“As far as I know there will be one manufacturer ready for 2027 with this timeframe.”
That’s the view of M-Sport Ford team principal Richard Millener as discussions over the World Rally Championship’s highly anticipated 2027 regulations intensified at Rally Islas Canarias last weekend.
The championship and teams have been crying out for the full technical direction the WRC will take in the future for years now, and last December the FIA finally provided its framework for what is seen as a big reset to cut costs and entice more manufacturers and tuners to the category.
Last weekend the 2027 rules debate proved a hot topic; manufacturers and WRC stakeholders met with the FIA last Wednesday, with the regulations a key topic of discussions.
On paper the regulations appear to have addressed costs by installing a €345,000 cost cap to build what will be a more basic pinnacle car that will deliver similar performance to Rally1, but based around spaceframe chassis using Rally2 engines and componentry. It’s an ambitious target but the FIA believes it’s possible, and a target of 20 cars in 2027 is attainable.
However, what appears more ambitious than meeting the cost cap is developing an all new car to be ready in 16 months, now the FIA has confirmed the final details of the regulations will not be finalised until the end of August.
The championship’s regulations will change in 2027 with the aim of cutting costs and going more towards WRC2 machinery
Photo by: Toyota Racing
A statement that has once again raised concerns among teams to the point that M-Sport-Ford believes the WRC runs the risk of having only one manufacturer ready for the big 2027 reset. In an ideal world manufacturers usually require 18 months to design, develop and test vehicles for a new rules cycle.
As it stands neither of the current Rally1 marques Toyota, Hyundai and Ford via M-Sport have publicly committed to the new 2027 ruleset.
“Ultimately they [the FIA] have to make their decisions of what they want to do and then we have to accept it, but I have personal concerns that we will end up with a championship with one manufacturer for a new set of regulations, until people can catch up, and I’m not sure that is good,” said Millener.
Aside from the timeframe debate, there is the matter of trying to keep Hyundai involved in the WRC. The Korean marque is yet to commit to the final year of the Rally1 regulations, let alone 2027, with many fearing it could leave at the end of the current season.
“If they believe they have enough tuners and manufacturers that we don’t know about, then that is fantastic news. For us to produce a car for 2027, regardless of June, July or August [date for the finalisation of the regulations], that is very tough.”
The FIA has admitted that the timeframe is “tight” and revealed that there are marques wanting the 2027 regulations to be postponed. However, the FIA’s technical director Xavier Mestelan-Pinon says manufacturers and tuners have enough information to begin working on projects, revealing that some parties have already begun 2027 projects.
“They already have the details. If they want to design all the front and the rear part of the car they can do it. I agree it is tight but we know there are manufacturers and tuners who are working on this project, and they ask us to keep to 2027,” said Mestelan-Pinon.
There is belief that the 2027 regulations are too soon, with neither of the current marques having committed yet
Photo by: M-Sport
“We know that there are some manufacturers trying to postpone the introduction, but people who are already working on that [to those regulations] do not want to do that.
“I think a lot of manufacturers consider that it is a good regulation, of course there are some constraints around the timing but we are happy to see that several tuners are invested in this project because they can design a bespoke car for them and a manufacturer, so it offers new opportunities.”
The battle to keep Hyundai in WRC
Aside from the timeframe debate, there is the matter of trying to keep Hyundai involved in the WRC. The Korean marque is yet to commit to the final year of the Rally1 regulations, let alone 2027, with many fearing it could leave at the end of the current season. The 2027 regulations will be a huge deciding factor over its future.
However, Hyundai has raised concerns over the lack of technology that will be relatable to the current automotive industry, with the FIA stipulating in January that 2027 will begin using internal combustion engine derived powertrains. A date is yet to be confirmed for when other powertrains will be introduced to the WRC27 cars.
“It is still a work in progress, both on detail and the more fundamental questions,” Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul told Autosport.
“We should not lose sight of the fact that these regulations need to be designed for attracting more manufacturers, for keeping the current manufacturers and attracting more manufacturers, as well as attracting a wider audience and providing new business and monetisation opportunities to the whole economy of the sport. I’m not sure if this will be provided.
Hyundai is yet to commit to next year and would be a huge loss if it was to leave the WRC
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“First and foremost the regulation should increase the number of competitors, and that is where we need to receive some guarantees or some understanding from the FIA and the decision makers. We really need to understand where the sport is and indeed what is its fundamental objective.”
The FIA is engaged in discussions with the car maker to address any issues the brand has with the 2027 ruleset, but it appears it won’t make drastic changes.
“We try to address all their concerns in the short term and middle term, but at the end we need to think about the championship itself and how we can develop the championship,” added Mestelan-Pinon.
“We feel very positive with what is going on and it is a very fruitful discussion, and we should pay respect to the fact that the whole car industry is at the moment doubting everything” Peter Thul
“Hyundai is a part of the game but not the only one, so we need to have a 360 vision and take the best decision. Of course, we are discussing with Hyundai but we do not want to break the current regulation for something that is not secure.
“Today we do not have a lot of manufacturers who have already signed for the next 10 years, so Hyundai is one example, but it is not the only one.
“We consider that it is our duty to fix and define the rules, and we make a decision and it is a compromise. I hope we can fine-tune the situation to make them more comfortable if needed. We do not want to break everything.”
It is unlikely that the Hyundai situation will be solved soon
Photo by: Romain Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport
While the WRC Promoter is not in control of the FIA regulation process, it remains positive that discussions to alleviate manufacturers’ concerns have been “fruitful” to date.
“We feel very positive with what is going on and it is a very fruitful discussion, and we should pay respect to the fact that the whole car industry is at the moment doubting everything,” said WRC Promoter’s Senior Director of Sport, Peter Thul.
“We have to pay respect that it is not easy to make a proper regulation that fits everything, but I left the meeting [last Wednesday] confident, and everybody is working together.
“I cannot speak for what Hyundai is planning for the next years, but I’m confident. It is a constructive discussion in very difficult automotive surroundings, and we are the second most important world championship and we are much better than some people think we are.
“There are lots of decisions to be made and an ambitious time plan and everybody is sitting around the table.”
Discussions over the next weeks and months will most likely prove to be critical for the WRC to enjoy the reset it wishes for 2027.
The WRC 2027 ruleset topic is far from over
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
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