I have followed rallying for over 35 years and one thing that is always a constant is that for factory teams most important things besides being successful are marketing and technology transfer. It has always been like this. Currently we are in a situation where 2 other major FIA series (F1 and WEC) have used electric power systems in some ways already for the last 10 years (WEC hybrids from 2008 and F1 first KERS in 2009 and later other systems as well). It must be getting more and more difficult for the manufacturers in WRC to justify the 100% fossil fuel based program's to their boards - especially if they are not even winning. On the other hand there would be very clear justification for electric/hybrid programs both in marketing (have to do what your competitors are doing) and in technology transfer (developing new technology in competition). Also, we have to notice that WRC is not the greatest advertising platform in the first place anymore, so the manu's have to already take this into account.

Then we have also fast growing Formula E with extremely strong manufacturer participation, it does not even matter if I or many others don't give a shit about FE - it is still clear that the manu's do, for the very reasons mentioned above.

Whether we like it or not there is a huge paradigm shift going on in car business, and motorsport as well. I sure as hell would like to see V12 engines back in F1 and WEC, and crazy fire breathing monsters in WRC. However, I also realize this is no longer possible for reasons far greater than a motorsport championship.

WRC will need to move on no matter how painful the change - or then choose the second road where there will no longer be direct manufacturer participation. Can a world-level championship be maintained without this - I let all the other great series that have fallen during the years after this happened be my answer. Look what happened to WRX factory teams when they made the sudden U-turn on electric cars....

There will be hybrid and later electric rally cars in WRC - the only question is whether this happen sooner or later. Currently as compared to many other series WRC is already late, I would bet on sooner.