The current Rally1 cars will become history, to be replaced by a new generation of cars currently referred to as WRC27.
The cost cap for the new WRC27 cars has been set at a very modest €345,000, and technically they will be closest to the current Rally2 cars.
By reducing costs, the aim is to make the World Rally Championship a more attractive option for a wider range of car manufacturers. Alongside the current two factory teams – Toyota and Hyundai – more manufacturers are being encouraged to join and make a proper commitment to the championship. Through this, greater competition is also hoped for in the WRC.
“our target is to have as many top-category cars as possible in 2027,” confirms Xavier Mestelan-Pinon, the FIA’s Technical Director.
However, there are still some uncertainties surrounding the 2027 regulations, which have now been clarified as best as possible. According to the FIA, the new technical rules are practically complete – only the final details are still being refined. The FIA has also previously emphasised that all manufacturers interested in joining already have sufficient information to begin developing their cars.
According to Mestelan-Pinon, the current Rally2 cars will likely compete alongside the new top-class cars – at least initially.
“To do that, in what we call the short term, it’s to have both Rally2 and the new WRC 27 regulation in the same category, okay. Both are candidates for that. We don’t want to balance the cars, and we don’t want to put in place what we call equivalence of technology,” Mestelan-Pinon says.
“We just have two technical regulations — one is Rally2 and the other is WRC 27. So both will have their advantages and disadvantages, that’s it,” he continues.
In terms of performance, the new top-class cars will correspond to the current Rally2 machines, but there will still be some small technical differences.
“It will not be exactly the same weight because of the same engine, but regarding aerodynamics, wishbones, and damper technology, there could be some small differences,” Mestelan-Pinon notes.
Nevertheless, Mestelan-Pinon stresses that these are two separate concepts.
“But in the end, it’s two regulations. Again, we don’t want to balance the platform; we just want to say there are two platforms, two different technologies,” the FIA boss outlines.
