Project Rally One is preparing its all‑new WRC27 rally car for the 2027 season, becoming one of the first independent constructors under the World Rally Championship’s new regulations.
Ambitious In‑House Build
The team, founded by engineer Lionel Hansen, former FIA rally director Yves Matton and the Prospeed outfit, has already completed the first tubular chassis that meets the 2027 homologation specifications. Production of the initial car is set to begin next month, with a target for the first two units to be ready by year’s end.
First‑Class Talent
Project Rally One employs 17 specialists, including former Hyundai WRC team manager Alain Penasse, who handles sporting management and strategy. Technical lead Jeremy Chevallereau coordinates engineering efforts with suppliers, while Florent Biard directs design and development in collaboration with Faster Racing engineers and designers.
Construction Timeline
Current work focuses on fabricating and integrating key components, all of which must pass FIA technical validation before the car can be fully assembled. The schedule calls for rigorous reliability testing on gravel and tarmac, followed by setup optimisation and performance tuning.
Road to Homologation
The FIA’s approval process requires final validation of every component and full compliance with Rally1/WRC27 regulations. Jean‑Claude Vaucard, a veteran designer from Peugeot, Citroën and Volkswagen, serves as principal technical adviser to oversee the homologation pathway.
Next Steps
After the August test in mixed surfaces, the project will tackle the remaining development milestones in the next six months. Successful completion will permit Project Rally One to compete at the highest level when the 2027 season launches.
Photo by: Project Rally One
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