Hyundai’s Big Question
After Hyundai Motorsport boss Cyril Abiteboul revealed the team might use a Rally2 car in the 2027 World Rally Championship, he asked the FIA how it would make the new WRC27 cars and Rally2 cars fair to race together.
No Balance of Performance
FIA’s Xavier Mestelan, the governing body’s chief technical and safety officer, was quick to respond. But he made one thing clear — there will be no Balance of Performance (BoP) in rallying.
“We don’t want to balance cars with formulas or technology rules,” Mestelan said. “We just have two sets of regulations — Rally2 and WRC27. Each will have strengths and weaknesses.”
So, no special rules or adjustments to make them equal — just two different types of cars competing together.
Same Engine, Different Design
Both types of cars will use the same 1.6-litre turbo engine and similar suspension and transmission, but the WRC27 cars will have more advanced parts — like aerodynamics, forged dampers, and spaceframe chassis.
That means they’ll perform differently, and weight will be the main factor that separates them.
Weight Is the Key
Mestelan explained that the FIA may use minimum weight limits to keep performance close.
“The easiest way to manage performance is with weight,” he said. “We don’t want Balance of Performance, but we can use ballast if needed.”
So, if the WRC27 cars turn out too fast, they could simply be made heavier.
Two Cars, One Goal
The FIA’s plan for 2027 is clear: Rally2 and WRC27 cars will share the same stages, but not the same rules.
“They are two different technologies,” Mestelan said. “We want both to perform at a similar level — but in their own way.”
