For car manufacturers, a positive development is that after the current homologation period ends following the 2026 season, the design of future rally car bodies will become significantly more flexible. Manufacturers will be able to choose SUV models, hatchbacks, or virtually any type of car, although certain dimensions of body panels will still be restricted. In addition, the safety cage must fit within the car.
It has also been stipulated that from 2027 onwards, the powertrain will be open to choice – meaning the World Rally Championship can be contested with hybrid, internal combustion, or electric vehicles. However, the price cap for the cars has been set at €345,000, and technically they will resemble today’s WRC2 class cars more than the roughly €1 million Rally1 cars currently used in the top tier of the WRC.
The reforms are, of course, hoped to attract new car manufacturers to the WRC, though the schedule is tight, so the 2027 target may still be somewhat unrealistic. On the other hand, private teams will have significantly better opportunities to enter the top class of the WRC after next season, thanks to the considerable cost reductions. One such potential candidate is Teo Martín Motorsport, based in Madrid, Spain.
The team has a long tradition in both rallying and circuit racing, and the motorsport veteran currently also has representation in the MotoGP.
“I’d like, before retiring, to be in the top category of the WRC. With the stratospheric prices nowadays, it’s going to be impossible, but if they were to introduce a WRC tomorrow that private teams could run… I think it would be very positive – just like it used to be with the old Group A cars,” The 70-year-old Spaniard says on the pages of RevistaScratch magazine
“Anywhere, in any country, you could have a car that could go head-to-head with the WRC factory teams.”
Teo Martín’s team switched to Toyota machinery on the rallying side when the Japanese manufacturer launched its GR Yaris Rally2 car a couple of years ago. In the World Rally Championship, both Jan Solans and Alejandro Cachón have driven the team’s cars. Solans finished second in the WRC2 category in Kenya and was also among the top five in both Portugal and Sardinia. Cachón, who won the Spanish championship last year, has had a more difficult start to his WRC campaign, retiring in both Portugal and Sardinia.
The team boss praises the work of the parent company. According to Teo Martín, at least, Toyota provides excellent support for private teams in the WRC.
“We were already keen to contest the full championship. We had already mentioned it to Alejandro and had spoken with Toyota about the idea of taking him to the WRC because he deserved to be backed. 2024 was very positive due to the experience and knowing we could be there – we achieved a few podiums and won in Portugal with Jan. We’re no longer afraid: we have three cars, no chaos,” Teo Martin tells.
“With Toyota, it’s not just the car, it’s the service they provide. You can have a very good car but a technical service or spare parts system that’s not so good. But Toyota does it perfectly and we’re delighted. In Rally Sardinia we had a spare parts truck and technical support alongside us who are always attentive.”
