WRC mainclass from 2027

**WRCStan** · 12th August 2025, 15:55

Originally Posted by Eli

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/t...ules/10750260/

Some more news regarding the roll cage of the ‘27 cars.

Much more than the roll cage.

Is it the first time we've heard from an official/journalistic source:
*Rally2 to be phased out
*Tuners can build chasses.

Nothing about the engine talk makes sense to me but this is further brightness for the future. And when I say bright, I mean they are doing something realistic to stop the series dying a death.

**Steve Boyd** · 12th August 2025, 22:42

Originally Posted by WRCStan

Much more than the roll cage.

Is it the first time we've heard from an official/journalistic source:
*Rally2 to be phased out

But current Rally2 cars will run alongside the new WRC2027 cars to begin with and WRC2027 cars will be able to compete in FIA Regional championships. We may see bigger "top class" entries on WRC events as a result when some ERC competitors do European WRC events and when National Rally2 drivers do thier local WRC event. We will also be able to see the difference between the top WRC drivers and those in the lower championships when this happens.

**flat_right** · 13th August 2025, 06:41

I'm starting to like where the WRC is heading. Although there’s a small step back from the speed, excitement, and enjoyment of watching committed driving in a fast Rally1 car but this is basically only visible when attending stages. And Toyota taking positions 1–5 isn’t good for anyone. So we need more competitive teams. For most fans who aren’t out on the stages, the real excitement comes from close competition.

Does anyone know — or has anyone read somewhere — whether under the 2027 regulations we’ll lose the “jokers”? What I mean is: will teams be able to tune their cars at any time? For me, the joker system is a bit of a joke, because if you get things fundamentally wrong on day one, it’s pretty much impossible to catch up.

**deephouse** · 13th August 2025, 07:43

It's not Toyota's fault being dominant, but it's Hyundai and potentialy M-Sport (I mean Ford, because they don't fund them properly). Remember VW era. It was the same case. Hyundai struggling and then catch up little bit and then again falling back every single time.

**EstWRC** · 13th August 2025, 12:37

[QUOTE=flat_right;1366188]I'm starting to like where the WRC is heading. Although there’s a small step back from the speed, excitement, and enjoyment of watching committed driving in a fast Rally1 car but this is basically only visible when attending stages. /QUOTE]

totally disagreeing here, its also very visible from TV

**WRCStan** · 13th August 2025, 16:27

Originally Posted by Steve Boyd

But current Rally2 cars will run alongside the new WRC2027 cars to begin with and WRC2027 cars will be able to compete in FIA Regional championships. We may see bigger "top class" entries on WRC events as a result when some ERC competitors do European WRC events and when National Rally2 drivers do thier local WRC event. We will also be able to see the difference between the top WRC drivers and those in the lower championships when this happens.

I'm not sure what your 'but' is?

There's no good reason why WRC2027 won't be able to compete any/everywhere. Rallys 2/3/4/5 will expire and these will be replaced with the new cars. So no good reason to expect the top field to shrink again after this crossover period ends, if this is your point. UNLESS - the time comes where they want to promote a showbiz 'WRC+' class again which is not on the horizon.

**flat_right** · 13th August 2025, 19:20

Originally Posted by EstWRC

totally disagreeing here, its also very visible from TV

Of course it is but if you are close to the track it is more prominent and you can sense the speed and noise. Sure… fan videos will be worse… but official broadcast doesn’t give you the same feeling speed wise.

**Steve Boyd** · 13th August 2025, 22:48

Originally Posted by WRCStan

I'm not sure what your 'but' is?

It was your quote that said "Rally2 to be phased out" sounded to me a bit like they wouldn't be used after this year (though that may well not have been your intention). I was just trying to emphasise that while there would be no new homologations the current cars would still be around for a few years yet with the advantage that the top level cars in the regional series would in future be the same as the top WRC cars.

**saco0o** · 14th August 2025, 00:44

its getting interesting imo.
the cars will not be as fast as the rally1s but if im being honest, erc has been my favorite for a while, so no problemo (FOR ME).
i like competition and variety: local entries and eventual cool one-offs. i think the cool stories are there, not in seeing the same guys for another 4 or 5 seasons

**deephouse** · 14th August 2025, 05:23

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/mikke...n-wrc-in-2027/ Mikkelsen is trying to convince Skoda to join WRC in 2027.

also Skoda Motorsport tease with that on FB story. https://ibb.co/vCtszZ9q