Earlier, radical changes were planned for the WRC, including the abandonment of hybrid units.
However, the proposed changes faced resistance, and ultimately, the FIA decided to listen to the manufacturers and abandon its plans. The current Rally1 cars will be used until the end of 2026.
Discussions are already underway behind the scenes regarding the regulations that will come into effect in 2027. Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala has speculated, based on what he has heard, that from the 2027 season onwards, the WRC might take a step back—in other words, there are plans to reduce the speed of top-tier cars.
M-Sport Ford’s team principal Richard Millener is relieved that the decision was made to continue with the current cars until the end of the current homologation period.
“I think there’s a lot of challenges added in when we had the ideas of switching away from what we have now. I think the teams are very grateful that it’s come to a sensible solution, which is to kind of keep what we have,” Millener said.
Transitioning to new rules in the middle of a homologation period would have brought enormous challenges to the teams.
“We’ve all invested in the assets, in the spares and everything we have with these cars, and it’s given us fantastic competition. Every rally is very close,” Millener said.
“But to change the regulations now, mid-cycle, realistically would not have brought any more cars, would not have brought any more manufacturers. So you would ask why? Why spend money, time and effort on that? So that was the reason for the push for stability, which we have,” Millener continued.
The new regulations, which will come into effect in 2027, are expected to be finalised by the end of this year. There is certainly a need for urgency.
“Now we have to work especially hard to get the new regulatory framework ready during the third quarter of the year,” Millener outlined.
There is a sense of urgency if new manufacturers are to be included from 2027 onwards.
“It takes a year to approve new rules. Then you have to create a team. Then building and testing the car takes a year. We want a new manufacturer to be on the starting line in Monte Carlo in 2027, so the schedule is really tight,” Millener reminded.
