The next step for WRC’s crucial 2027 rules

The summer break is expected to deliver another key milestone in the finalisation of the World Rally Championship’s highly anticipated 2027 technical regulations.

Since announcing the 10-year framework for rallying’s top tier in December last year, the FIA has been working behind the scenes to finalise the details of the WRC27 rules that are designed to be more affordable and flexible plus able to attract new manufacturers and teams.

The new regulations will feature cars built to a €345,000 cost cap, delivering approximately 300 horsepower while utilising a space frame chassis and Rally2 componentry. The use of expensive materials such as carbon fibre will be heavily restricted to cut costs. Safety will remain paramount with the cars expected to be safer than the current Rally1 vehicles.

Initially from 2027, current specification Rally2 cars will compete alongside the new WRC27 cars in the WRC’s top tier, with a view that the new cars will effectively phase out Rally2 machinery in the future.

Tuners as well as automotive manufacturers will be eligible to construct chassis and design their own bodywork to compete under the 2027 regulations. The FIA approved the bodywork regulations in June that will allow freedom to scale and integrate almost any design from saloons to hatchbacks, crossovers and completely bespoke designs. The new car will be 20mm taller than the current Rally1 car, but will feature a similar width and will weigh 1230kg (the current Rally2 car weight).

Now the bodywork regulations have been ratified, the FIA plans to finalise details regarding the WRC27 car’s roll cage following a series of crash tests planned before the end of the month. The world motorsport governing body has enlisted a German firm to conduct its CFD research into the new roll cage.

“Today everything is already set up, if you want to design a car you have all the info. But as always with regulations, we work on the details all the time,” FIA technical director Xavier Mestelan Pinon said.

“Technically speaking on the roll cage we have finalised all of the studies and we will the perform dynamic side impact [tests] by the end of August just to confirm what we did and all the calculations and how it performs.

“We just want to confirm the design that will be imposed to all. We need to confirm that the design is the level expected in terms of safety in that it is close to Rally1 and will be a little better.

“Clearly our benchmark for the regulation is the current Rally1 car [safety levels] at the cheapest cost. It will be the same design for everybody.

“For us this is a massive improvement compared to the current Rally2 cars. Everything we can do to improve safety, it is a need. This regulation is set up also for regional championships and it is important that it suits the business model of our manufacturers and tuners.”

Engine discussions continue

The WRC’s new technical regulations will initially be formed around internal combustion engines from 2027, although the FIA has stated plans to open up the flexibility on the use of alternative powertrains in the future.

From 2027, homologated turbo-charged Rally2 engines have been determined as the base formula. However, the FIA is involved in discussions to potentially allow an option for prospective manufacturers and tuners to apply to use a production car engine from within its range.

“For the Rally2 engine it is already decided. This is one option but we are discussing the possibility to introduce an engine based on the production cars, a pure production engine and it has to be refined with our manufacturers,” added Mestelan Pinon.

Roope Korhonen, Anssi Viinikka, Rautio Motorsport Toyota GR Yaris Rally2

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

As it stands, Toyota is the only current WRC manufacturer actively working on a concept for 2027 with M-Sport-Ford and Hyundai yet to commit to a project. M-Sport is currently assessing its options but would prefer to partner with a manufacturer to undertake such a project.

Hyundai has made its stance clear stating that under the current proposed 2027 technical regulations it is not interested in a car that is based solely around a cost-capped €345,000 car, powered by a traditional Rally2 internal combustion engine.

“We will look at it if the rules are more open for the powertrain. A manufacturer like Hyundai needs more technology in the cars. Hyundai wants to promote the ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday’. The basic car the FIA wants to push for in 2027, we are not really interested in this,” Hyundai technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison told Autosport.

“They [the FIA] say there is a possibility [to open up the powertrain options after 2027]. The earliest this happens is best. We can still do it for 2028 if there is a quick decision. It is not in our hands.”

The FIA is yet to determine when it will open the door to alternative powertrains.

“We haven’t made a final decision when we will open up to another alternative technology,” said FIA road sport director Emilia Abel. “The option is there, the regulations have the framework for it, but we haven’t made a final decision for it.”