The WRC Commission held a video meeting this week, discussing, among other things, the future of the World Rally Championship.
The WRC sporting working group is evaluating the potential introduction of a WRC4 category in the championship for registered Rally4 cars.
Currently, the WRC features four classes: WRC (for Rally1 cars), WRC2 (Rally2), and WRC3 (Rally3) in every round, along with the Junior WRC category (Rally3) in selected events.
The last time front-wheel-drive cars had their own championship category in the WRC was in the 2021 season, when Sami Pajari won the JWRC title with a Ford Fiesta Rally4.
Junior world championship titles were contested with front-wheel-drive cars for 20 years, from 2001 to 2021. Since 2022, the junior title has been competed for using Ford’s four-wheel-drive Rally3 cars.
Additionally, the sporting working group is assessing the selection criteria and available options for the Junior WRC partner from 2026 onwards. Since the 2017 season, the junior championship has only been contested with cars built by M-Sport.
Currently, Renault also has a competitive Rally3 car, which made its debut in 2023. However, the French manufacturer’s Clio Rally3 has not been eligible for the JWRC title.
The WRC Commission also outlined that the regulations for the 2026 season should be drafted by September, allowing them to be presented to the FIA World Motor Sport Council in its October meeting.
The WRC Commission also discussed the framework for rally itineraries from 2026 onwards. The aim is to establish guidelines that will help organisers structure events in a way that ensures a better balance between work and rest periods for crews and all those involved in the championship.
