2025 WRC News & Rumours

[EstWRC]

FIA RALLY STAR COMMITTEE SELECTS 2025 LINE-UP

Romet Jürgenson’s WRC2 prize drive for winning Junior WRC crown increased to six events
Taylor Gill and Max Smart handed second Junior WRC seasons after impressing in 2024
Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó leaves the FIA Rally Star process with high expectations of future success

https://www.fia.com/news/fia-rally-s...ects-2025-line

[saco0o]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/where...G3Czr_8eXa3WcQ

funny. wasnt cyril crying around a few months ago, almost threatening to leave if fia ditched the hybrids?? millener also said a few months ago hybrid should stay, he even said something like "budget is not a problem" (??) now he gives a clear NO when askes if hy must stay. really tiring to read news. im always thinking "ahh I should just watch and leave the internet" haha

[Morte66]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/where...G3Czr_8eXa3WcQ

funny. wasnt cyril crying around a few months ago, almost threatening to leave if fia ditched the hybrids?? millener also said a few months ago hybrid should stay, he even said something like "budget is not a problem" (??) now he gives a clear NO when askes if hy must stay. really tiring to read news. im always thinking "ahh I should just watch and leave the internet" haha

Well, circumstances did change in the last few months.

They are no longer allowed to reset them when they fail, so people with a broken hybrid lose it until the next service. There were three drivers without hybrid for about a day in CER. It fails too easily for a thing with those consequences, IMO.

And with new maintenance requirements (have to send it back to the manufacturer a lot more), the cost went through the roof. It could be a couple of million per year. I think M-Sport might truly be forced to quit WRC1 over this; it's not just "crying wolf". And Hyundai and Toyota probably don't want to be in a championship with two teams, so they'll side with M-Sport.

So I think it's reasonable for people to change their minds.

[Managarium]

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Solberg in a Yaris Rally2 in WRC2 is quite possible but maybe not outings in their Rally1 until 2026 or whenever Ogier fully-retires.

Rossel to M-Sport is also quite possible given Mr Wilson's liking of French drivers and the funding he may have from the FFSA.

[CeskyOndra]

If Toyota gives Solberg rally 1 drive in 2025 or 26, then I could see this move as a good one. If not, it's wrong bmo, because Škoda suits him well and he should sign Ford for Rally1 if possible. We don't know the inside info.

[deephouse]

So we might have 2025 lineup like that:
-> Hyundai
-Neuville
-Tanak
-Fourmaux

-> M-Sport:
-Rossel
-Sesks
-Serderidis/Munster

-> Toyota
-Rovanpera
-Evans
-Katsuta
-Ogier/Pajari/Solberg

[macebig]

Toyota will not have 6 drivers. Someone will be left out. Maybe Ogier calls it a day. He seemed legitimately frustrated at the last few rallies.

[becher]

Solberg to Toyota would surprise me a lot, what would happen to Pajari in that case?

[Steve Boyd]

Well, circumstances did change in the last few months.

They are no longer allowed to reset them when they fail, so people with a broken hybrid lose it until the next service. There were three drivers without hybrid for about a day in CER. It fails too easily for a thing with those consequences, IMO.

And with new maintenance requirements (have to send it back to the manufacturer a lot more), the cost went through the roof. It could be a couple of million per year. I think M-Sport might truly be forced to quit WRC1 over this; it's not just "crying wolf". And Hyundai and Toyota probably don't want to be in a championship with two teams, so they'll side with M-Sport.

So I think it's reasonable for people to change their minds.

I suspect that the suppliers are now concerned about spontaneous combustion from the battering the batteries get given their age and life they've had and that's why they won't allow a reset any more.

Given the current unreliability, the WRC may be able to get out of any contract for continued use of the hybrid units on the grounds that they aren't fit for purpose.