WRC Tuner Interest Grows: 2027 Rules Attract Over 10 Brands

More than 10 tuners have expressed interest⁢ in teh World Rally Championship’s new technical regulations for 2027, according to ⁢the FIA.

Next year the WRC will embark upon ‍a new technical era that⁢ aims to increase the number of constructors competing in the pinnacle of rallying.

The new technical regulations, which will span a 10-year period, are designed to be more affordable and flexible in a bid to attract not only manufacturers but tuners to the series.Cars will be built to⁣ a €345,000 cost cap, deliver‍ approximately 300 horsepower, comprise a space⁤ frame chassis and utilise some Rally2 componentry. The regulations will begin allowing only internal combustion engines, but there are plans to‍ open up⁤ the technology on powertrains in the future.

Last month the FIA announced Project Rally One as the‍ first tuner ⁤to commit to entering the WRC under the⁣ new ⁤regulations from 2027. The constructor founded by experienced motorsport engineer Lionel Hansen, former FIA rally director and Citroen WRC boss Yves Matton and Prospeed is set to go up against Toyota, which is the ⁢other⁤ known player developing a car to ⁤the new WRC ⁤2027 regulations.

While‍ current WRC Rally1 squads⁤ Hyundai and M-Sport-Ford are yet to officially commit ⁢their future to developing a new car for the 2027 rules, the FIA says the new technical regulations have created unprecedented interest 12 months out from its introduction.

“Our [the FIA’s] priority is to accompany all the tuners and manufacturers ⁤that have already started to work on these projects,” said⁢ the FIA’s Xavier Mestelan Pinon in⁣ a⁢ media⁣ roundtable at last week’s Rally Monte Carlo.

“The tuner side⁢ is wholly new⁣ for FIA ⁤rally to have a tuner‍ homologate a car and it is a massive success. We have a lot ⁤of ⁣contacts,⁤ more ‍than 10. I don’t say that⁢ all 10 will finalise the project but they are working out how to do that so there is a lot ⁣of work for ⁣us to accompany them, ⁤also⁤ our manufacturer ⁤and also regarding⁤ the regulations there ⁣are still some technical ⁣details to finalise. It is work in progress now to prepare for the 2027 season.”

Mestelan Pinon.

Such interest has confirmed to the FIA that, while it has been a lengthy⁣ process‍ to forge the WRC’s long-term technical future, it has made⁢ the⁤ correct steps to increase the number of⁢ participants.

“I think ‍from my‍ point of view this is such a significant⁤ step as we have never had this sort of interest in the highest level of rallying,”⁣ said Malcolm Wilson, FIA deputy president for sport.

“The fact that Xavier said there are 10 tuners interested. I think it took a ‍long time⁣ to get the technical regs where they are‍ but‍ I think it has ⁢sent a clear message ‍that these guys have gone down the⁤ right direction,and it can only be a real benefit for the‍ sport and a real plus ⁣for the potential new ⁢ [WRC] promoter as⁢ there will be⁢ more teams/manufacturers and constructors. It is indeed a real ⁣positive.”