Rally1
| Group Rally1 | |
|---|---|
| Motor racing formula | |
| Category | Rallying |
| Country/Region | International |
| Championships | WRC |
| Inaugural | 2022 |
| Drivetrain | Four Wheel Drive |
| Weight to power | 3.1 kg/hp |
| Aptitude | Elite |
| World Rally Championship |
|---|
| Current season |
| Support categories |
|
| Current car classes |
| Related lists |
| Organisations |
Rally1 is a technical specification of rally car for use at the highest level of international rallying in the World Rally Championship (WRC) as determined by the FIA. The cars were used for the first time in the 2022 WRC season and replaced the outgoing World Rally Car used in the manufacturer's championship. Though they may run on any individual rally as permitted by the organiser, they are not to be used in any other championship.
The calls for new cars were made by the existing WRC competing manufacturers to reflect both changes in consumer marketing preferences, such as advancements in technology, and the need to reduce costs to make competing sustainable. The move to a new formula of car was approved in June 2018 along with a complete overhaul of cars and championships in the Rally Pyramid.[1]
Regulations
[edit]2022–2026
[edit]Rally1 cars are defined in Article 262 of Appendix J of the International Sporting Code.[2] The cars have two radical new features for rally cars in the World Rally Championship, the first being hybrid electric power units in use for the first time. The second, less obvious characteristic is that Rally1 cars are not needed to be homologated in Group A or N and have no series production car requirement with being 'Category II' purpose-built competition vehicles. However, they must be identifiable as being based on a series production model. Tubular space frame chassis are permitted, whereas production bodyshells are permitted as tradition. They also feature common safety cell structures, centrally designed in partnership with the FIA. The existing 386 PS 1.6 l global race engine continues to be used.
Other key features include:[3][4]
- synthetic fuels, claimed to be sustainable and renewable[5]
- Artificial Intelligence Safety Cameras (AISC), to monitor the special stage for safety purpose, eg. out of place spectators[6]
- less complex suspension with reduced travel
- a reduction from 6 to 5 speed gearboxes, in common with Rally2 cars including the removal of 'flappy-paddle' gear shifters
- removal of the active central differential altogether
- ban on liquid cooled brakes
- simplified fuel tank shape
- simplified turbo
- removal of the fresh air valve in the anti-lag system
- removal of some aerodynamic components
The changes to aerodynamics remove expensive and commonly damaged parts such as the rear diffuser. Hidden ducts for cooling purposes are banned.[7]
Hybrid system
[edit]The hybrid electric power system is supplied to all teams by a third party, Compact Dynamics, incorporating a battery supplied by Kreisel Electric. It is used to power the cars in 100% electric zones on liaison sections as set in the rally roadbook by the rally organiser. On the special stages it also provides a boost of up to 100 kW or 136 PS alongside the combustion engine and recuperates kinetic energy under braking. The driver will have three options to choose from to deploy the boost, with a further three options to choose on how to recuperate energy under braking. The driver must set these options before a special stage and are not able to choose when to deploy the electric boost within the stage. The hybrid electric system adds an extra 84 kg to the cars' gross weight and due to its 750 volts the cars will wear HY identification, with white letters on a red background, on the door panel. Crews are also required to carry high voltage gloves to use in the event of an issue.[4][6][8][9][10]
The use of hybrid power was discontinued in 2025 as teams felt that the cost of repairing damaged units was becoming too expensive.[11][12]
WRC27 (2027–)
[edit]New regulations were created ahead of the 2027 season to encourage greater participation.[13][14] Initially called 'WRC27', the cars are to use a standard FIA developed chassis onto which body panels can be fixed, with established Rally2 specification powertrain and components inside. This philosophy was intended to cut development time and costs required. Further, the rules allow bespoke designs, severing a link with production car manufacturers that had been central to rallying and the WRC series since its inception in 1973. Reflecting this, the WRC Championship for Manufacturers is to be renamed the Championship for Constructors from 2027.[15][16][17]
Toyota Gazoo Racing were the first to announce a new Rally1 build, beginning testing in 2026.[18][19] Independent Belgian racing company, Prospeed, also announced their Project Rally One ambition in 2025 and also began testing in 2026. The company having previously been involved in circuit racing primarily with Porsches, become the first constructor of the new regulations that was not previously a car builder.[20] They were also the first to publicly launch their car, albeit without a name, in September 2026.[21]
In April 2026, a third constructor announced intention to build a car to the regulations, WRT Rally1 Spain, a collaboration between Spanish motorsport company RMC Motorsport and the Spanish national motorsport federation, RFEDA.[22][23]
In October 2026, Ford announced that they would return to the championship as a 'full factory team', partnering with M-Sport to build a Rally1 for use in the 2029 season.[24][25]
FIA competition
[edit]Rally1 cars are only permitted in the World Rally Championship and when entered by the manufacturer teams. The cars may appear on other individual rallies when entered by the manufacturers but not under a championship point-scoring situation.
| Class | Group | WRC | M | T | WRC2 | WRC3 | Masters | Junior |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RC1 | Rally1 |
Cars
[edit]| Manufacturer | Car | Debut | Chassis | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai i20 N Rally1[26] | 2022 | Tubular, Scaled[27][28] | ||
| Ford Puma Rally1[29] | 2022 | Tubular,[30] Scaled[31] | ||
| Toyota GR Yaris Rally1[32] | 2022 | Tubular,[7] Scaled[33][34] | ||
| Source: FIA Homologations List 2022[35] | ||||
References
[edit]- ↑ "FIA Rally Car Pyramid Brochure" (PDF). FIA.
- ↑ "Specific Regulations for Group Rally1" (PDF). FIA.
- ↑ "WHAT'S BEHIND THE WRC'S NEW 2022 REGULATIONS?". WRC Promoter GmbH.
- 1 2 "WRC - FIA ANNOUNCES HYBRID SUPPLIER FOR RALLY1 FROM 2022-2024 & A SET OF ENGINE TECHNICAL FEATURES TO REDUCE COSTS". FIA.
- ↑ "WRC SWITCHES TO 100% SUSTAINABLE FUEL; P1 EXCLUSIVE PROVIDER". WRC Promoter GmbH.
- 1 2 "World Motor Sport Council Decisions October 2021". FIA. 15 October 2021.
- 1 2 "2022 WRC car tech specs & regulations: what we know so far". WRCWings.tech.
- ↑ "FIA AND WRC TAKE 360-DEGREE APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE FUTURE". WRC Promoter GmbH.
- ↑ "AN ENGINEER'S GUIDE TO RALLY1". DirtFish.
- ↑ "FIA WMSC Decisions 15.12.2021".
- ↑ Evans, David (16 November 2024). "Hybrid removed from Rally1 cars for 2025". dirtfish.com. DirtFish. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ↑ Thukral, Rachit (15 November 2024). "WRC drops hybrid power as part of 2025 Rally1 refresh". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ↑ "FIA unveils WRC27 Rally1 concept set to define the next generation of rally machinery". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 2025-12-18. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ www.wrc.com https://www.wrc.com/en/news/fia-reveals-wrc27-rally1-concept. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Evans, David (2025-08-20). "What we know about WRC 2027 so far". DirtFish. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ Heimrich, Michael (2025-08-20). "Neues Reglement: Rohrrahmen und Rally2-Technik". rallye-magazin.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ llluis555 (2025-05-07). "WRC27: what we know so far". WRCWings. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Heinonen, Toni (2025-10-30). "Toyota's WRC team makes a significant reveal on its new car". RallyJournal.com. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "New Toyota WRC car breaks cover in testing". www.motorsport.com. 2026-02-26. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "Project Rally One set to join WRC as first new WRC27 Constructor from 2027". Home | WRC.com® | FIA World Rally Championship | Official Website. 2025-12-17. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "Project Rally One reveals WRC 2027 challenger". www.motorsport.com. 2026-09-18. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ Barry, Luke (2026-04-23). "WRC 2027 attracts second new constructor". DirtFish. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ Vainio, Joni (2026-09-04). "New WRC challenger reveals plans – top drivers already in talks". RallyJournal.com. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ Evans, David (2026-10-01). "Ford returns to the WRC as a manufacturer". DirtFish. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "Ford set for WRC factory return with M-Sport in 2028". www.motorsport.com. 2026-10-01. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- ↑ "SORDO AND SOLBERG TO SHARE THIRD HYUNDAI IN 2022". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH.
- ↑ "i20 N WRC Rally1". Archived from the original on 2022-10-10. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
- ↑ "Hyundai i20 N tech data" (PDF).
- ↑ "M-Sport Ford unveils Puma Rally1 car – first pictures". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ↑ "Q&A: MALCOLM WILSON ON THE NEW FORD PUMA RALLY1". DirtFish.
- ↑ "+ MOTOR 2021 - A FONDO CON MALCOLM WILSON". + MOTOR 2021.
- ↑ "TOYOTA GAZOO RACING CONFIRMS 2022 LINE-UP". WRC Promoter GmbH.
- ↑ "CAR DETAILS 2022 WRC TOYOTA GAZOO Racing".
- ↑ "All New Toyota GR Yaris Performance Toyota Uk".
- ↑ "LISTE DES HOMOLOGATIONS / HOMOLOGATIONS LIST – 2022" (PDF).