Silly Season 2026

[trykmann]

Toyota isnt a factory team in WRC2, Solberg is run by Printsport.

I'm sure a top WRC2 driver would be happy to take his place there. Moving from a Skoda or Citroen wasnt a problem for Solberg.

We can consider Printsport as an unofficial factory team.

[BlueStrike]

I struggle to see where Toyota could fit Solberg in unless they expand their line-up again.

Evans and Rovanperä ought to be treated as safe, unless one of them quits voluntarily.

Pajari should be given a second year full-time.

Will Ogier be content to miss out on events again after what‘s shaping up to be a much better title chase than last year? He could retire completely, but I think that‘s unlikely.

Taka has his passport and outstanding speed on at least some events in his favour… maybe he goes part-time? As I said, he has events where he‘s great, and ones where he‘s a non-factor.

On the other hand, if everything stays as is that creates essentially a similar situation to this year, with four cars at minimum spoken for on most events, potentially five.

Meanwhile, Solberg is at least as deserving as Pajari of a full-time opportunity as Pajari was, and in my opinion even more so given his body of work this year. But do Toyota really want to stretch themselves to running six cars at some events?

I‘m discounting the Tänak "rumour" here, because as far as I could see there‘s no actual basis to that other than a surprisingly non-committal answer to what he’s doing in 2026. And as much as I‘d like to see him in a competent, affluent team after six years of hilarious incompetence and general suffering, IMO he’ll either be going farming/focusing on his kids‘ extracurriculars/enjoying family life or sticking it out with Hyundai for one more year (on the off-chance the car finally breaks less frequently than usual).

So the Solberg/Toyota situation has no obvious solution. The easiest/most rational one would be to let Katsuta go completely, but again… passport.

Could M-Sport be an option as a stop-gap, with an eye towards developing the 2027 car? I would assume that the Solbergs would want to see at least some guarantee of development money. Also, was the potential Red Bull/Monster conflict story from last year ever confirmed as being real?

As for Hyundai… I think hell would freeze over before that happened, given how that played out last time around and their own questions on the future.

[deephouse]

Katsuta isn't guaranteed in Toyota. Last year he admit, he was on thin line. I think that, if he will not show nothing special in last three rallies, or maybe less, he could be already replaced with Solberg. Unless if he somehow win a rally, but is highly unlikely. Even Japanese will have enough at some point. I think that his best chance would be stepping down in WRC2, making good ad for Rally2 car, try fighting for good results or even win some events or even title there, as he could achieve more and better results as he ever will in WRC. Next Pajari could share a car with Solberg, but we that would only create some competition between those two and could be worse as they would lack seat time both.

As regarding Tanak, I think that Toyota will not persuade him or bring him onboard. He should stay at Hyundai for one more year, then they will leave anyway. He could also start talking to other teams for 2027 and beyond. If some new team comes, he could be valuable for information, what not to do and how to not buld the car haha

[AndersX]

Why nobody considers Solberg and someone else running under Toyota Customer Team, created as training/testing/checking format for 2027 customer environment? Solberg needs seat time in that car, not wins directly.

[speederbee]

It'd be nice to see Solberg in a ralIy1 for a couple events next year, maybe sharing a car with Pajari. But I don't know that a full season in rally1 next year would even be the best move for Solberg or Pajari. Realistically it's not like either of them will be competing for the championship. If they both do a mix of events in rally1 and rally2 cars, maybe they'd be better prepared than the rest of the guys to adapt to the new cars in 2027

[TypeR]

No way Solberg should do rally2 events next year..
He has wrc rally win that tens and tens of drivers dream of.. he has been to big class, dropped from there to wrc2 for couple of years. Now wrc2 title to finish that era..

[macebig]

Toyota will not run more than 5 cars in 2026. Would think Ogier hangs it up or goes back to part time status (especially if he wins the title this year). Rovanpera may be tempted to try a different disciple. And I would guess if Evans loses the title again, there is nothing more for him in Toyota. So, Yaris seats could become available. Oliver gets one for sure.

[EstWRC]

I just hope there will be some shock movement or smth.

It’s been so boring for the last 6 years and no major movements. Especially the last two years

[B group]

A lot will depend on whether Ogier wins his 9th title or not.
If he doesn't, he will most likely end his career in perfection and leave the place open for Oliver.
If he wins, he will try to go for his 10th, "feeling the taste of blood".
In this case, Evans will most likely give up his place to Olli.

[bandit12]

Next season will be an internal battle at Toyota. M-Sport will probably direct its resources towards the 2027 car, leaving their drivers without updates or testing.
Hyundai is rolling through its last year, already becoming ridiculous. Minimal factory support, zero motivation from staff and drivers.
Sad.