FIA: Rally6, WRC27 and cross-country roadmaps

The FIA World Motor Sport Council met by videoconference on 19 October 2026. On the agenda: WRC27, a new entry-level category called Rally6, and above all the two cross-country rally roadmaps, which set the direction for the cars through to 2030.

WRC27: two types of car in Rally1

From 2027, the Rally1 class of the World Rally Championship will combine the new WRC Cars, built to the WRC27 technical regulations, and WRC Kit Cars: Rally2 cars fitted with an aero kit (front fenders, front bumper and a rear aerodynamic device). That kit was approved in Macau in June 2026.

• The Constructors' Championship replaces the Manufacturers' Championship from 2027, open to manufacturers and independent tuners, who must enter every round to be eligible for the title.
• A new Teams' Championship is contested over seven nominated events, including a compulsory overseas round and the final event of the season.
• Both titles are reserved for Rally1 cars; WRC2, WRC3 and the WRC Masters Cup continue in 2027.
• The maximum turbo restrictor diameter rises from 32mm to 33mm for Rally1 cars and WRC Kit Cars.

The FIA may also introduce technical or sporting measures to maintain performance differentiation between the two types of car in 2027 and 2028.

Rally6: more affordable rallying

The FIA is launching a Rally6 category, estimated at €35,000 to €47,000 and largely derived from the FFSA's FR6 regulations. The cars are two-wheel drive, based on four-seat production models, with a 1.6-litre turbo or 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine. The target is 7.5 kg per horsepower, for example 140 hp for 1,050 kg. The FIA Regional Rally Championships also receive their most extensive sporting update in nearly a decade.

Cross-country: Ultimate 2030 and Challenger 2029

This part directly concerns rally-raid.

• Ultimate 2030: a new FIA-designed safety cell, with four-wheel drive and front engine retained and alternative powertrains allowed. Chassis development in 2027, regulations finalised in 2028, Experimental Group from 2029, mandatory for factory drivers in 2030, with a ten-year vehicle lifecycle.
• Challenger 2029: reinforced safety structures, closed bodywork and engines up to 1,620cc turbo. Technical regulations targeted for 2027, Experimental Group in 2028, championship points eligibility from 2029.

The Council also removed escalating penalties for repeat infringements and set out the logos on cars: gold and silver for FIA Priority drivers, white or blue for the others. In the World Rally-Raid Championship, the best four of five results now count in each support championship, and the Teams Championship now includes Ultimate vehicles.

Baja, F1 and endurance

The 2027 FIA Baja Cups calendars are approved: eight rounds for the World Cup, nine for Europe and five for the Middle East. The Sardinia Rally Raid and the Oman International Baja are new. In Formula 1, amendments for clarity were approved for the 2026 and 2027 regulations. In the WEC, points from both cars under the same LMGT3 competitor licence will be combined from 2027.