Editorial

Ask most people about their expectations for the 2027 WRC season and you will no doubt get a pessimistic reply. There has been no shouting from the roof tops from the manufacturers or the competitors, in fact the whole new concept seems to be going along under the radar. Two things are certain, firstly, the WRC needed to change, having two manufacturers not only proved the cars were ridiculously expensive, but it also created predictability. In short, Rally 1 failed.

Toyota held the upper hand over Hyundai, year after year it was rinse and repeat. We also had a private team who were not really in the mix, more on the periphery, relying on seats being paid for.  The one positive the WRC1 category did have going for it was its sheer speed, the cars were simply incredible to watch. I sat watching Rally Estonia this year and it was as if the cars were on fast forward. Next season the cars will inevitably be slower. 

I don’t view this as a bad thing; a more cost-effective car will hopefully bring more manufacturers to the top table. I remember the end of the GpB era back in 1986, every rally fan in the country bemoaned the demise of the incredible Quattro’s, Lancia’s and the like. However, the 1987 season was terrific. We had Lancia, Ford, Renault, Mazda and lots of fast privateers (remember when that was a thing, privateers having the chance to prove themselves among the works teams?) in Audi’s and not forgetting the Rothmans BMWs.

Of course, a couple of years later the then current cars were faster than the much-lauded GpB cars. I for one am looking forward to next season. There are still many issues I’d change about the WRC if it meant cutting down on costs to entice potential manufacturers, I would make them two-day affairs to start with! 

The sport has always had to evolve, never more so than now with so few teams involved and very little in the way of media interest. All we await now is an influx of teams announcing their intension to participate next season, if that does not happen I really do not see where the WRC can go from there. For me WRC2 (not WRC plus) would have been the perfect route to take. 

Bob Irvine

Editor