Lancia will make its return to FIA WRC in WRC2 category in partnership with Stellantis Motorsport, as MotoGP rookies talk of their numbers.
Lancia will return to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2026 with a works-supported WRC2 programme centred on the brand-new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale. The new car marks the marque’s first factory involvement at world level in decades and is the product of a joint development effort between Lancia and Stellantis Motorsport. Engineers have drawn on years of Rally2 experience across Peugeot and Citroën programmes to create a clean-sheet contender aimed at competing for WRC2 victories from its debut at Rallye Monte-Carlo.
The Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale combines an all-new bodyshell with revised weight distribution, updated aerodynamics and a fresh turbo and anti-lag concept derived from Stellantis’ wider racing activities. It uses a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing 287 hp, a five-speed SADEV sequential gearbox, mechanical front and rear differentials and Reiger three-way adjustable dampers. Testing has taken place both in the French Alps and at Balocco, Lancia’s traditional proving ground.
Lancia’s return forms part of Stellantis Motorsport’s structured competition ladder, sitting above the Ypsilon Rally4 HF and the entry-level Ypsilon HF Racing. All three cars will be available through the Stellantis Motorsport Racing Shop, with first Rally2 customer deliveries planned for the first quarter of 2026 under the FIA’s Rally2 cost-cap. The brand will also support private drivers and customer teams across WRC2, the FIA European Rally Championship and key national series in Italy, France, Spain and Belgium.
A full 2026 driver announcement will follow, with the works Rally2 HF Integrale expected to enter at least eight WRC rounds. Lancia CEO Roberta Zerbi said the WRC2 programme reflects a long-term ambition to re-establish the marque in international rallying. “Our heritage inspires us, but it does not hold us back,” she explained. “We are here to compete.” Two-time WRC champion and technical consultant Miki Biasion added that the project carries strong emotional weight for those involved. “Seeing Lancia back in rallying feels like closing a circle,” he said. “It’s exciting to see this car ready and to support the young drivers coming through.”
Other news –
Why Toprak Razgatlioglu chose #54: https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2025/11/17/new-chapter-razgatlioglu-decides-his-2026-motogp-number/821990
Why Diogo Moreira chose #11: https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2025/11/17/brazils-star-moreira-reveals-his-2026-race-number/821981
[The story is as per press release]
