WRC mainclass from 2027

[GigiGalliNo1]

It's the Celica and Evans was driving the test car you saw in videos.

[Sal yet again]

Thought I'd seen that shape before..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/388712272...Bk9SR7rRoeSTZw

[Fast Eddie WRC]

M-Sport likely to battle on with the revised Fiesta Rally2 until 2028...

“We will only be able to start with the Fiesta Rally2 in 2027,” Millener explains. “I also don’t see us bringing a car to the WRC27 regulations this season; that will more likely be the case in 2028. Because first and foremost, we need to see what the details and future plans of the promoter look like.”

Fiesta Rally2, a beacon of hope
Accordingly, Millener is heavily promoting his customer car, which has been generating less and less revenue in recent months as the competition has overtaken it: “Our Fiesta Rally2 has been further developed. In Sweden, Romet Jürgenson was the only non-Toyota driver to set a WRC2 best time. In the upcoming rounds, we want to demonstrate how well our package compares to the best Toyotas, Lancias, or Skodas. I am convinced of the Fiesta's qualities – both in terms of performance and reliability.”

https://www.rallye-magazin.de/wrc/ar...uto-eher-2028/

[PLuto]

I would still be interested with 2WD Fabia and Clio. But some fans who like flashy spectacular driving more than actual cars, they might not agree. We can hope the interest will not go down too much.

With Rally2, we'd get some very nice competition years, no doubt. But I don't know how long it will last, I don't think many manufacturers are interested in making expensive Rally2 cars, with similar regs to old WRC cars.

This year is the last year when you can homologate Rally2 with current regulations. So it is not about manufacturers interest, beyond this year it will not be possible to homologate new Rally2 car.

[saco0o]

It's the big question and an existential problem... what is rallying for in the future ?

In the past it was to sell road cars. To prove your brand's cars had speed, quality and reliability. Most rally cars had a very close road-car relative, even if the rally car was just looking quite the same. And performance cars were fast saloons and hatchbacks, any other proper off-road 4x4s weren't for speed.

Now the market has changed. The hot-hatch has almost died out and people want (or are sold on) big SUVs or cars with loads of luxury and tech. How can these be proven by rallying ? Answers on a postcard...

today (and for the future) it seems everything is more about about attention and what spaces the promoter/federations can offer to companies to put/sell ads. in their products (circus)... with a decent RoI. "things cant be things anymore, they need to be a platform where companies want to put their ads in exchange for money". maybe not having REDBULL as the promoter could help in that sense? i mean, they dont want much competition, right? hehe

if aston martins are running honda engines, alpine running mercedes and caddilacs running ferraris - theres no point thinking motorsport are about cars and brands anymore. its just marketing =[
I DOUBT there is any Dakar Raptor suspension tech being trasnfered to road cars for when they run around in perfect american/european asphalts

[saco0o]

nice new toyota!! bring it to fight against anyone with a yaris, fiesta, fabia, i20, polo, ypslon, c3. looking good already!
just me or it sounds like the 3cyl engine?

[becher]

nice new toyota!! bring it to fight against anyone with a yaris, fiesta, fabia, i20, polo, ypslon, c3. looking good already!
just me or it sounds like the 3cyl engine?

It is the Rally2 engine, so three cylinders.

[becher]

I'm must admit I think it looks hideous, proportions are off and the thing looks about as fat as a Erwin Wurm Porsche.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I'm must admit I think it looks hideous, proportions are off and the thing looks about as fat as a Erwin Wurm Porsche.

I agree after the initial plessant surprise of it being revealed.

It's a 'coupe', but with that bulbous cabin and high roofline and boxy arches, it doesn't look nice at all.

[focus206]

This year is the last year when you can homologate Rally2 with current regulations. So it is not about manufacturers interest, beyond this year it will not be possible to homologate new Rally2 car.

mine is more like a question of if the manufacturers would actually be interested to build cars with regs similar to Rally2 in the future...