Lancia, a potential return to the World Rally Championship?

In 2027, WRC rules will change, allowing thermal, hybrid or electric engines with reduced costs. Will Lancia take this chance to return?

Many enthusiasts were pleasantly surprised by the news that Lancia unveiled its Y Rally 2 during an actual road test https://sportchaos.live/lancia-y-rally-2-spotted-testing-on-the-streets/. The iconic Italian manufacturer has been absent from the top level of rallying since 1992, when it officially withdrew and never returned, except for a semi-official presence the following year. In 1993, the Deltas that competed were managed by private teams such as Jolly Club.

But let’s get back to the point: is the presentation of the Rally2 car just a flash in the pan, or does it mark the beginning of a more serious development program aiming to return to the top of rallying? First, let’s be clear — if Lancia truly wants to come back to the WRC, it needs a medium-to-long-term project. The competition there is extremely tough, with official teams like Toyota Gazoo Racing, Hyundai Shell Mobis, and M-Sport Ford Rally Team. And let’s not forget who drives those beasts: Ogier, Neuville, Tänak, Fourmaux… But finding drivers is secondary — the key is having the right car.

The Lancia Y spotted yesterday will be homologated for the Rally2 category, a class quite different from the WRC in many respects. First and foremost, Rally1 cars feature a hybrid powertrain with a combined output of around 500 horsepower. Rally2 cars rely on a turbocharged combustion engine producing around 280 horsepower.

New 2027 WRC regulations

As for the future, the FIA has announced that starting in 2027, new technical regulations called “WRC27” will come into force. These new rules aim to significantly reduce the cost of participation, with a maximum car price capped at €400,000. The upcoming cars will use internal combustion, hybrid, or fully electric powertrains, with components derived from the Rally2 category and mounted on tubular frame chassis. The regulations will also reduce team personnel and service park sizes to make the championship more accessible and sustainable. In short, teams will be free to choose whether to run hybrid, electric, or purely combustion-powered vehicles — a potential advantage for Lancia, which could benefit from this shift.

Lancia in ERC Rally 2 class?

However, what Lancia’s racing division currently lacks is the technical, sporting, and mechanical know-how that 40 years of absence has inevitably eroded. Re-entering a championship where factory teams have been competing consistently for years makes the idea of immediately challenging them unrealistic. A gradual entry into the European Rally Championship (ERC) is likely the chosen path for this new model, possibly with a full-season commitment as early as next year.

Let’s also not forget that Lancia is now part of the Stellantis Group. Any long-term financial, strategic, and technical support will likely depend on the results achieved across various championships. So while the early years may be focused on development, they could prove decisive in determining whether a full return to the world stage is truly feasible.

But how much does a WRC car cost? About three times as much as a Rally 2 car, since the aerodynamic details, technical features, and performance development are pushed to the extreme. Building a Rally 1 car requires multi-million euro investments, both for the entirely different technical project compared to Rally 2 and to obtain FIA homologation. An investment of this scale must pay off, and surely in Italy they will carefully weigh the costs and benefits…