Project RallyOne will make its World Rally Championship debut at the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, subject to FIA homologation.
The Belgian outfit, led by Lionel Hansen with Alain Penasse also instilled as team manager, is one of two private constructors publicly confirmed to compete in the WRC in 2027 under the new Rally1 regulations.
The team launched its yet-to-be-named car in September and is currently undergoing several test sessions with a plethora of drivers including Stéphane Lefebvre, Teemu Suninen and nine-time World Rally champion Sébastien Loeb.
Project RallyOne is prioritising Tarmac outings first before focusing on gravel development, with Monte Carlo always its stated target for debut.
With the paperwork submitted to the FIA for homologation, the team is on track to achieve that target and run two cars at the January 21-24 event.
A team statement said: “Project RallyOne conducted earlier last week another two-day Tarmac test session around Saint-Die-des-Vosges in France. Sébastien Loeb and Stéphane Lefebvre were the drivers.
“Both were complimentary on the last introduced evolutions, such as the completelu new engine concept development, based on a VAG Group unit with new dedicated components and an important evolution on the transmission side.
“Meanwhile the homologation dossier has been submitted on time to the FIA, which means that Project RallyOne should be in line for a two-car participation in Rallye Monte-Carlo 2027.
“No drivers have been selected for this event yet and various discussions with potential partners are underway.”
Lefebvre is widely expected to be one of the drivers, having been heavily involved in the testing and development phase.
Loeb is far less likely to compete, having told DirtFish after his first test in October: “You don’t need to expect to see me in Monte Carlo.”
More importantly, the relocation of the 2027 Dakar Rally to Portugal and Morocco has shifted the rally-raid back by a week, meaning it now ends on January 23 – the Saturday of Monte Carlo.
Loeb’s current employer, Dacia, is pulling out of the World Rally-Raid Championship at the end of 2026, but Loeb is expected to continue competing in W2RC.
