For the 2025-26 seasons, the WRC will continue with Rally1 hybrid cars. All three WRC teams had wished for no major changes for the two years, so the FIA decided to cancel its proposal and provide stability regarding the technical regulations for the rally teams.
The end of the FIA’s statement included two other decisions passed on Tuesday at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Uzbekistan. Previously, no WRC team members were allowed within a kilometre of the competition car during liaison sections. This rule has been changed to facilitate social media content production.
“Additionally, the World Council approved that, for promotion purposes, two designated team personnel for each registered manufacturer will now be allowed to be present within one kilometre of their competing cars on road sections for filming and social media content creation, the statement reads.
“Additional positions in the car were also accommodated for the fitting of onboard camera lens.”
Another addition to the FIA’s decision was certainly welcome news for the M-Sport Ford team. The British team has exclusively manufactured cars for the WRC’s junior category and will continue to do so for the 2025 season. The JWRC category will be raced with Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars manufactured by M-Sport’s Poland unit.
“To provide continuity and stability in the Junior WRC Championship, the extension of the exclusive car supply contract (M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 EVO) for the 2025 season was approved.”
Following the Uzbekistan meeting, the FIA’s next task is to draft the WRC regulations from the 2027 season onwards, when the current homologation period ends. The FIA will collaborate with the WRC promoter and car manufacturers to create these rules. It is clear that some reforms are needed to finally bring new car brands into the championship in a few years.
“All stakeholders are working positively together on the direction of the regulations for 2027 and beyond, and there is a good consensus between the World Council members and the manufacturers on the key targets that are aimed primarily at increasing participation at the highest level as previously set out by the FIA,” the FIA’s statement notes.
“It is a strong expectation of the World Council that the current manufacturers will commit to the long-term future of the sport well in advance. These regulations will be presented for approval at the December meeting of the World Council, allowing more than two year’s lead time for manufacturers to adapt.”
Additionally, the FIA reports that it has strengthened its communications and marketing department for the WRC. Sporting regulations will also be fine-tuned in the second half of the year. This year, for example, the new points system in the WRC has sparked much discussion.
The FIA promises that the sporting regulations for the WRC will be presented to the World Motor Sport Council in October, after which they can be introduced to the public. One of the goals is to reduce costs for competitors.
