FIA’s 2027 WRC Cars: What’s Changing and What It Means For Rally Fans

Daily Car

23/12/2025

Q - What are the most important changes coming to the WRC in 2027?

The World Rally Championship will be rebuilt from the ground up in 2027. Engines will be limited to 290 hp, which is more than 100 hp less than today's Rally1 cars. A complete car must cost no more than €345 000 - about half the present price. Manufacturers will no longer have to start with a production road car - they will design inside a fixed outer “reference volume,” so any body shape is allowed as long as it fits inside that box. Aerodynamic devices will shrink - rear wings will be smaller and the whole car will look less aggressive.

Q - What are the technical specifications of the new WRC cars?

The 2027 Rally1 car will use a 1.6-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine that produces roughly 290 hp. A standard five speed gearbox plus an all-wheel-drive system will send the power to the ground. The chassis will be a tubular frame safety cell, stronger than the current shell. Double-wishbone suspension will control each wheel. Steering and brake components will be taken straight from the Rally2 rule book - the two classes share hardware.

Q - How does the new design freedom influence the cars’ appearance?

Because the car only has to fit inside a reference volume, designers are free to draw any silhouette. Early sketches borrow lines from the Audi RS3, Subaru WRX but also even the Porsche Macan EV. Rally fans will see low sedans, high riding crossovers and everything between - proportions and styling will vary far more than they do this day.

Q - How do those changes impact performance as well as practicality?

Less power and a smaller wing mean lower top speeds or less downforce. The trade off is a cheaper, tougher car that more teams can afford to build and run. The stronger safety cell gives the crew more protection. Even with the power drop, turbo boost also four driven wheels will still fling the car down a stage at speeds that feel fast to any spectator.

Q - How does this compare to other rally and performance cars in the market today?

Today's Rally1 cars deliver more than 400 hp next to are the fastest machines ever to enter a forest. In 2027 the top class will line up close to Rally2 cars, which already run about 285 - 300 hp from similar sized engines and use the same AWD layout. Against road going sports cars, the emphasis will be on light weight, sharp handling plus reliability instead of raw horsepower. The shift mirrors the wider move in motorsport toward lower costs and longer component life.

Q - What does this mean for the future of the WRC but also rallying as a whole?

Cutting costs and freeing up styling should tempt more manufacturers to join. Sharing parts between Rally1 as well as Rally2 will tighten the field and give drivers a clearer ladder to climb. Some fans will miss the wild wings and brute power, but the championship expects closer fights, a wider variety of car shapes or a healthier entry list.

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