WRC road order faces a pivotal shift as the series rolls into 2027 with new WRC27 rules.
New WRC27 machinery takes centre stage
The World Rally Championship will replace its Rally1 cars next season with WRC27 machines designed under a €345,000 price tag. The chassis will be a lightweight spaceframe with double-wishbone suspension, borrowing key components from Rally2 cars. Toyota has already begun building the prototype, while RMC Motorsport and Project Rally One are following suit.
Rally2 upgrade kit levels the playing field
To let Rally2 cars remain competitive, the FIA authorised a homologated upgrade kit costing €7,500. Upgrades include new front fenders, a front bumper, a rear aerodynamic element and a 10‑kg weight reduction, bringing the vehicles’ power-to-weight ratio closer to WRC27 standards. Rally2 teams can register this kit and compete in the top tier in 2027 and 2028.
Road order controversy rears its head
With power differentials eliminated, the benefit of a low road position on gravel could become decisive. A Rally2 crew starting 50th may exploit superior surface conditions, a scenario the FIA aims to regulate through sporting measures. Toyota’s technical director Tom Fowler explained that on gravel, the first car’s advantage equates to a 100‑hp difference, making fair road order essential for competitive balance.
Qualifying revived as possible fix
The series is considering re‑introducing a qualifying stage to set the start order, a method last seen in 2013 and still used widely in the European Rally Championship (ERC). In the ERC, the top 15 qualifiers are reversed for gravel events, while the fastest finish the run in qualifying order on asphalt. The WRC wants a similar system if it delivers equal surface conditions for all teams.
FIA moves forward with regulation options
Emilia Abel, FIA road sport director, said the sporting regulations will be presented to the World Motor Sport Council in August, with a final decision expected by October. The process includes confirming which cars qualify for the constructors championship and then adjusting road‑order rules accordingly.
These regulatory decisions will shape the competitive landscape of the 2027 season and force teams to strategise their start order around a new parity model.
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