WRC mainclass from 2027

[deephouse]

I think that upgrade to rally2 car is intended for those older models - i20, Fiesta (because I don't think they will build new models). Citroen will probably not be updated anymore (it will "upgrade" through Lancia), VW Polo doesn't have support, so no go for that car. Skoda and Toyota are currently the best cars out there and are updated reguraly, so they don't need any major improvements. i20 and Fiesta on the other side are amongst "slower" cars, so they are refferong to those two. It's only due to this that M-Sport and Hyundai could compete against Lancia, Toyota and Skoda and not be automaticaly way behind.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

M-Sport already said they dont see the value for money in spending to upgrade the Fiesta for 2027.

And no-one knows what Hyundai will do except that they wont have a WTC27 car ready.

Plus how can they be made competitive. What upgrades will work while being fair to Skoda and Toyota?

[deephouse]

It sounds like the upgrades are worth millions on a car that costs 250.000.. maybe they will take sabatical year to focus on 2028. And it's only logical move for everyone, because FIA did screw it big time with (still) finalizing regulations. But don't know what cars would everyone use in 2027 if this will really happen (or the new era will be postopned for a year). Current Rally1 or straight to Rally2 without main category

[AndersX]

What I do not get in all this '27 mess is how FIA could f...it up so big - it even seems like a real neglect or even worth - simply and plain stupidity, or combination of both. This time the biggest stone should be thrown to FIA Rally commission.
Right now seems that better to go back to R2+ for 2 years and make modern, high-tech based rules from '29. Define it as transition period. What's wrong with Toksport winning WRC title with 2 more semi-privateers on podium?
To me seems that repairing the house that was f...up with Hybrid de-tour is not possible, not tearing the house down and building it up again.

[deephouse]

I think it's too late for 2027. And I hope that this will not mean that it will be too late to save WRC from collapsing, because it seems on paper that FIA could hit the golden ticket here with this ruleset, if they would do it on time. Could current regs (Rally1-hybridless) be eligible (or extended) for another year (2027)? And if current teams (Toyota, Hyundai, M-Sport) could run it for one more year? Or be persuaded to be there in 2028 with new cars. I think that this would be fair for everybody, even for potential "newcomers", since we all know that absolutely nobody will be able to challenge Toyota (even if someone will build WRC27 car and have it ready in Monte Carlo27 edition)

[WRCStan]

Have to say I'm getting pretty tired of this 'FIA fucked up with regs' rhetoric, especially when written with a Plan F that could be implemented. Rally1 regs were approved and made public December 2021, a month before Monte. WRC+ were published January 2017, weeks before Monte. It's really not a big deal that they aren't legally finalised and made public already. At this point it'll be that the devil details of the regs are being written around what is being fed back from those developing a car and to the best of my knowledge, the FIA doesn't build cars. Then they'll have a doc suitable for the officials ahead of the 2027 season. It isn't written for the public to admire and there is enough of WRC27 made public already for a manufacturer/constructor to decide if they are interested or not. Even the public know 99%.

We all want announcements and commitments from the '9' bodies apparently developing cars but that's being held up by commercial stuff, not the car technical regulations. Even if you go for Rally2+/4=X+y and print final regs you'd be in the same position with manufacturers not knowing who they are cutting a deal with and on what terms.