Will Hyundai continue to compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2027? If so, only a modified Rally2 car will be eligible for use.
Hyundai could only continue its participation in the World Rally Championship (WRC) from 2027 onwards if the manufacturer uses an upgraded Rally2 version of the i20 N. Team boss Cyril Abiteboul confirmed this to Autosport,
“We have a Rally2 car and I hope that rallying doesn’t become a one-make series. That’s why existing Rally2 cars will play a role,” said Abiteboul last week on the sidelines of Rally Central Europe.
The Korean manufacturer’s future in the WRC beyond the current season had been unclear until now. Hyundai is currently reviewing its long-term motorsport strategy and evaluating various options for future factory entries, including against the backdrop of its entry into the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with its Genesis sub-brand. Abiteboul emphasized that developing a completely new vehicle in accordance with the planned regulations for 2027 would not be feasible. Instead, Hyundai could remain in the championship by further developing its existing Rally2 vehicle. The new technical regulations, which are to apply from 2027, stipulate a cost limit of €345,000. The vehicles are to have around 300 hp and be based on a space frame with components from the Rally2 category.
According to the FIA, the new WRC27 cars will offer similar performance to current Rally2 vehicles.
“Train for a completely new car has left the station”
To ensure a full starting grid, the WRC27 cars will compete alongside Rally2 vehicles in the top class.
This should give manufacturers and teams additional flexibility. However, Abiteboul explained that Hyundai needs clear assurances from the FIA to ensure that Rally2 cars can compete with the new WRC27 cars. At the moment, Toyota is the only current manufacturer working on a completely new car for 2027.
“Many things are unclear at the moment. Will it be the same category or a different classification? How do we balance the performance between the new rally car and the Rally2 cars?” asks Abiteboul. “Once we have clarity, we can finalize our plans and, if necessary, push ahead with further development of our Rally2 car to ensure it is competitive under the new rules.”
Abiteboul hinted that Hyundai only has a few weeks left to make a decision. “With the new technical regulations, the train has probably left the station for a completely new car, but an updated Rally2 specification for 2027 is still possible,” he said.
FIA responds to concerns about competitiveness
Xavier Mestelen Pinon, technical director of the FIA, the world motorsport governing body, assured that the two regulations—WRC27 and Rally2—are closely aligned and that the cars should achieve a similar level of performance. However, a Balance of Performance (BoP) system, such as that used in the WEC, is not planned for the WRC. “Ultimately, both regulations should enable manufacturers to achieve the same level of performance,” said Mestelen Pinon. “If we were to talk about Balance of Performance, that would be the end of our championship. We must avoid this discussion.”
Instead, the FIA wants to equalize factors such as downforce and the weight-to-power ratio. If tests show that a vehicle has a significant advantage, the FIA could adjust the minimum weight before the start of the season to ensure a level playing field.
“We don’t want to make changes after a few rallies,” emphasized Mestelen Pinon. “Once we have data from test drives, we can make adjustments before the start of the season if necessary – and the means to do that is weight.”
The FIA plans to publish the final details of the WRC27 regulations by the end of the year. The necessary safety tests have already been successfully completed.
