WRC mainclass from 2027

[Dimitris]

What

[WRCStan]

I'm still confused with this project. Many people have said it resembles a Porsche Macan, which says one of four things is happening.

a) If it is to be a Porsche Macan, Porsche will be involved. But why would they want Skoda headlights (or just one lol) and why would they back an idea with a Skoda engine (despite if it being necessary by regs)? Not a great branding exercise.

b) If it is to be a ProjectRally Macan, truer to 'tuner' stuff, Porsche will have given license for the bodywork and Macan name, but still why the Skoda headlight?

c) If no Macan branding but Porsche have given license for the bodywork, then why did ProjectRally go with the Macan design?

d) If they are doing all this without even talking to Porsche, surely they're just in for a bad time.

[deephouse]

I think somewhere in the middle of season of 2027 they will bring some cars to the field or if not then there will be ready for 2028. Toyota could be the only one who could actually make a car in time, but they will not contest against themselves, and let's be honest, who can challenge them with Rally2 car? So I think that there will all involved run Rally2 cars until more teams will enter. M-Sport could be on the way of transitioning their car brand (as rumours suggest) and until they will not fix that, they will not start building the car. Hyundai I think will leave, especially if they will be beaten this year (there is strong chance it will happen, as we see they are worse than last year) or run programme with Rally2 cars and private team. Nobody takes seriously Prospeed at all, so I think we can't expect much from them, and surely they will not be ready. I think that everyone is waiting Promoter thing, so we can just hope the sport will not die or be put on hold for next year. That 10 tuner thing isn't real, I just can't believe, because WRC have not been that lucky.

[WRCStan]

With Prospeed and Toyota there is the same number of manufacturers as 2011 with a new spec car. Same year allowed teams to run the manufacturers cars and the lower class cars. Same year the promoter went bump after it had purchased the previous promoter and was losing money each year since. The previous years had cars that were 'too expensive', 'too big, 'too dirty'... and no new manufacturers so something had to be done.

The following years had an even newer promoter, teams, formats, cars.... History might not rhyme, it maybe repeats itself but it doesn't stand still... 2027-2030ish could be as rocky as 2011-2013.

I don't think we'll see the works Rally2s next year that people are expecting.

[giu canbera]

I guess I'm moving more and more into the "none of that actually matter" camp. If Rally2s are the TopClass for 2027, it doesnt matter what other manufacturers, Msport, Toyota, Hyundai or constructors do. Theres Rally2s for anyone with Money and Interest!
Thats positive IMO

[WRCStan]

Whose got money and interest to rally the world in Rally2? That's negative IMO.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

With Rally2 Car drivers being able to enter the WRC top class, many will be more interested and able to raise more money from sponsors.

But enough to do the whole calendar maybe not. So Manufacturers / Tuners with paid drivers are needed.

[giu canbera]

Whose got money and interest to rally the world in Rally2? That's negative IMO.

But if theres nothing above Rally2, then it is the 'top class'. Racers will not mind spending their own money seeing how they do at the 'top level'.

THO I agree with Eddie. Probably not many full timers.... Which is not an issue for me personally. Im one of the ERC fanboys.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Quotes from Emilia Abel, FIA road sport director, including:

"The long-term plan, however, is for the new-generation cars to form the premier class, with Rally2 becoming a separate category.

As of today, 2027 is in place, but it depends a lot on how quickly and how many new cars come. If there is an option that a separate class is possible, then they will definitely get it,” Abel said.

https://rallyjournal.com/intriguing-...r-wrcs-future/

[WRCStan]

RC1 will return with enough players and WRC27 is faster than Rally2. Who knew!?