Could qualifying resolve the WRC’s 2027 road order conundrum?

The World Rally Championship (WRC) has introduced new 2027 technical regulations, sparking discussions about the road order. Determining the starting road order for events has long been a contentious issue among crews, and the WRC's decision to return to road order has resurfaced. The new WRC27 machinery will feature a cost cap of €345,000 and be based on Rally2 components, with a performance similar to the current Rally2 cars.

To ensure fairness, Rally2 manufacturers can homologate an upgrade kit for €7,500, providing greater aerodynamic parity between the two types of machinery. The kit includes new front fenders, a front bumper, and a rear aerodynamic device, as well as a 10kg weight reduction for Rally2 cars. One consequence of this regulation is the potential for road order to offer a significant advantage to Rally2 cars starting lower in the order.

This could allow a privateer Rally2 crew starting 50th on the road to challenge for the overall victory, especially if the power disparity between Rally1 and Rally2 cars is eliminated. Toyota, a leading investor in designing and building WRC27 cars, is closely monitoring the situation. The FIA is actively assessing options to determine road order and is working on defining the sporting regulations for the 2027 WRC.