WRC'S RALLY1 CLASS SET FOR A TOTAL REVAMP FOR THE 2027 SEASON + A POWER DECREASE
The FIA has pulled the cover back on the first visual concept of the WRC27 Rally1 car, offering an early glimpse at the machines set to carry the World Rally Championship into its next chapter from 2027. On the surface, it’s a bold and modern reset for the sport’s top tier, all sharp edges, wide stances and unmistakable intent. Underneath, though, WRC27 represents a philosophical shift as much as a technical one. Approved by the World Motor Sport Council in 2024, the new regulations aim to tackle rallying’s growing cost problem head-on, while keeping the speed, spectacle and brutality that define the WRC. The newly revealed concept finally puts metal around those ideas, showing how a single regulatory framework could give rise to wildly different shapes and interpretations. Production-based silhouettes, purpose-built rally weapons, and everything in between are all on the table, a deliberate move to encourage creativity and lower the barrier to entry for future constructors.
At the heart of the WRC27 car is a new tubular frame safety cell, an evolution of the structure introduced with the current Rally1 generation in 2022. Developed through simulation, benchmarking and real-world crash testing, the cell promises improved intrusion resistance and energy absorption across all major impact scenarios, while simplifying construction and reducing cost. Wrapped around that core is a bodywork concept that breaks free from the traditional requirement to mirror showroom models. Instead, the regulations define a fixed reference volume for exterior panels, within which designers can go wild. Aero remains tightly controlled, keeping development budgets in check while ensuring the cars still look and feel properly aggressive.
The competitive landscape is also being reshaped. Under WRC27, manufacturers and independent tuners will compete under a single “Constructor” classification, each responsible for the design, build, homologation and marketing of their cars. The idea is simple: widen participation, increase grid numbers, and make the top class less of a closed shop. In theory, it opens the door for new names and fresh thinking at the sharp end of rallying.
Performance, however, is where the conversation gets interesting. WRC27 cars will launch with a sustainably fuelled 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing around 290 horsepower, driving all four wheels through a five-speed gearbox. That’s paired with double wishbone suspension, while braking and steering systems are aligned more closely with Rally2 machinery to keep costs and complexity under control. It’s a clear step back in outright power compared to today’s Rally1 cars, even if the FIA insists that performance and spectacle remain non-negotiable.
Physically, the cars will sit within a defined footprint, measuring between 4100 mm and 4300 mm in length and up to 1875 mm wide. Within those limits, designers have considerable freedom, and the framework has been built with future powertrain flexibility in mind, leaving the door open for alternative technologies later in the regulation cycle. Cost control remains the headline act, with the price of a ready-to-race tarmac-spec WRC27 car capped at €345,000 (around R6,800,000), more than half the cost of the outgoing Rally1 formula. Additional savings are targeted through improved durability, reduced staffing, simpler logistics and increased use of remote engineering.
For the FIA and WRC Promoter, affordability is the lever that will unlock the championship’s future. There’s confidence that lower costs and greater freedom will bring more constructors to the table and reignite competition at the top level. For fans, the hope is that the visual drama and design freedom seen in the WRC27 concept are matched on the stages, even if the numbers on paper suggest a slightly quieter era. Whether WRC27 proves to be a necessary reset or a step too far away from the raw intensity that made Rally1 special will only become clear when these cars hit gravel, snow and tarmac in anger. For now, the next era of rallying has a face, and it’s a striking one.
Take a look at the YouTube short that quickly shows you the proposed changes coming to WRC in a little over a year. Much may change by 2027, but this gives you an idea of where the cars and sport are headed: 2026 WRC Rally1 concept | FIA
Be sure to check out our YouTube channel here for more exciting and exclusive SXdrv content! And don't forget to smash that subscribe button!