WRC mainclass from 2027

[PLuto]

No worries about Toyota, they're already working on their 2027 Car... but it may not be a 'Yaris'...

Currently they are only one who are working on 2027 car...

[saco0o]

people on fb begging for it to be a corolla or a celtica but the current corolla is such an ugly giant sedan and the celitca is just a big suv now. sure, 'resized' cars, but i dont believe toyota would risk racing a sedan out of nothing. the only sedan winning rallies is the subaru in america but only because no one with money is running a hatchback.

they have the yaris cross, which is a little more 'squared'. i think it would look pretty if resizes
comparission: https://media.drive.com.au/obj/tx_q:...drqyanvwptxyd8

edit: oh, they have the Aygo X, veeery "rallie looking" lol.
https://scene7.toyota.eu/is/image/to...m=1.75,0.3,2,0

and they still produce a corolla cross in europe so eh

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Currently they are only one who are working on 2027 car...

Only Manufacturer, or the only ones at all ?

Surely M-Sport are doing something, even if just with the chassis. If not the WRC future is in big trouble.

[pedro16]

people on fb begging for it to be a corolla or a celtica but the current corolla is such an ugly giant sedan and the celitca is just a big suv now. sure, 'resized' cars, but i dont believe toyota would risk racing a sedan out of nothing. the only sedan winning rallies is the subaru in america but only because no one with money is running a hatchback.

they have the yaris cross, which is a little more 'squared'. i think it would look pretty if resizes
comparission: https://media.drive.com.au/obj/tx_q:...drqyanvwptxyd8

edit: oh, they have the Aygo X, veeery "rallie looking" lol.
https://scene7.toyota.eu/is/image/to...m=1.75,0.3,2,0

and they still produce a corolla cross in europe so eh

The last Celica is from 2007. It is heavily rumoured to come back around 2027. And it will certainly not be a SUV.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Toyota GR Corolla for the North American market:

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Rally Concept they showed in January 2025...

[saco0o]

Only Manufacturer, or the only ones at all ?

Surely M-Sport are doing something, even if just with the chassis. If not the WRC future is in big trouble.

true. but cant we presume msport and skoda motorsport will be there too? i'd imagine they have zero reasons to go away from this excellent business format of bulding and selling 'rally2' level machiinery. sure, now they would have to build the tube frame and body pannles - not the road car with some rollcages, but the business of selling the car would be basically the same, maybe even better cuz apparently these new cars will be raced all over european championships (at least from what I understood) i'd even bet stellantis will join with one of its brands too, because it looks like profitable business for the manufacturer's motorsport divisions. i'm still seeing this new car as this business opportunity for the potential "builders"

[Steve Boyd]

i'd even bet stellantis will join with one of its brands too

Stellantis could join with multiple brands. Same spaceframe & mechanicals, just a few different body panels & maybe lights. Lancia in Italy, Peugeot or Citröen in France, Opel in Northern Europe.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

This was the idea with the spaceframe for the Rally1 Cars, but it didnt attract any new Manufacturers.

Was it the really the costs that put them off or are most not seeing the advertising potential in rallying any more ?

And with most road cars going electric, who is going to want an ICE rally car to promote their car / brand ...

[saco0o]

ahh the hybrids were the problem imo. too expensive even for msport

regarding advertising, i may be the only one here thinking this, but i honestly dont see where manufacturers and big sponsors can think there is RoI (exposure and promoting new tech) in such a small niche sport built on the back of regular competitors - who have beem removed from their dreams of competing in the world championship due this rise in costs.

sometimes i even think we dont need 'road relevance', we need 'rally fans mental loop' relevance. like when chicherit built that beautiful lancia in rallycross. or when some finnish autocross driver brings a beautiful starlet with a rotatoy engine to a race.
thats what seems to move us, not a resized suv
we are the ones watching it, consuming it, traveling to watch. we like that stuff. why this sudden need of 'pleasing rich manufacturers' at the cost of losing the competitors who built and build the sport, u'know?

lol weird math but it makes sense in my head
edit: yes, i understand 'world championships' are more business than sport. 'thats why'