WRC mainclass from 2027

[focus206]

Porsche are still in GT racing, which is their natural habitat. I don't see any works supported/sponsored program like Ford M-Sport happening, for the reasons you are all saying.
The only hope is that since Prospeed has always worked with Porsche in GT, they might get some "help" from national importer?

[Andre Oliveira]

FIA unveils WRC27 Rally1 concept set to define the next generation of rally machinery



The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has today revealed a first look at the car concept that will form the foundation of the FIA World Rally Championship from 2027.

First approved by the World Motor Sport Council in 2024 following extensive consultation with WRC stakeholders, the WRC27 regulations establish a framework designed to improve accessibility, flexibility and cost control at rallying’s elite level, while preserving the performance and spectacle that define the championship.

The WRC27 Rally1 concept provides the first visual representation of these principles, translating the regulatory framework into a clear vision for the future of the FIA World Rally Championship.



A safety-led foundation

At the core of the WRC27 concept sits its tubular frame safety cell, building on the structure introduced with the 2022 Rally1 cars. Developed through extensive simulation, benchmarking and prototype crash testing, the new safety cell delivers high levels of occupant protection while reducing overall complexity and cost. Compared to previous generations, the structure offers significant improvements in intrusion reduction and energy absorption across frontal, side, roof and rear impact scenarios.



Flexible vehicle design

Surrounding the safety cell is a bodywork framework designed to prioritise flexibility. Rather than requiring cars to be derived from current production models, the WRC27 regulations define a reference volume within which all exterior panels must sit.

Within this volume, Constructors are free to develop a wide range of designs, from production-based designs to bespoke rally concepts. Aerodynamic devices on the new car have also been simplified to reduce development costs and technical complexity.

A Constructor future

The WRC27 regulations open the championship’s top category to a wider range of competitors by bringing both OEMs (Manufacturers) and Tuners under a single definition of Constructors.

In defining both entities as Constructors, the WRC27 regulations broaden the field and strengthen competition at the highest level.

Under the regulations, a Constructor is defined as the entity responsible for the design and construction of a WRC27 car, its presentation to the FIA for homologation, and the marketing of the car and its associated parts.



Accessible performance

Accessible performance sits at the heart of the WRC27 package, with the target to reduce the performance delta that currently exists between the top-tier and second-tier of competition and make it easier for young drivers to reach the performance window without the need for extensive car-specific testing.

The cars will be powered by 1.6-litre turbocharged internal combustion engine producing around 290 horsepower, paired with a four-wheel-drive powertrain and a five-speed gearbox. The suspension is set out in a double wishbone configuration, with braking and steering systems derived from current Rally2 specifications, delivering a cost-effective, high-performance package suited to the unique demands of the FIA World Rally Championship.

The WRC27 car is built around a tubular frame chassis, defined within a vehicle footprint with a minimum length of 4100 mm, a maximum length of 4300 mm, a maximum width of 1875 mm, a minimum wheelbase of 2600 mm and a minimum height of 1270 mm, within which Constructors are free to create a wide range of designs.



A restructuring of the Rally Pyramid

As the FIA World Rally Championship enters its next regulatory cycle, WRC27 cars will compete alongside existing Rally2 machinery in the top category, bringing together a broad mix of competitive cars at the highest level of international rallying.

A future-ready powertrain platform

Powertrain flexibility sits at the core of the WRC27 philosophy. While the initial target configuration for the first years of the regulations cycle is a sustainably fuelled 1.6-litre turbocharged internal combustion engine, the framework allows for the future introduction of alternative powertrains.

Reducing the cost of competition

Reducing the cost of competing at rallying’s elite level has been a central objective of the WRC27 regulations. The price of a ready-to-compete car has been capped at €345,000 for a tarmac specification, representing a reduction of more than 50 per cent compared to the outgoing formula.

These savings are delivered through component cost specifications and improved durability, reducing both purchase and replacement costs over the course of a season. The regulations also target reductions in operating costs through limits on personnel, reduced logistical requirements, increased use of local facilities and enhanced data connectivity to support off-site engineering.



FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said “The WRC27 regulations represent a pivotal moment for the FIA World Rally Championship. They establish a framework focused on cost control, sustainability and accessibility, while safeguarding the performance and technical challenge that define rallying at the highest level. The WRC27 Rally1 concept shows how these principles come together and set the direction for development of the next generation of rally machinery.”

FIA Deputy President for Sport, Malcolm Wilson, commented “Flexibility is a defining feature of the WRC27 regulations. The new Rally1 concepts that we have released have been designed to these specifications, demonstrating how that flexibility can be applied in practice. They highlight, for the first time, the range of technical solutions and vehicle concepts that can be developed within the framework, while still meeting the demands of top-level FIA World Rally Championship competition.”

Peter Thul, WRC Promoter Director of Sport, said: “We as the Promoter welcome the new regulations which put a major focus on affordability. We are absolutely confident this will lead to an increase in manufacturers and now, constructors, competing at the pinnacle of our sport. There has been a positive, open dialect from all parties throughout this process to date and we now need to continue to work together to ensure 2027 heralds in the greatest era of the WRC.”



https://www.fia.com/news/fia-unveils...ally-machinery

[TypeR]

So Macan coupe it is.. kind of.

[saco0o]

what up with that logo? we kinda know wrc already have a new promoter that is still finalizing some things, right...?
will redbull still be the one in 2026 or the new guys are taking over from jan 1?

[WRCStan]

I look forward to hearing in commentary about the Project Rally One WRC27 Rally1 in 2027 WRC season.