How losing hybrid will affect WRC Rally1 cars in 2025
Adjusting to life without hybrid power in the World Rally Championship next year won’t require «a huge amount of work» in the off-season, according to M-Sport-Ford lead engineer Tim Jackson. Last week the FIA confirmed that, as predicted, the 100kW control hybrid kits will be removed from Rally1 cars next year, having been first introduced […]
WRC drops hybrid power as part of 2025 Rally1 refresh
The World Rally Championship has announced that it will drop hybrid units from Rally1 cars in 2025. As reported by Motorsport.com earlier, the 100kW plug-in hybrid system that was first introduced in 2022 along with the current-generation Rally1 cars has been axed due to rising costs. The decision was ratified by the FIA World Motor […]
Croatia strikes new deal to rejoin WRC in 2026
Croatia will return to the World Rally Championship calendar in 2026 after securing a new multi-year agreement. The asphalt event made its WRC debut in 2021, quickly becoming a regular hosting four editions of the event, before losing its place on the 2025 calendar. The WRC Promoter was in discussions to renew its agreement, with […]
Hyundai’s 2025 WRC car will feature «reasonable change» as testing ramps up
Hyundai’s revised 2025 World Rally Championship car will feature “some reasonable change” as the testing phase of upgrades continued last weekend. The Korean manufacturer had planned to homologate a practically all-new version of its i20 N Rally1 for next year before plans were abandoned amid uncertainty over the 2025 regulations. Following the FIA’s U-turn on […]
WRC champion Rovanpera tests Red Bull F1 car
Reigning two-time world rally champion Kalle Rovanpera swapped a rally car for a Red Bull RB8 Formula 1 car in a test at the Red Bull Ring. Suggestions the 15-time WRC rally winner could drive an F1 car emerged earlier this season while a picture posted on his Instagram of a visit to the Red […]
What Lancia needs to do to transform its rally return to the WRC
Lancia’s sporting director Eugenio Franzetti has explained why the brand is making its rally return in Rally4 and what is required to make a comeback to the World Rally Championship. Lancia, the winner of a record 10 WRC constructors’ titles (1974-1976, 1983, 1987-1992), is set to return to the rally stages next year with its […]
WRC set to drop hybrid power in 2025
The World Rally Championship is set to drop hybrid power from its Rally1 cars, beginning from next season. The future of hybrid power in the WRC’s top class has proved to be a long-running saga this year with the debate re-ignited following a mid-season change to the hybrid unit user guide from control supplier Compact […]
When a burly Skoda challenged the WRC’s big boys
It would be all too easy for Armin Schwarz to pick the Toyota Celica GT-Four as his favourite car. After all, from a career that graced the World Rally Championship podium with four different manufacturers, it was in the Group A weapon that he claimed his only WRC victory in Catalunya in 1991. Yet the […]
FIA Rally Star initiative reveals 2025 plans
The FIA Rally Star programme will provide extra support to rising star Romet Jurgenson and has opted to retain Taylor Gill and Max Smart to contest the 2025 FIA Junior WRC. The three drivers have impressed after earning selection into the FIA’s fully-funded programme that aims to unearth future WRC talent. Jose Caparo (Peru), Gill […]