Why the WRC asphalt Rally1 monsters will be missed

The mind blowing sight of a low-slung asphalt version of the million euro Rally1 World Rally Championship monster roaring through a stage is now consigned to the history books.

Last week’s Rally Japan marked the first farewell of the jaw dropping Rally1 machines - the like we may not see grace the WRC for some time. There was universal sadness among the service park once the cars parked up for the final time after Toyota’s Elfyn Evans claimed the last win for this specification of car.

It was perhaps fitting that Japan’s technical stages was the venue for the last dance, as the asphalt version of this rally has its history entwined with Rally1 given its debut coincided with the start of the ruleset in 2022.

Next year the WRC will move to new technical regulations, and while the new rules are designed to lower costs and increase the number of competitors at the top level, the new cars will take a step backwards in terms of speed, performance and aerodynamics, based largely around the current second tier Rally2. It was a moment not lost on the drivers in Japan.

“I am going to miss the Rally1 car on tarmac, that is clear. Even if we are slower [in Hyundai] the performance of these cars on tarmac is just incredible,” Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux told Autosport.  

Nine-time world champion Sebastien Ogier, who won more asphalt rallies in the Rally1 era than any other driver, added: “This car has been amazing driving on tarmac. I mean, on gravel is not bad either, it's been a cool experience.

“I had many great cars in my career and I think the 2017 cars on tarmac were also something very unique. That's life. There are always some new things coming. It looks like the first step will be a good step back next year for the new generation of cars. But I'm pretty sure things will evolve like it's always been."  

The WRC will introduce a new ruleset in 2027

“They're just the ultimate rally car,” added M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong. “We always want to be driving something that feels like the fastest car that you can get. Still I think Rally2 is also a good package and who knows I'm sure they'll be just as fast in, in years to come.”

The current Rally1 machines still have seven gravel rallies remaining, but the car in arguably its most aggressive form are now museum pieces. While for many, rallying is all about kicking up the dust on gravel stages, the asphalt versions of rally cars are often the fastest and the coolest versions.

It is the closest a rally car comes to a circuit racer. How can you not marvel at the sight and speed of the Toyota GR Yaris, the Hyundai i20 N and Ford Puma Rally1 cars in tarmac spec? They look fast and aggressive standing still.  

There is no question the Rally1 car will be remembered as one of the most hardcore and stunning bits of kit the WRC has witnessed. In its first iteration, featuring a 100kW hybrid kit (until the end of 2024), they produced an eye watering 500 horsepower.

"It will be a shame to see them go. I think they look aggressive, they look cool and super exciting to watch. Times change and things move on and we're adapting a new set of regulations. going into a new era. We look forward not backwards" Richard Millener

Many were concerned that the Rally1 wouldn’t live up to the previous 2017 WRC cars, and while the former may have the slight edge on looks and performance, the Rally1 has been a worthy successor and equally as impressive.

There are few machines in global motorsport that can stir the emotions like a Rally1 in full flight running through a narrow asphalt stage in Monte Carlo. Over the last 20 years working as a motorsport journalist, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to go for passenger rides in touring cars, V8 Supercars, GT3 machines, and on one occasion drove a single seater, but nothing comes anywhere close to the thrill of sampling a Rally1 car on asphalt.

The acceleration is next level to the point your eyes and brain simply cannot keep up, and on dry asphalt the force is such that your vision becomes blurry. This factor increased several fold when they had the hybrid kits bolted to them across 2022 to 2024.

Once you’ve tried to come to terms with the acceleration, the way it can change direction, tackle hairpins, chicanes and fast corners, and how quickly it can stop, creates a truly unique ride in world motorsport. Every time I’ve stepped out of one of these machines my legs have taken a good few hours to stop shaking and your brain can’t quite believe what you have experienced.

You have never felt more alive than when you are in one of these cars and it soon dawns on you how the drivers must crave this adrenaline hit time after time. 

Again once you’ve sat alongside the likes of Evans or Hyundai’s Dani Sordo in my case, the appreciation level for the drivers that have the ability to wrestle these cars in the most difficult of environments sky rockets. They really are the best drivers on the planet.  

But as they say, we move forward. The rally world became misty eyed when the awesome 2017 WRC cars, featuring crazy aero and centre differentials were put out to pasture and now the same will happen for the Rally1. But just like how Rally1 lived up to the previous generation, who's to say that in time and after the WRC development gurus weave their magic, the new generation of cars can replicate the sheer thrill that Rally1 provided.

“For me it’s [Rally1] the modern day Group B,” M-Sport-Ford team principal Richard Millener told Autosport. “These are the fastest and best cars that I've ever dealt with, and probably will for a long time. It will be a shame to see them go. I think they look aggressive, they look cool and super exciting to watch. Times change and things move on and we're adapting a new set of regulations. going into a new era. We look forward not backwards.

“The new set of regulations have a 10-year lifespan and those will develop over time. In six months time, honestly, we won't be talking about these or looking at these because I think even if we are using a combination of the new regulation car, and Rally2 for other people, I still think it's going to be super close battles and even closer than we have now, and I think that will instantly take the storylines away from anybody's concerns right now.

“They might not be quite as fast but to be honest, you watch the Rally2 cars on the live stream after the Rally1 cars are gone. It's still good to watch. When you don't have a Rally1 to compare against, I think it'd be very difficult to see really where the difference is.”

Asphalt Rally1 Hall of Fame (2022-26)

Ogier has the most Rally1 wins on asphalt

Photo by: Toyota Racing

As the curtain is drawn on the asphalt era of Rally1, Toyota sit at the top of leaderboard winning 15 of the 21 rallies. Hyundai claimed five wins, with M-Sport-Ford taking a solitary triumph when Sebastien Loeb claimed the inaugural round of the Rally1 era in Monte Carlo 2022. His rival Ogier notched up the most stage wins with 96 fastest times.

Interestingly, Toyota’s dominance in this discipline has only emerged since Hyundai debuted its EVO car - that has struggled on asphalt - and the introduction of the Hankook tyre in 2025. At the end of 2024 the asphalt win scoreboard stood at 7-5 in Toyota’s favour before the letter went on to dominate.