver another unpredictable title fight. 

Toyota was forced into making changes after two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera called time on his WRC career in favour of a brave switch to circuit racing. The Finn’s seat has been taken by WRC2 champion Oliver Solberg, whom Toyota believes will have the ability to regularly fight for podiums. Solberg will join reigning and nine-time world champion Sebastien Ogier, who delivered arguably his best season in 2025 to beat Elfyn Evans to the title by four points. Ogier is set to contest one round fewer this year, although a run for a record 10th title cannot be ruled out.

“The run we had in 2025 was pretty exceptional and I’m well aware that it’s going to be difficult to reproduce that,” says Ogier. “In 2026 the main target is to continue with this level of performance if we can. Again this team offered me an opportunity to work together with some flexibility, so I will say, ‘never say never’ [when it comes to a title push].”

After finishing as runner-up for a fifth time, Evans will return for a seventh year with Toyota. The Welshman admits he needs to be a bit more ruthless in 2026 to finally get over the line. Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta and Finland’s Sami Pajari complete Toyota’s line-up, and both are eyeing maiden rally wins after strong performances in 2025.

The all-conquering GR Yaris is also set to undergo yet further aero and transmission developments as Toyota bids to end the Rally1 era with a 100% manufacturers’ title record.

Evans knows he has got to be more ruthless if he’s going to deliver in his seventh season with Toyota

Photo by: Toyota Racing

The other big change in driver line-ups is at Hyundai, which will be without 2019 world champion Ott Tanak following the Estonian’s decision to take a sabbatical. Hyundai has opted to replace Tanak by recalling three experienced drivers – Dani Sordo, Esapekka Lappi and 2016 Rally Argentina winner Hayden Paddon – who will share the South Korean marque’s third factory entry.

The team believes its decision to go for experience over youth will maximise opportunities to gather points to take the fight to Toyota in the manufacturers’ championship.

The year will begin with Paddon behind the wheel in Monte Carlo, which will be the Kiwi’s first top-flight WRC outing since he left Hyundai at the end of 2018. He will be flanked by 2024 world champion Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux, who will contest full seasons. 

Much is expected from Fourmaux, who quickly settled into the Hyundai team last year and came close to securing a first WRC win

Neuville will be desperate to bounce back from a torrid 2025 that yielded only one victory after he struggled to adjust to the new Hankook tyres and Hyundai’s ‘Evo’ i20 N. Much is expected from Fourmaux, who quickly settled into the team last year, matching his more experienced team-mates, and came close to securing a first WRC win.

After a 12-2 drubbing by Toyota in 2025, team principal Cyril Abiteboul believes his squad will be stronger, having learned from its struggles with its upgraded i20 N: “We have a much better understanding of the package, the plan is focused, and there are fewer moving parts than a year ago – 2025 was a reminder that absolute performance is not necessarily the determining factor; it’s more important to have a controlled and well-understood product, and a focused organisation.”

There are also changes at M-Sport, which has an all-Irish driver line-up following an expansion of its relationship with Motorsport Ireland. Last year’s European Rally Championship runner-up Jon Armstrong is set to graduate to Rally1 alongside Josh McErlean, who impressed in his rookie 2025 campaign, driving the Ford Puma.

Abiteboul (left) believes Hyundai is stronger and more focused, while Neuville will want to bounce back from 2025’s struggles

Photo by: Vincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport

The 14-round calendar is largely unchanged. The Central European Rally has dropped off the schedule and has effectively been replaced by the return of Croatia’s asphalt roads after a one-year absence. Meanwhile, Japan has moved from its traditional November slot to May, with Sardinia relocating to an October berth.

Events will no longer feature the 15-hour days witnessed in Portugal last year after the FIA introduced mandatory rest periods to reduce the strain on crews and teams. Total rest hours across a rally are now required to be at least equal to total competition hours, with the exception of the opening day. A minimum of 10 hours per day must be dedicated to rest, with one leg featuring at least 12 hours. 

Last year proved anything is possible in the WRC, and who’s to say 2026 won’t be any different?

This article is one of many in the monthly Autosport magazine. For more premium content, take a look at the February 2026 issue and subscribe today. 

M-Sport has an all-Irish line-up for 2026, with a livery to match

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool