WRC2 news & rumors 2026

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Time to start a new thread for 2026...

Lancia's comeback should be the big news to discuss.

[tbazsi95]

The Complete Story of the R5 Class - All Time Ranking and every car's statistical GOAT
Ranking of every R5/Rally2 car based on how many wins/podiums and stage wins they took in international competitions
https://www.powerslideblog.com/powerslide-stats-centre/the-complete-story-of-the-r5-class

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Rossel keeping his options open despite expectations to stay with Stellantis and new Lancia...

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/rossel-torn-on-his-future-lancia-factory-status-or-wrc27-bid/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Jurgenson not being promoted to Rally1 yet by M-Sport, so more WRC2 drives next year (if he finds sponsors)...

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/m-sports-2026-plan-for-its-latest-young-wrc-prospect/

[flat_right]

Jurgenson not being promoted to Rally1 yet by M-Sport, so more WRC2 drives next year (if he finds sponsors)...

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/m-sports-2026-plan-for-its-latest-young-wrc-prospect/


For Jürgenson, it would be too soon in my opinion. He drove Rally3 last year, and this year he’s starting to show good results with Rally2, but he still needs one or two proper seasons with that car. I think the 2027 regulations will come at a very suitable time for him.

[PLuto]

Jurgenson not being promoted to Rally1 yet by M-Sport, so more WRC2 drives next year (if he finds sponsors)...

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/m-sports-2026-plan-for-its-latest-young-wrc-prospect/

It is nonsense for Romet to go to Rally1 now as this cars has only one season future and then there will becompletely different cars...

[Fast Eddie WRC]

It is nonsense for Romet to go to Rally1 now as this cars has only one season future and then there will becompletely different cars...

I think everyone agrees... I don't know why it was even a suggestion about Jurgenson.

If anyone was to be promoted from M-Sport it would be Jon Armstrong. He has had a very strong end to 2025 with two ERC wins and a 2nd place (to Kopecký) in Barum. Plus he has sponsors & backing from Motorsport Ireland.

Or maybe he could have an event funded by the Promoter like Sesks did. I'm sure he'd love to try the Rally1 Puma before it becomes obsolete.

[denkimi]

Now that solberg is with toyota, M-sport should go for gryazin. He has a big enough budget and more talent than their current drivers.
Or maybe rossel.

[meh]

Now that solberg is with toyota, M-sport should go for gryazin. He has a big enough budget and more talent than their current drivers.
Or maybe rossel.

M-Sport is a business, and in the current situation in the World, where in many sports disciplines competitors from a certain country are not allowed to compete, using Grazin is not a very good marketing tool. Whatever flag he legally carries at the moment does not matter too much.

[WRCStan]

M-Sport is a business
That's why they couldn't give a shit and neither do other customers.

[Morte66]

Now that solberg is with toyota, M-sport should go for gryazin. He has a big enough budget and more talent than their current drivers.
Or maybe rossel.

That would be pleasing. I think his nationality will be fine, he's done enough to make it OK. He's been driving like this for 2-3 years and I haven't noticed anyone caring.

[deephouse]

So why the hell Stellantis took him last year? Rallying doesn't care about politics, neither do we.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

So why the hell Stellantis took him last year? Rallying doesn't care about politics, neither do we.

WRC2 Cars aren't factory-backed, they're run by private teams.

And Gryazin may have funding, but enough for a Rally1 drive I'm not so sure.

[deephouse]

https://www.media.stellantis.com/em-en/citroen-racing/press/2024-a-strong-driving-line-up-for-the-citroen-c3rally2-in-wrc2 It was some sort ''factory'' support. I'm just saying nobody cares if he is russian, except few individuals. He is talented just like Rossel, Solberg... He have strong funding for sure, because he enter almost every event out there, even if he doesn't need to. But I'm just angry why people keep mix sport with politics. Sports people are not guilty what is going on and they should't be punished by those stupid decision.

Also M-Sport will need to rethink their line-up for next year, because continuing like that will hurt them even more.

[PLuto]

I'm just saying nobody cares if he is russian, except few individuals.

Maybe you should be surprised how different reality is...

[Gustav Andel]

Political preferences are, of course, a free choice, but Russia has nothing to do with freedom, and therefore it is necessary to banish them from public life, otherwise they legitimize the entire war.

Btw. we have never heard any negative feelings about the war from Gryazin. But if you support Russia in its war efforts, then I completely understand your opinion. Unfortunately.

[Sulland]

WRC2 Cars aren't factory-backed, they're run by private teams.

And Gryazin may have funding, but enough for a Rally1 drive I'm not so sure.

Yes, but factories are paying private teams to do the job for them, so indirect backed.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Yes, but factories are paying private teams to do the job for them, so indirect backed.

'Factory-blessed' may be the better description, but none of them (apart from Loubet M-Sport and a couple of TGR NG juniors) are official factory team entries.

PH Sport, Toksport, Printsport, Rautio etc etc are the team entries and the cars have their or the drivers own sponsors on the cars.

[deephouse]

I wonder two years ago why the hell would they start this ''official project'', have this big announcements with drivers with quite old car (don't get me wrong, they nailed it). But the only thougts was, that they are thinking of re-entering the championship (Citroen Racing). As it stands, they were preparing the terrain for Lancia. Also they pick younger Rossel for tests... Of all available drivers, those who drive that C3, and those who didn't, and also those who are great for developing cars. Why other than that they are official backed drivers in unofficial team.

[WRCStan]

I wonder two years ago why the hell would they start this ''official project'', have this big announcements with drivers with quite old car (don't get me wrong, they nailed it). But the only thougts was, that they are thinking of re-entering the championship (Citroen Racing). As it stands, they were preparing the terrain for Lancia. Also they pick younger Rossel for tests... Of all available drivers, those who drive that C3, and those who didn't, and also those who are great for developing cars. Why other than that they are official backed drivers in unofficial team.

Spondoolics. Manufacturers who enter WRC2 have to pay WRC money. They're there to make money from the sport, not put into it.

[wyler]

mabellini rumored to be in lancia with rossel and another top tier (paying) driver like gryazin

[skarderud]

Østberg is also linked to Lancia, mostly developmentdriver.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

[deephouse]

Ostberg says he will probably retire from full time rallying. Probably some here and there will be on his radar, so the testing is possible.

[deephouse]

According to DirtFish Lancia confirmed factory backed rally team in WRC2 from 2026 onward.

[tbazsi95]

According to DirtFish Lancia confirmed factory backed rally team in WRC2 from 2026 onward.

Official: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCWGXHXmOxA

[WRCStan]

According to DirtFish Lancia confirmed factory backed rally team in WRC2 from 2026 onward.


Official: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCWGXHXmOxA

According to that video, Lancia are entering themselves. If that turns out to be true, I'll be convinced they will be in the manufacturer's championship in 2027.

[Co-driven]

No, it is going to be similar operation as with Citroen: PH Sport will be running the "works" cars.

[deephouse]

No matter what or how, I hope it will encourage Skoda again to step up their game.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

No, it is going to be similar operation as with Citroen: PH Sport will be running the "works" cars.

Quite likely, as they'll need experienced people to run the car in WRC and Rossel will want engineers he knows.

However they could re-brand them as Lancia as they'll want maximum publicity for the Manufacturer name.

[Dimitris]

PH Sport is not a Stellantis company, and they do more than just rally, why would they be rebranded to Lancia?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

PH Sport is not a Stellantis company, and they do more than just rally, why would they be rebranded to Lancia?

In that case they wont. But it's all theoretical until Lancia confirm if they're running the WRC team.

[WRCStan]

The subtitles in the video are "we're entering the WRC2 world championship" but I think his words are something else (maybe the car will run in WRC2?) Me and my legal definitions lol. Either way, the point is, Lancia could enter and PH run the entry, or PH enter and with support from Lancia, it signals different things.

[wyler]

PH Sport is not a Stellantis company, and they do more than just rally, why would they be rebranded to Lancia?

because stellantis/lancia will hire them to run the program, same way they did with citroen.