The new technical regulations of the World Rally Championship (WRC) for 2027 have sparked a new debate about road order, with the reintroduction of classification being one of the options being discussed for next year.
Determining the starting order for events has historically been a controversial topic among teams, and now the issue has resurfaced with the introduction of new radical regulations.
A transition phase
Starting next year, the WRC will initiate a transition phase with the introduction of new vehicles known as WRC27, which will replace the current Rally1 cars. These vehicles will be constructed with a cost limit of 345,000 euros and will include a space frame chassis and double wishbone suspension, primarily based on Rally2 components. The new cars will have to have a performance similar to that of current Rally2 cars.
Currently, both Toyota teams and the preparation operations RMC Motorsport and Project Rally One have confirmed their intention to build vehicles to comply with the new regulations. To facilitate the transition to the new regulations, the FIA has confirmed that Rally2 vehicles will be able to compete under the same umbrella as the new WRC27 cars.
To ensure that the level of competition is as fair as possible, Rally2 manufacturers will be able to homologate an upgrade kit –at a cost of 7,500 euros– to provide aerodynamic parity between the two types of vehicles. Rally2 cars using the upgrade kit will be able to compete at the highest level alongside WRC27 cars during the years 2027 and 2028. This kit will include new homologated front wings, a front bumper, and a rear aerodynamic device, as well as a reduced weight of 10 kg compared to the current minimum weight.
A secondary effect of this regulation is the road order. In theory, a Rally2 vehicle starting further back in the order at an event could benefit from better conditions on gravel routes than WRC27 cars. This could provide a considerable advantage, amplified by the current power difference between Rally1 and Rally2. In an extreme scenario, a private Rally2 team starting 50th could fight for the overall win.
With Toyota being among the first brands to invest in the design and manufacture of a WRC27 car, the solution to determine the road order is an important point of focus for the company next year.
The FIA has confirmed to the media that it is evaluating various options to determine the road order. Toyota’s technical director, Tom Fowler, has emphasized the importance of the issue: ‘I think it’s really important that we don’t escape the magnitude of this.’
Fowler explained that, in a gravel stage, the difference between a vehicle with the number 1 in a Rally1 and a Rally2 that is positioned in twelfth place translates to a performance of 100 horsepower. Therefore, if the same power conditions are maintained, it will not be possible to find a compatible performance level without managing it in a sporting manner.
Reintroducing classification as a solution?
The issue of road order has again provoked the proposal to introduce a classification phase before the race to determine the road order. This system had last been used in the WRC in 2013 but remains active in the European Rally Championship.
In the ERC, with Rally2 as the main category, this system has proven to be the fairest way to determine road order at the beginning of rallies. The top 15 drivers from the qualification phase, which is conducted in championship order, are rearranged to establish the gravel order, while the fastest start the event in qualification order on asphalt stages.
The FIA has confirmed that the reintroduction of a classification phase is one of the options it is considering for the 2027 sporting regulatory changes, aiming to define them in October.
‘We are working on the sporting regulations. The plan is to submit the first parts to the World Motor Sport Council in August. The work is ongoing, and we have a few weeks to finalize it. Afterwards, we will have to discuss it with the WRC Commission,’ stated FIA sport director Emilia Abel.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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