This week is the end of Rally1. Or is it?
Quite possibly not. Despite drivers taking to social media to mourn the loss of downforce and plenty of power, it seems Rally1 will live on. In name, at least.
There’s been plenty of discussion surrounding the naming of next year’s top category in the World Rally Championship. WRC27 has been the key code for months now. But last week’s WRC Commission meeting reportedly put forward the suggestion that Rally1 remain.
Since early summer there’s been a degree of hand-wringing regarding the right moniker moving forwards. What, for example, are Rally2 cars fitted with next year’s kit going to be known as? And is Project Rally One’s motor to be known as WRC27?
Project Rally One's name is starting to look very much on the nose
Seems the thinking is clear: whether it’s Toyota’s all-new 2027 car, M-Sport’s kit-complete Ford Fiesta, Lionel Hansen’s PRO or Roberto Méndez’s WRT Rally1 Spain – all will be known as Rally1 cars.
That’s good. Sensible. There’s clarity on what’s coming at the top tier.
And these cars will look different. Toyota’s YarisMR2Celica will look brand new as will the constructor cars and M-Sport’s Fiesta will sprout extra aero to help define it from Rally2 machinery out there.
The only potential fly in the ointment could be if or when a well-driven Rally2 car tops the timesheet or even, dare we say it, the podium. Does that matter? Or does that make for a great story? Depends who you ask.
