The FIA unveiled the Rally2 Kit in June as a bid to entice more constructors into the World Rally Championship’s top category – but that’s not all it’s doing.
New technical regulations are being introduced for 2027, scaling back the performance – and cost – of top class cars to achieve performance parity with the current Rally2 machines.
The Rally2 Kit is a third option available to manufacturers next year, which adds a revised front bumper, fenders and larger rear wing to existing Rally2 cars.
So far, only M-Sport has publicly committed to developing this kit.
Toyota meanwhile is the only current competitor to be designing a brand-new car for the regulations, but constructor teams like RallyOne Project and WRT Rally1 Spain are building new cars too.
While Toyota is poised to contest a full championship season, both of the new constructors will miss select events in 2027 due to the FIA opening up the entry requirements for constructors.
“The framework is to participate in 15 events over two years,” said FIA road sport director, Emilia Abel.
“That allows them [new constructors] also to enter halfway through the season. And the plan is that they can score points [in that scenario]. Whenever they are coming with a new car, they can score points.”
The FIA is now referring to participating outfits as constructors rather than manufacturers, with the manufacturers’ championship renamed from 2027.
That’s a deliberate move considering not every entrant will be an automotive manufacturer. In fact, an independent operation can purchase a WRC27 car, built by Toyota for example, and then enter the World Rally Championship as a constructor.
“As long as they sign up for the constructors’ championship,” said FIA deputy president for sport, Malcolm Wilson.
“And we’ve helped by reducing the registration fee by 50% to encourage the manufacturers to do the [Rally2] kit.
The FIA is hoping more relaxed entry conditions will encourage more constructors to play at the top table
“So by reducing that by 50% more than covers the cost of developing and designing the kit.”
The registration fee for manufacturers was €441,352 in 2026, meaning it should cost around €220,000 next season.
The clear intention is to encourage more manufacturers like Stellantis / Lancia – which has told DirtFish its reason for not committing to the kit waa budgetary – to develop a kit and sign up to the WRC’s top category.
“As you can imagine, my target was I wanted to see at least five constructors on that table.” Wilson added.
“Don’t get me wrong, we are still working to try and get them on board to do a kit. It’s a clear target.”
