WRC2 news & rumors 2026

[GigiGalliNo1]

I read somewhere not long ago, that Dacia kill rumours by not getting in WRC in near future. They were linked with Prodrive, which they co-operate in Dakar. But as far as I know Prodrive in Dakar will partner with Defender works programme, so don't know can they do being present for both brands there... Never mind, Prodrive should be in rallying (and maybe they will), but sadly not with Dacia.

It was two days ago Lancia said they don't know where WRC rumours came from...

[deephouse]

Lancia or Dacia?

[Tom206wrc]

According to Tuttorally website(italian), the option of Nikolay Gryazin with Lancia starts to collapse, and the probability that the two WRC2 Ypsilon to be driven by the Rossel brothers looks higher

[Tom206wrc]

According to Dirstfish there could be around 100 pre-orders for the Ypsilon Rally2

They still mention Andrea Mabellini as possible in ERC 2026 with Lancia...

http://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/what-w...rogram-so-far/

[WRCStan]

Dacia is also builing brand heavily - Entering Dakar, producing good quality road cars for acceptable prices. some new models. And there was a rendering of Dacia WRC some time ago on internet. So I would also say, that chance to see Dacia in WRC in 2027 ir greater than 0%.

With Rally2-Kit being top class, there's one or two maybes.

[Jarek Z]

Lancia or Dacia?

I think he meant Dacia:

Dacia’s Dakar project marketing manager, François Aupierre, plays down the rumours of joining the World Rally Championship.

“A few months ago there were rumours saying we were coming to the World Rally Championship. I don’t know where those rumours came from. It is not happening, though. I do not believe Dacia will be involved. On the other hand, I am not the one making these decisions,” Aupierre told the Estonian newspaper Postimees.

“I do know why these rumours spread. Our Dakar team includes nine-time rally champion Sébastien Loeb. That would of course be a fine scenario, but Dacia is not coming to the World Rally Championship. There are no such plans, at least not in the near future.”

source:
https://rallyjournal.com/a-harsh-mes...re-not-coming/

[Sulland]

Biaison, L.Rosel, Bonato

So two or three primary asphalt,specialists and a pensioner.
lets hope they have not made the same mistake as Citroen did with both their R5/Rally2 cars: that was very very good on asphalt and very difficult to set up to be easy to drive on Gravel/snow.

[Fast Eddie WRC]