The FIA has revealed the future pathway for the World Rally Championship with the release of the 2027 technical regulations.
The World Motor Sport Council has confirmed the new look ‘WRC27’ cars will be more versatile and built to a cost cap of €345,000 in a bid to encourage more teams and manufacturers to compete. The regulations will operate on a 10-year cycle.
Reducing costs has been a key element of the new ruleset after the current Rally1 cars’ costs reached almost one million euros.
These cost savings will be achieved through component cost specifications rather than financial regulations. There will also be savings in the technical designs of certain components that will make them more durable over the course of a rally.
In addition to reducing the cost of the cars themselves, running costs for teams are set to be reduced by limiting personnel, reducing logistics transport costs, increasing the use of local facilities and increasing data connectivity to aid offsite engineering.
The Rally1 cars will continue to be based around the current space frame chassis but will be built to enable manufacturers to run a range of powertrains, including the internal combustion engine, hybrid and full electric. It is understood a torque meter will be utilised to equalise technology should manufacturers opt for different powertrains.
Bodywork from almost any scaled production car can be fitted to the safety cell, meaning that hatchbacks could conceivably compete against saloons, SUVs, and there’s even the possibility for bespoke rally concept designs to take to the stages from 2027.
The regulations lay the groundwork for the potential for a cross-over between the FIA World Rally Championship and the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
