Time to start a new thread for 2026...
Lancia's comeback should be the big news to discuss.
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Time to start a new thread for 2026...
Lancia's comeback should be the big news to discuss.
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/power...f-the-r5-class
Rossel keeping his options open despite expectations to stay with Stellantis and new Lancia...
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/rosse...-or-wrc27-bid/
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-spo...-wrc-prospect/
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
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.
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...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
I think everyone agrees... I don't know why it was even a suggestion about Jurgenson.Quote:
Originally Posted by PLuto
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
That's why they couldn't give a shit and neither do other customers.Quote:
Originally Posted by meh
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by denkimi
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
And Gryazin may have funding, but enough for a Rally1 drive I'm not so sure.
https://www.media.stellantis.com/em-...rally2-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.
Maybe you should be surprised how different reality is...Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
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.
Yes, but factories are paying private teams to do the job for them, so indirect backed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
'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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
PH Sport, Toksport, Printsport, Rautio etc etc are the team entries and the cars have their or the drivers own sponsors on the cars.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
mabellini rumored to be in lancia with rossel and another top tier (paying) driver like gryazin
Østberg is also linked to Lancia, mostly developmentdriver.
Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk
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.
According to DirtFish Lancia confirmed factory backed rally team in WRC2 from 2026 onward.
Official: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCWGXHXmOxAQuote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by tbazsi95
No, it is going to be similar operation as with Citroen: PH Sport will be running the "works" cars.
No matter what or how, I hope it will encourage Skoda again to step up their game.
Quite likely, as they'll need experienced people to run the car in WRC and Rossel will want engineers he knows.Quote:
Originally Posted by Co-driven
However they could re-brand them as Lancia as they'll want maximum publicity for the Manufacturer name.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimitris
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.
because stellantis/lancia will hire them to run the program, same way they did with citroen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimitris
Apparently Lancia are going to make an official launch announcement of their 2026 WRC2 entry on Nov 28th, including who will drive the cars.
November 18th is what I saw on PlanetMarcus (credit to PlanetMarcus).Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
Looking at the results only, I am struggeling to see the clear reason Toyota have used to promote Jaspar Vaher alone to a "Factory" WRC2 campaign in 26.
Was this a correct choice, you that know him better?
Who do you mean?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
When will Lancia announce their 2k26 lineup? I mean declare 1-2 finish in WRC2 championship.
You must have looked wrong person then :) Have seen him drive live and He drives like young Ott. The boy can win everything if with fast and reliable car (which Lancia was not). As Toyota does not need any extra drivers in a Rally 1 for 2026 (but by 2027, Ogier is 43 years old, Evans 38, not sure how long both of them continue with full time), he is just right investment for future. Just quite long way still to go and many things needed to be learned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Why do you think that Lancia was not reliable car?Quote:
Originally Posted by bluuford