Silly Season 2026

[Sulland]

How do you see the crews spread out for 2026?

1. Who do you see as most likely in each team?
2. Who would we see in each car if you could decide?

[EstWRC]

I’m quite sure Hyundai stays as it is. Don’t see any changes there

This has to be the final year of Munster. No progress at all. So I think Msport will be Sesks and Josh.

Toyota is a tough one now after Oliver’s performance. Does Ogier still continue? Do they still keep both Pajari and Katsuta?

[Peperoma]

1. Will we see more than 11-12 R1 cars on a regular basis?
2. Will we see the Lancia R2 at the regular premiere?

[CeskyOndra]

How do you see the crews spread out for 2026?

1. Who do you see as most likely in each team?
2. Who would we see in each car if you could decide?

1. not major changes, depends on some retirements (ogier totally, neuville and tanak part time?)

2. if i could decide, i would put all the guys in toyota or all the toyota's in hyundai. just want to see how Tanak and Neuville are great.

[meh]

Without any details:
* I would be surprised if Hyundai will have changes
* I would be surprised if Toyoa will NOT have changes
* M-Sport makes business decisions, and whether the "business decision" also drives fast is just a bonus

[Eli]

You forgot, Citroën comes back in ‘26 in order to prepare it’s new C3 for ‘27…names Rossel & Fourmaux as their drivers ;)

[spyros]

You forgot, Citroën comes back in ‘26 in order to prepare it’s new C3 for ‘27…names Rossel & Fourmaux as their drivers ;)

Didnt know that,is it true?

[bandit12]

Well.
*Hyunday remains as it is.
*Toyota: Evans out- Solberg in.
*M Sport: Evans plus McErlean.

[denkimi]

I suspect nothing changes.

Hyundai is too stupid to create a junior team.
M-sport is too poor to go without munster en mcerlean.
Toyota still needs ogier to secure the title, so the only change might be Pajari with solberg.

[Eli]

Didnt know that,is it true?

Just kidding, it’s more like wishful thinking..the chances of it happening are similar to seeing Wales Rally GB in 2027.

[focus206]

*Toyota: Evans out- Solberg in.


No way they'll get rid of a driver who led the championship until now.

[bandit12]

No way they'll get rid of a driver who led the championship until now.
They can't drop Pajari too - bad publicity.

[focus206]

They can't drop Pajari too - bad publicity.

Unless we get unlikely surprises (Ogier decides to retire, Kalle not doing full time because he doesn't like the car/tyres), I wonder if Monster or some other sponsor can help Toyota field +1 car for Solberg, while keeping all current drivers.

[trykmann]

They can't drop Pajari too - bad publicity.

Downgrade to Rally2 wouldn't be such a bad decision. Afterall they also want to compete for the Rally2 title in 2026. Currently they only have Solberg, who is able to potentially win the title.

About M-Sport. McErlean I understand has already done enough to keep his funding for next year. Unfortunately based on the current results I think it is difficult for Munster and Sesks to keep their sponsors for 2026. Maybe we will find them in a more competitive Rally2 machinery.

Also we should consider current Rally2 drivers, who maybe are able to do the next step. Rossel would be a good option for Rally1.

Hyundai probably will stay the same, but they could be in talks with drivers, whose contracts will end in 2025. For the manufacturers title Evans could be a more reliable option than Fourmaux.

[saco0o]

did hyundai confirmed they are staying? there was some talks about someone operating the team as a costumer squad, no? it came from belge this talk.
there was some smaaaall talk about rally1s being scrapped for 26 because 'hyundai were to leave and msport was broke $".

nothing on this? am i late on the infos?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Kankkunen says Ogier will do some rallies in 2026 and then retire as he wont want to drive the new '27 Cars.

[AndyRAC]

They can't drop Pajari too - bad publicity.

Bad publicity dropping Pajari. Why? Where?? Oh let me guess, in Finland....... laughable....

[Morte66]

pfft

[bandit12]

Bad publicity dropping Pajari. Why? Where?? Oh let me guess, in Finland....... laughable....
Well. This is still sort on finland based team.

[CeskyOndra]

Well.
*Hyunday remains as it is.
*Toyota: Evans out- Solberg in.
*M Sport: Evans plus McErlean.

Evans to M-Sport is every year's wish and it will never happen.

["Username"]

Probably in 2026 Pajari and Solberg will swap seats from rally to rally. And if Pajari keeps underpeforming, Solberg will get the seat at the middle of the season.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Well. This is still sort on finland based team.

But seen from a Japanese perspective. Toyota Japan are the ones who get contracts organised and not the Finns. I can say that Katsuta's contract wasn't even done during the start of the final event last year IN Japan! Same with the other drivers...

[Managarium]

Probably in 2026 Pajari and Solberg will swap seats from rally to rally. And if Pajari keeps underpeforming, Solberg will get the seat at the middle of the season.

Is he underperforming or he has to slow down to let his Toyota buddies finish above him to score bigger points?
We have seen this season in many rallies Pajari and even Katsuta slowing down to let Evans and Rovanpera score more points, especially on sunday.

[deephouse]

But we never saw Ogier do that, right? Such a team player. No matter if he is placed high in championship standings. He is ''not'' (according to his words) going after the title.

[COD]

I suspect nothing changes.

Hyundai is too stupid to create a junior team.
M-sport is too poor to go without munster en mcerlean.
Toyota still needs ogier to secure the title, so the only change might be Pajari with solberg.

I suspect that Pajari has at least a 2y contract. The way he has been driving just to gain experience and not trying to fight indicates that he has a secure future

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Evans to M-Sport is every year's wish and it will never happen.

Millener talking up Evans' performance despite losing the WRC lead. Maybe he sees a possibility of a return to where he's still highly-rated...

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/rival-team-boss-impressed-by-evans-recent-form/

[Managarium]

...and yet Evans is no longer sponsored by Red Bull, so, who will pay him?

[flat_right]

Kalle can't confirm whether he will compete a full season in the World Rally Championship next year.

"I can’t say it yet. It's up to a lot of things to do. Negotiations are about to start."

https://yle.fi/a/74-20174061

[Fast Eddie WRC]

...and yet Evans is no longer sponsored by Red Bull, so, who will pay him?

Malcolm would, as he has with his the other elite drivers he's had. Plus EE shouldn't be too expensive after he's earned well for years at Toyota.

[bandit12]

Malcolm would, as he has with his the other elite drivers he's had. Plus EE shouldn't be too expensive after he's earned well for years at Toyota.
In the other hand, why should he? Evans can't do miracles with that Puma...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

In the other hand, why should he? Evans can't do miracles with that Puma...

Well it's all assuming he is let go.by Toyota and there's no space at Hyundai.

Then it's a seat in a Rally1 Car and he brings a lot of experience and knowledge from Toyota which could help to develop the Puma.

[WRCStan]

In the other hand, why should he?

Because he's the FIA Deputy President for Sport. Apathy is not a good look.

[Steve Boyd]

Well it's all assuming he is let go.by Toyota and there's no space at Hyundai.

Then it's a seat in a Rally1 Car and he brings a lot of experience and knowledge from Toyota which could help to develop the Puma.Nah! He's going to Red Bull F1 to replace Max :)

[EstWRC]

Next years calendar https://www.wrc.com/en/news/2026-fia-world-rally-championship-calendar

So they listened to us and put a tarmac round in the middle of the season. Swapping Japan and Sardinia

[deephouse]

So USA fall short again.

[wwbroe]

Next years calendar https://www.wrc.com/en/news/2026-fia-world-rally-championship-calendar

So they listened to us and put a tarmac round in the middle of the season. Swapping Japan and Sardinia

As i understand it is not sure the Italian round will be Sardegna

[TypeR]

Sadly still no rally in USA..

[CeskyOndra]

Next years calendar https://www.wrc.com/en/news/2026-fia-world-rally-championship-calendar

So they listened to us and put a tarmac round in the middle of the season. Swapping Japan and Sardinia

Nothing improved. Why we have 4 tarmac events in the first 7 rounds? It is 6 gravel rounds to end the championship.. They should have kept one for the second half of the season

[Eli]

Sadly still no rally in USA..

Probably caused too many logistical challenges with Kenya, Chile, Paraguay and Japan.

[Eli]

Nothing improved. Why we have 4 tarmac events in the first 7 rounds? It is 6 gravel rounds to end the championship.. They should have kept one for the second half of the season
Perhaps they realised it’s too hard to have Chile,Paraguay, Japan & Saudi Arabia at the end…and I’m sure Canaries wouldn’t nudge to move to October…

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Nah! He's going to Red Bull F1 to replace Max :)

TBH there probably won't be any changes until 2027 and the new car regs. Maybe then the old guard will leave, not wanting to drive the Rally2 power cars after a decade of '17 Cars and Rally1's.

[deephouse]

Old guard never leave the field until no one show interest at them anymore.

[tbazsi95]

Hyundai confirmed the 2026 season in WRC.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMxJ0ugo7fZ/

[TypeR]

Hyundai confirmed to race in 2026

[saco0o]

i remember the last info someone brought on the US round was that redbull was taking over the event's promotion themselves. that came out AFTER they said they were trying to sell the wrc promoter, which I found weird, but anyways...

can they keep the calendar if redbull sells the promoter in time? world rx had to cancel and change some dates when redbull left with a calendar in place

[Franky]

can they keep the calendar if redbull sells the promoter in time? world rx had to cancel and change some dates when redbull left with a calendar in place

It all depends on the contracts that are already in place

[Eli]

Is there any new regarding a new promoter? Seems to have all gone silent since last August.

[flat_right]

Thierry in Hyundai in 2026

https://rallyjournal.com/major-driver-deal-sealed-in-the-world-rally-championship/

[denkimi]

Thierry in Hyundai in 2026

https://rallyjournal.com/major-driver-deal-sealed-in-the-world-rally-championship/

great driver, but terribly stupid when choosing teams.

[wyler]

great driver, but terribly stupid when choosing teams.

don't think he had a real alternative this time...

[CeskyOndra]

great driver, but terribly stupid when choosing teams.

There is no room in Toyota, do you want to go with Ford?

[flat_right]

great driver, but terribly stupid when choosing teams.

Not a chance. That title belongs to Tänak.

[bandit12]

Not a chance. That title belongs to Tänak.
Sad but teie.

[bandit12]

Sad but teie. *true*

[EstWRC]

IMO Tänaks contract should also end with this year but no news so far from his side.

[flat_right]

IMO Tänaks contract should also end with this year but no news so far from his side.

There was some news that the talks will start or may already have started: https://www.rallit.fi/ott-tanak-puhui-tulevaisuudestaan-neuvottelut-ovat-kenties-jo-alkaneet/

[Dontcut]

What options does Tänak have? Back to low budget M-Sport with limited development and testing? I believe that TGR in ways doesn't want or need him.

[bandit12]

What options does Tänak have? Back to low budget M-Sport with limited development and testing? I believe that TGR in ways doesn't want or need him.

Hyundai or retirement.

[TypeR]

Or Renault-Dacia buys him over :D

[flat_right]

Or Renault-Dacia buys him over :D

It is 2026 we are talking about.

[TypeR]

Money talks and IF new team comes, they need someone to help build it.. Like Loeb and Al-Attiyah :D but it is very unlikely ofcourse.