The FIA World Council has decided: Hybrid cars no longer permitted in the World Rally Championship from 2025 – Rally1 regulations remain, but are to become more cost-effective
The World Rally Championship (WRC) will continue to be contested with Rally1 cars in the top class for the next two years up to and including the 2026 WRC season. However, there will be modifications to reduce costs for the teams. This was agreed by the FIA World Council (FIA WMSC) at its meeting on Wednesday.
The decision was based on the work of the WRC working group headed by Robert Reid and David Richards. Specifically, the WMSC decision on Wednesday stipulates that the hybrid unit will disappear from the Rally1 cars between 2025 and 2026.
Because the elimination of the hybrid unit will reduce the overall weight of the cars, “restrictions in the area of the air volume limiter and aerodynamics are intended to counteract this”.
It was also decided that a revised Rally1 regulation (parallel to the existing one) will take effect from the 2026 WRC season. The key points of these new regulations, which teams can opt for from 2026, include a standardized safety cell, which is intended to “reduce costs and complexity”.
In addition, the revised Rally1 regulations from 2026 will allow teams and tuners to equip the cars with different aerodynamics. However, there will be guidelines regarding aerodynamics. Engine power is to be limited to 330 hp from 2026.
With regard to a separate class for electric cars in the World Rally Championship, the WMSC decision on Wednesday states that this “will be introduced at the earliest possible date”. An exact date has not yet been specified.
In the coming months, the WRC Commission will be working on the details of the restrictions to compensate for the hybrid ban from 2025 and for its own aerodynamics from 2026. The new WRC regulations will be officially presented in June. In addition to the technical aspects, there will also be new decisions in the sporting area.
The adjustments in the sporting area include, among other things, more freedom for the local organizers in designing the route of their respective WRC rallies.
