Rally2-WRC-Kit opens door to bigger fields, increased competition in 2027 WRC

The FIA has ratified a low-cost tech package for the 2027 World Rally Championship conceived to increase the number of entries chasing overall wins by putting current-spec Rally2 machinery on a competitive level with the series’ all-new WRC27 rules set.

WRC27 (above left) will replace the existing Rally1 rules as the WRC’s headlining class in 2027. It will use engines, suspension, running gear and brakes from current Rally2 machinery – Rally2 being the rules set used in WRC2, the second tier of international rallying – but with a Rally1-style spaceframe chassis and superior aerodynamics.

While Rally2 machinery was expected to be close to WRC27 performance levels, the FIA World Motor Sport Council’s confirmation of a Rally2-WRC-Kit (above right) that manufacturers can develop for existing Rally2 cars and sell for 7,500 euros ($8,500) is designed to bridge the gap between WRC27 and Rally2 and increase the number of marques and entries capable of winning rallies outright.

Announcing the Rally2-WRC-Kit, the FIA says it will comprise new homologated front fenders, front bumper and rear aerodynamic device “to support greater aerodynamic parity.”

Per the FIA’s announcement, the kit “may be fitted to Rally2 cars homologated before December 31, 2026. These Rally2-WRC-Kit cars will only be eligible to compete alongside WRC27 cars in the FIA World Rally Championship during the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

“Homologation of the Rally2-WRC-Kit may only be carried out by a manufacturer registered for the FIA World Rally Championship as a constructor. During the first year of homologation, the Manufacturer must participate in 100 percent of the events listed on the WRC calendar, with a minimum of two cars per rally.”

Of the three manufacturers currently competing in Rally1, only Toyota has committed to a WRC27 program next season, with Project Rally One and WRT Rally1 Spain also developing cars as independent “tuner” entries.

The Rally2-WRC-Kit provides an opportunity for Hyundai and M-Sport Ford to maintain their top-tier presence, with the latter already confirming it will homologate a kit for its existing Fiesta Rally2 and, by extension, run at least two cars in the 2027 WRC.

M-Sport Ford will homologate a Rally2-WRC-Kit for its Fiesta Rally2 and maintain its top-tier presence in the 2027 WRC.

The package also opens the door for current Rally2-only marques Lancia and Skoda to compete at the WRC’s top level with updates to their Ypsilon HF and Fabia RS platforms, respectively, although both are yet to announce any intention to do so.

"More competition at the top level is the driving force behind everything we are doing with WRC27, and these changes approved [June 23] by the World Motor Sport Council will help us to deliver a greater spectacle for the fans over the next two years,” said FIA Deputy President for Sport and M-Sport founder Malcolm Wilson. “By creating a pathway for eligible Rally2 cars to enter the top class, the regulations will support larger fields, increase competitive depth and help deliver a fantastic contest at the highest level of rallying."

Eligibility for Rally2-WRC-Kit cars will end on Dec. 31, 2028, providing a two-year transition period for manufacturers yet to commit to WRC27-based programs.

The 2027 FIA World Rally Championship, where WRC27 and Rally2-WRC-Kit cars will go head to head for the first time, begins with the 95th running of the Monte Carlo Rally, Jan. 18-24.

• Catch WRC action from all rounds of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship on RACER Network and the RACER+ App. Tune in on Monday, June 29 at 9.00pm ET for full highlights from Acropolis Rally Greece.

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