The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council December meeting is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda. The same venue will host the governing body’s annual awards gala on Friday.
According to Spanish publication AS Diario, Wednesday’s agenda includes the WRC Future Technical 2027 document, which outlines the guidelines for the sport following the conclusion of the current homologation cycle. It has already been confirmed that the next two years will see Rally1 cars stripped of hybrid units. However, from 2027, the cars are expected to be significantly cheaper.
The Spanish source reports that the goal is to cap the cost of top-tier WRC cars at €400,000 from 2027 onwards. This represents a substantial reduction, as the price tag for this season’s Rally1 cars has been estimated to exceed €1 million.
The meeting is also expected to finalise the technical regulations for the next homologation cycle. This will provide potential new manufacturers, as well as current ones, with at least two years to develop rally cars for the sport’s highest level. According to AS Diario, the next generation of top-class cars may feature powertrains that include internal combustion engines, hybrid systems, or fully electric motors. This marks a significant increase in options compared to the current regulations.
Additionally, the future top-tier cars will utilise transmission and braking systems from Rally2 cars, aiming to significantly reduce costs. The new tubular chassis cars will have a minimum weight of 1,230 kilograms and may use bodies from SUV models or B- and C-segment civilian cars. Current Rally1 cars will no longer be eligible for competition after 2026.
The push for cheaper cars has long been considered essential to combat the World Rally Championship’s stagnation, making it more accessible to private drivers. If the price cap is set at €400,000, it would bring Rally1 cars much closer to the current cost of Rally2 vehicles. Rally2 categories have demonstrated significant competitiveness worldwide in recent years.
Wednesday’s meeting is also expected to address ways to reduce operational costs in the sport. Measures include limiting the number of team personnel allowed to attend WRC events on-site and simplifying service park setups to cut expenses.
These changes aim to ensure a more financially sustainable future for the WRC while maintaining the sport’s competitive spirit.
