WRC Testing

[jiipee64]

Ogier today
https://x.com/juha_kantanen/status/1949836603091722663?s=19

[satukata]

Ogier today. SPEED radar in fast curve 159km/h

https://youtu.be/SnIjrxmRMAw

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Teams are already preparing for 2027, but at the same time they must also take care of developing next season’s car. The 2026 season will still be run with cars similar to those used this year.

Toyota’s technical director Tom Fowler believes and hopes that the team will soon be able to test the 2027 cars.

“We have to be ready for next season, to be starting our test programme,” said Fowler.

Fowler, however, was not yet able to reveal a more precise timetable for when the team will be able to start testing the new cars.

“Of course, with all the new developments there are always risks about the timeline, the suppliers and the components, and the difficulties go up and down. But at the moment we’ve always managed to start our tests plus or minus a couple of weeks from the original plan. So we’re aiming for the same,” Fowler explained.

https://rallyjournal.com/inside-toyotas-wrc-base-journalists-got-close-to-the-2027-secret-and-one-big-question-emerged/

[tbazsi95]

Solberg Paraguayan PET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYP8H4DV2GA

[EstWRC]

Lancia test https://youtu.be/YShOdZRFXsw?si=XP-1OomXuONyPRPp

[dimviii]

same antilag sound as c3

[bearclaw]

Lancia test https://youtu.be/YShOdZRFXsw?si=XP-1OomXuONyPRPp

so it's essentially a C3 Rally2 under the lancia silhouette. the engine sounds a little different.

[spyros]

so it's essentially a C3 Rally2 under the lancia silhouette. the engine sounds a little different.

Beautiful car and livery, hope it will be fast.

[Eli]

so it's essentially a C3 Rally2 under the lancia silhouette. the engine sounds a little different.

It’s not a Peugeot 208? I’m asking that because I remember the outgoing C3 was on PSA’s old PF1 platform while the current 208 & Lancia Ypsilon for that matter are on the CMP platform, I’m aware those are production cars and that Peugeot never had a rally2 208 in this generation but just curious.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

It's interesting that this test car has no camouflage so Lancia must know people will see it and be asking questions. Why dont they come out and tell us the story ?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

so it's essentially a C3 Rally2 under the lancia silhouette. the engine sounds a little different.

From it.motorsport.com

'Speaking of Rally2, Citroën—a brand part of the Stellantis Group—already boasts the C3 in the category. According to what Motorsport.com has learned, the Ypsilon Rally2 isn't expected to share components with its French sister. We'll have to wait at least a few more weeks for the homologation of the Italian four-wheel drive.

[COD]

From it.motorsport.com

'Speaking of Rally2, Citroën—a brand part of the Stellantis Group—already boasts the C3 in the category. According to what Motorsport.com has learned, the Ypsilon Rally2 isn't expected to share components with its French sister. We'll have to wait at least a few more weeks for the homologation of the Italian four-wheel drive.

Smart thing would be take all the good bits from the C3 and improve the ones that are hard to homologate to the old one

[Fast Eddie WRC]

New, Lancia videos..

https://youtu.be/WCeADmGtqmA?si=VXDpKSyqNer4oii_

And with driver L.Rossel speaking...

https://youtu.be/q22GWjskvMk?si=DH4RrJrB1CtRVqOs

[Fast Eddie WRC]

A couple of interesting points re testing on the latest Dirtfish podcast:

1. Fourmaux is testing the 2024 i20 he used in Monte (which he was comfortable in) and comparing it to the 2025 car. He may use it in Croatia !

2. Hyundai are still behind Toyota and need more testing. Should the FIA scrap the testing rules for 2026 to allow any number of test days and help Hyundai become real competitors for Toyota next season?

[macebig]

Hyundai is 1,5 feet out. They won't invest majorly for what is seemingly their final season.

[TypeR]

If Hyundai haven't achieved that in 10 year, they can't do it in next 6 months either..
People laugh st M-Sport that they are rally1.5 or whatever so funny hahaha. But Hyundai has basically infinite budget and they can't even give drivers working cars anymore..

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Hyundai will enter an i20 N Rally1 into the East Belgian Rally next weekend with hometown hero Thierry Neuville driving, as it seeks to avoid a repeat of the Toyota domination of asphalt seen earlier this season.

“It will be a bit of a surprise. I think for everyone’s interest [in the WRC], we can only cross fingers that Hyundai will be up on pace for the next event.”



https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/neuville-to-contest-belgian-asphalt-rally/

[EstWRC]

Tänak

https://youtu.be/ghLymO5VfxY?si=meoSBIYLRNOXBFyM
https://youtu.be/pebJME_y7X4?si=2hMAF_p27UxqqBos

[EstWRC]

Tänak

https://youtu.be/M30dcARxl_A?si=c3YKa8VvP3kO4Ds1

https://youtu.be/R1_gz-GZfDA?si=RwrYBvbUbmYYYrtU

Reportedly he tested both 2024 and 2025 machines

[TypeR]

If I was the head of Hyundai or sth I wouldn't be too happy after spending millions and millions of euros to thid project, begging to get different joker advantages etc.. and they go back to old machinery :D at least try hiding it or they just don't care anymore..

I know, sportswise you choose the best equipment but still it looks bad..(when thinking about next year)

[EstWRC]

For me it seems they are just so afraid of repeating Canaries performance so they are trying everything not to repeat it

I really doubt Tänak will change to 2024 car which was only good with dry tarmac

[Dontcut]

2024 car won in CER 2024.
2025 car sucked all dicks at Canaries 2025. If they are not able to change diffs, then 2024 car looks fine. Offcourse CER and Canaries are different rallies and characteristics.

[flat_right]

For me it seems they are just so afraid of repeating Canaries performance so they are trying everything not to repeat it

I really doubt Tänak will change to 2024 car which was only good with dry tarmac

I wouldn’t be so sure about that. We’ll now have two tarmac events and one gravel round, which, from what I’ve heard, is more of a survival test. The terrain has been described as “diverse and challenging” with volcanic rock, sandy desert sections, gravel, and rough, abrasive surfaces.

Doing this A/B testing was a very good idea, because the issues Hyundai faced in the Canaries were no surprise to them. They hadn’t been able to solve them during pre-event testing. Ott mentioned that the problems he suffered carried over from testing, where Hyundai couldn’t pinpoint a fix. So, if the 2024 car is better and feels more competitive, they’d definitely make the switch. And I believe they could still switch back to the 2025 car for Saudi—or not?

[Eli]

Speaking of the Devil, Tänak testing for the final edition of CER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w91-I1MQZI4

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Will Hyundai still have three 2024-spec cars available if all their drivers think it'll be better ? And what are the Rules once you've homolgated a new version of a car, can you always go back to a previous one ?

[focus206]

What do they mean by 2024 specs, by the way? In 2024 the i20 was hybrid and with Pirelli, so not that. Do they mean the Monte 2025 one, before they introduced the "2025 spec" i20 in Sweden?

[EstWRC]

Yes. In Monte they used the 2024 car without hybrid.

The 2025 has all new suspensio, geometry and what not.

[focus206]

Yes. In Monte they used the 2024 car without hybrid.

The 2025 has all new suspensio, geometry and what not.

If it only ever ran Monte, which is even a "special" event, I'm not sure how can they say if it's better than the 2025 spec one. Okay, they're testing, but still.
On the other hand, Hyundai has little to lose, given the state of the current car and the standings.

[tbazsi95]

Thierry Neuville Test Central European Rally 2025 | Hyundai i20 Rally1 | WRC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItMx_z_5udU

[denkimi]

Neuville is driving the east belgium rally today. I assume as a test for cer.

[EstWRC]

Thierry literally wanted to throw the car into bin

https://x.com/thebestofrally/status/1972354007332249633?s=46&t=AWria8OgC1kV5QC61vX5Xg

[hari]

Sebastien Ogier & Adrien Fourmaux will compete in Herbst Rallye (Austria) on October 11th in preparation for Central European Rally 2025:
https://www.herbstrallye.at/2025/news_herbstrallye_2025_ogier_fourmaux.html

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Rovanpera CER test:

https://youtu.be/vMp9lCsTKc0?si=TA4G3et5cUvuBKnQ

[tbazsi95]

Munster CER PET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZaWAeMWLk4

[tbazsi95]

Ogier CER PET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJlDI-eRzj0

[tbazsi95]

Munster & McErlean
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aNBctk9WmU

[EstWRC]

Thierry
https://youtu.be/_w1kUMTPUug?si=FEyRxnbeKv1xmYUJ

[tbazsi95]

Ogier CER PET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LWipufvMWw

[tbazsi95]

WRC Central European Rally 2025 Test - Sebastian Ogier / Herbst Rallye Dobersberg 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNWHb3R-xKg

[tbazsi95]

O. Solberg Saudi PET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDYkvGmYenQ

[Rallyper]

O. Solberg Saudi PET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDYkvGmYenQ

Looks like rallying on the moon or something like that.

[WRCStan]

Looks like rallying on the moon or something like that.

And that's why there's a stage called Moon Stage.

[Rallyper]

And that's why there's a stage called Moon Stage.

Ok. I wasn´t aware, but yes it could be Saturnus as well, or Mars.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Ok. I wasn´t aware, but yes it could be Saturnus as well, or Mars.

Definitely Mars, but not Saturn as that's a gas-giant of mainly helium ...

[Steve Boyd]

Definitely Mars, but not Saturn as that's a gas-giant of mainly helium ...
Could be Venus - rocky & very hot! :)

[EstWRC]

Fourmaux with Rally2

https://youtu.be/e-9qCNLII9w?si=nJYz-xfToXr02gmU

[EstWRC]

Fourmaux for Monte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r5thYNlIPA

[tbazsi95]

Fourmaux for Monte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r5thYNlIPA

Here too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxox6mp5OIc

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Quite a change from Saudi Arabia for Fourmaux today !

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G7UPUGWX0AA-MRs?format=jpg&name=medium

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Shakedown at Rallye Hivernal with Fourmaux, Solberg and Paddon

https://youtu.be/TdUZzY_mIzg?si=rEGwiCmtLw_CqkqR

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Hayden Paddon:

Day 1 done at Rally Devoluy - some very nice stages and perfect warm up for Monte Carlo. The main focus here is about getting used to and comfortable to the changing grip levels, and learning the range of Hankook tyres. We have been trying different tyre options, some better than others. 6 more stages tomorrow to continue the learning.

[saco0o]

Hayden Paddon:

Day 1 done at Rally Devoluy - some very nice stages and perfect warm up for Monte Carlo. The main focus here is about getting used to and comfortable to the changing grip levels, and learning the range of Hankook tyres. We have been trying different tyre options, some better than others. 6 more stages tomorrow to continue the learning.

hes the first R5 right behind fourmaux and solberg in rally1s. is it weird that hyundai hasnt gave hayden a rally1 for this one already?

[flat_right]

hes the first R5 right behind fourmaux and solberg in rally1s. is it weird that hyundai hasnt gave hayden a rally1 for this one already?

Yeah, thought the same. Would have been a much better Monte preparation than with R5. But maybe he hasn't done snowy icy tarmac for a long time and was better to start with something slower and familiar.

[TypeR]

2026 season hasn't even started, but they already make interesting decisions indeed :D

Fourmaux has done this event with wrc last year, has full season under the belt and now they put 3rd driver in Monte, Paddon, to drive with small car, that he knows for years..

They just hope for same tricky conditions?

[deephouse]

Only thing and logical I can think about is that he is also doing development job for Rally2 car. Being also in Rally1 to get a feeling what could be transfered from that car to that which will be driven in 2027. Or maybe they will secretly build new car

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Knowing Hyundai they only had one Rally1 test car available and Fourmaux got first pick of using it.

[PLuto]

Only thing and logical I can think about is that he is also doing development job for Rally2 car. Being also in Rally1 to get a feeling what could be transfered from that car to that which will be driven in 2027. Or maybe they will secretly build new car

Hayden was not driving on tarmac since Ypres. This year he did mainly "only" australian championship, which is not the best way to be prepared to start on WRC event. So I expect it was also the way to give him some more mileage before start of the season. Contrary to previous years, stages used on Devoluy will not be used in Monte, so it is not about knowledge of the stages.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Paddon seems happy enough...

'Been a really successful test rally here at Rallye Dévoluy. We tried every tyre option and gained valuable seat time in tricky, Monte-like conditions. As a bonus, we finished as the first Rally2 car and 3rd overall (behind two Rally1 cars).

A massive thanks to the BRC team - always a pleasure working with our friends there. Also to Matthias and Nicolas from HMSG for their help as we learn the conditions.

Lastly, a huge thanks to Jack Morton for stepping in last minute as co-driver and doing an amazing job. Jack will play a key role as our gravel note crew next year, so it was great for him to spend time in the car, learn our pacenote system, and understand how the tyres behave in different conditions.'

[Eli]

Does anyone here know if and when will Paddon test the rally1 car for Monte-Carlo? Did they finish their test days for 2025 because I do recall them being very limited since the start of 2024.

[tbazsi95]

Neuville Monte 2026 PET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3REXKvz4oo

[tbazsi95]

Thierry Neuville Test Hyundai Rally1 | development 2026 | [Passats de canto]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV9aWZHr7fI

[tbazsi95]

Yohan Rossel Testing Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 2026 | [Passats de canto]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7vB09oJ-3I

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Another Rossel in Lancia test:

https://youtu.be/Z_olqWFVGow?si=hISZrodNOYs0Jrz3

[tbazsi95]

Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale - Test Rallye Monte-Carlo 2026 - Yohan Rossel/Arnaud Dunand from Rourebel 2.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWwDTh4ZOYI

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Icy this time... https://youtu.be/KkDbUNFWvJM?si=pSsM3sOnjbm9N8Hg

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Neuville now testing in Finland. Fourmaux and Lappi next...

https://x.com/RallyJournal/status/2000878017443455265?s=20

[Fast Eddie WRC]

New Rossell (damp)

https://youtu.be/DV_7hNalbBE?si=yjoyg01ltT2S-yC0

And Gryazin (wet):

https://youtu.be/JjgZBnaa3HQ?si=aaTm011oxnAUJpGE

[trykmann]

Behind the scenea of Fiesta Rally2 development
https://youtu.be/sFDYXDonZqw?si=cTwo0YES80rXra8r

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Evans testing today for Monte...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G996-8mWMAAOt37?format=jpg&name=900x900

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Evans by Passats de Canto :

https://youtu.be/LcHp4EL-d0U?si=OiPPXUM0OwKTdB8h

[Eli]

https://youtu.be/pnSBvgmtEzo?si=_GA2Xky4FCclKqCb

Ogier testing in full snow yesterday by Passats de Canto.

[Eli]

https://youtu.be/TqyOvD161ME?si=_79SW0wODM79mt_2
Fourmaux Testing yesterday.

[satnav]

Josh McErlean testing today for Monte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz1g9dUloJo

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Armstrong went off in his test...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTXYTboCL9c/?igsh=NWR6OXJydTJ1N2Mz

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTXgi0nDYVe/?igsh=MWdqdjFnaGFmeDVt

[TypeR]

Massive off!!

Monte start in danger maybe?!

[wwbroe]

Massive off!!

Monte start in danger maybe?!
:D

[deephouse]

Ahh don't expect much from M-Sport. That seat is payed for full season and probably with all the expenses too. Even if he would put the car on the roof in each event, he would not lose a seat as long as Irish academy will pay for it. Probably Munster would still be in team if Serderidis would continue paying for that. M-Sport is fully in rent-mode after Fourmaux left. If they would really wanted results so bad, Sesks would be their best hope, but they being realistic that they don't stand a chance... At least we can be grateful they are even in WRC at all.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Jurgenson Fiesta Rally2 PET:

https://youtu.be/E6R1ZMPR48Q?si=1t9XpeLLAuNdcSS2

[RS]

Ahh don't expect much from M-Sport. That seat is payed for full season and probably with all the expenses too. Even if he would put the car on the roof in each event, he would not lose a seat as long as Irish academy will pay for it. Probably Munster would still be in team if Serderidis would continue paying for that. M-Sport is fully in rent-mode after Fourmaux left. If they would really wanted results so bad, Sesks would be their best hope, but they being realistic that they don't stand a chance... At least we can be grateful they are even in WRC at all.

If the new cars are cheaper to build, develop and run hopefully that might change in 2027.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Armstrong test

https://youtu.be/CFOxZi3OTSw?si=MhtiFoi8ixDV1T6g

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Lancia PET for Monte-Carlo...

https://youtu.be/VnD4DJQYDjI?si=xcEHUyTShaKwDOdb

[Fast Eddie WRC]

WRC2 PET with Toyota and Skoda

https://youtu.be/XeMO5wipDiY?si=a3F9ckwDW41uA-vU