Hybrid-powered Rally1 cars will remain at the forefront of the World Rally Championship for the next two years.
Tuesday’s World Motor Sport Council decision reverses the governing body’s February announcement that hybrid would be dropped in an effort to offer parity between less powerful Rally1 cars and boosted Rally2 machinery.
The FIA’s statement from the meeting in Uzbekistan said: “Technical stability has been agreed between all stakeholders for the 2025 and 2026 FIA World Rally Championship seasons. The World Council has confirmed that, following extensive feedback and discussions, the WRC Technical Regulations for Rally1/2 cars will remain unchanged for the coming two years.”
The announcement brings to an end months of debate regarding short-term future technical regulations of the WRC. Current manufacturers Toyota, Hyundai and M-Sport Ford are all understood to be committed – or close to offering a formal commitment – to the end of 2026.
February’s proposal made by the FIA’s working group was built around a move to remove hybrid power from Rally1 cars from next year as part of a plan to close the performance gap to Rally2 cars through a reduction in aero, through a modified rear wing, and a smaller air restrictor.
This coincided with a proposal for manufacturers to produce an optional upgrade kit for Rally2 cars to increase their performance to allow some competitors to battle at the sharp end of rallies.
It was hoped this could increase entries and provide a smooth transition to all-new technical regulations in 2027.
